WMI Online Academy 2023
The WMI Online Academy 2023 will take place on Monday, October 16 – Friday, December 15, 2023. The WMI Academy is an exciting opportunity for recent graduates to participate in an intensive professional development program. Invited participants can choose between learning skills essential to developing business or CBO/NGO plans. Guest speakers from universities and industry professionals will be presenting key concepts and the how-to skills needed during weekly one-hour live webinars. With a small cohort, recent graduates can engage and ask questions with presenters from across Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda and Uganda.
Invited participants are able to register upto October 1, 2023
Week 1
Conducting Market Research/Needs Assessment
Business Plan – Conducting Market Research: This webinar was held on Tuesday, October 17. WMI Scholars heard from Professor Caren Ouma. If you did not attend this scheduled webinar or did not attend for at least 50% of the presentation, the WMI Regional Coordinator responsible for the week will be in contact with you. The slides presented can be accessed here.
CBO/NGO Plan – Conducting a Needs Assessment: This webinar was held on Thursday, October 19. WMI Scholars heard from Albanous Gituru. If you did not attend this scheduled webinar or did not attend for at least 50% of the presentation, the WMI Regional Coordinator responsible for the week will be in contact with you. The slides presented can be accessed here.
Week 2
Designing a Mission Statement, Choosing a Business Model & The Guiding Theory of Change
Business + NGO/CBO Plan – Designing a Mission Statement: This webinar was held on Monday, October 23. WMI Scholars heard from Mary Kiguru. If you did not attend this scheduled webinar or did not attend for at least 50% of the presentation, the WMI Regional Coordinator responsible for the week will be in contact with you. The slides presented can be accessed here.
Business Plan – Choosing a Business Model: This webinar was held on Wednesday, October 25. WMI Scholars heard from Joel Bamwise. If you did not attend this scheduled webinar or did not attend at least 50% of the presentation, the WMI Regional Coordinator responsible for the week will be in contact with you. The slides presented can be accessed here.
NGO/CBO Plan – The Guiding Theory of Change: This webinar was held on Wednesday, October 25. WMI Scholars heard from Solomon Mugambe. If you did not attend this scheduled webinar or did not attend at least 50% of the presentation, the WMI Regional Coordinator responsible for the week will be in contact with you. The slides presented can be accessed here.
Week 3
Don't Start Without a SWOT Analysis
Business + NGO/CBO Plan – Don’t Start Without a SWOT Analysis: This webinar was held on Tuesday, October 31. WMI Scholars heard from Eannus Ongus. If you did not attend this scheduled webinar or did not attend at least 50% of the presentation, the WMI Regional Coordinator responsible for the week will be in contact with you. The slides presented can be accessed here.
Week 4
Introduction to Budgeting & Financial Management
Business + NGO/CBO Plan – Introduction to Budgeting: This webinar was held on Tuesday, November 7. WMI Scholars heard from Elizabeth N. Kalunda. If you did not attend this scheduled webinar or did not attend at least 50% of the presentation, the WMI Regional Coordinator responsible for the week will be in contact with you. The slides presented can be accessed here.
Business + NGO/CBO Plan – Introduction to Financial Management: This webinar was held on Wednesday, November 8. WMI Scholars heard from Elizabeth N. Kalunda. If you did not attend this scheduled webinar or did not attend at least 50% of the presentation, the WMI Regional Coordinator responsible for the week will be in contact with you. The slides presented can be accessed here.
Week 5
Starting From Zero/Creating Your Team
Business + NGO/CBO Plan – Starting From Zero: This webinar was held on Tuesday, November 14. WMI Scholars heard from Sophie Wasonga. If you did not attend this scheduled webinar or did not attend at least 50% of the presentation, the WMI Regional Coordinator responsible for the week will be in contact with you. The slides presented can be accessed here.
Business + NGO/CBO Plan – Creating Your Team: This webinar was held on Wednesday, November 16. WMI Scholars heard from Sophie Wasonga. If you did not attend this scheduled webinar or did not attend at least 50% of the presentation, the WMI Regional Coordinator responsible for the week will be in contact with you. The slides presented can be accessed here.
Week 6
Branding: Creating Your Brand Identity and Brand Guide
Business + NGO/CBO Plan – Branding Part I: Creating Your Brand Identity: This webinar was held on Tuesday, November 21. WMI Scholars heard from Brenda Odhiambo. If you did not attend this scheduled webinar or did not attend at least 50% of the presentation, the WMI Regional Coordinator responsible for the week will be in contact with you. The slides presented can be accessed here.
Business + NGO/CBO Plan – Branding Part II: Creating a Branding Guide: This webinar was held on Thursday, November 23. WMI Scholars heard from Brenda Odhiambo. If you did not attend this scheduled webinar or did not attend at least 50% of the presentation, the WMI Regional Coordinator responsible for the week will be in contact with you. The slides presented can be accessed here.
Week 7
M&E: Measuring Success and Indicator Development
Business Plan – M&E: Measuring Success and Indicator Development: This webinar was held on Tuesday, November 28. WMI Scholars heard from Philip Oduma. If you did not attend this scheduled webinar or did not attend at least 50% of the presentation, the WMI Regional Coordinator responsible for the week will be in contact with you. The slides presented can be accessed here.
NGO/CBO Plan – M&E: Measuring Success and Indicator Development: This webinar was held on Thursday, November 30. WMI Scholars heard from Eric Nandoya. If you did not attend this scheduled webinar or did not attend at least 50% of the presentation, the WMI Regional Coordinator responsible for the week will be in contact with you. The slides presented can be accessed here.
NEW! The WMI Online Academy Pitch Competition 2023
Attendees are encouraged to participate in the WMI Online Academy Pitch Competition 2023! During the registration process, invited participants are encouraged to share a business, CBO or NGO idea that interests them. Throughout the first eight weeks, attendees will strengthen their ideas and during the final webinar session, participants who are interested will be provided the spotlight to present their business, CBO or NGO idea to a panel of WMI Board of Director judges and fellow peers. The three top-scoring presentations will be awarded $500, $300 and $200 to support their pitch idea or local community!
- Participants are encouraged to learn more about the pitch competition: Official Handout
- Registration to participate is due by Sunday, October 22, 2023.
- Prepare your pitch presentation with the: Official Judging Rubric
Academy Webinar Schedule
Time Commitment: The time commitment to attend all live sessions is approximately 20 hours over a 9-week period (2.5 hours per week).
Participants choose between option 1 or option 2:
Option 1: Business Plan Development
Monday, October 16 – Friday, December 15, 2023
Week 1: Where to Start: Conducting Market Research
Week 2: Designing a Mission Statement
Week 2: Choosing a Business Model
Week 3: Don’t Start Without a SWOT Analysis
Week 4: Part I: Intro to Budgeting
Week 4: Part II: Intro to Financial Management
Week 5: HR Part I: Starting from Zero
Week 5: HR Part II: Creating Your Team
Week 6: Branding Part I: Creating Your Brand Identity
Week 6: Branding Part II: Creating a Branding Guide
Week 7: M&E: Measuring Success & Indicator Development
Week 8: How to Create a Pitch Presentation
Week 8: Optional – Check-in & Q&A to prepare for the competition
Week 9: Live Finale! Pitch Presentation Competition!
Option 2: Community Based Organization/NGO Plan Development
Monday, October 16 – Friday, December 15, 2023
Week 1: Where to Start: Conducting a Needs Assessment
Week 2: Designing a Mission Statement
Week 2: The Guiding Theory of Change
Week 3: Don’t Start Without a SWOT Analysis
Week 4: Part I: Intro to Budgeting
Week 4: Part II: Intro to Financial Management
Week 5: HR Part I: Starting from Zero
Week 5: HR Part II: Creating Your Team
Week 6: Branding Part I: Creating Your Brand Identity
Week 6: Branding Part II: Creating a Branding Guide
Week 7: M&E: Measuring Success & Indicator Development
Week 8: How to Create a Pitch Presentation
Week 8: Optional – Check-in & Q&A to prepare for the competition
Week 9: Live Finale! Pitch Presentation Competition!
Participation Requirements
Certificates
WMI is honored to award the following certificates as part of the WMI Online Academy 2023:
1) Certificate of Completion: Will be awarded for 100% webinar attendance. The certificate will include the number of hours of instruction.
2) Business/CBO/NGO Pitch Presentation Participation: Presenters will receive a participation certificate which will include recognition of the CBO, NGO or business plan that was presented.
3) Pitch Presentation Winners (3): The three top-scoring pitch presenters will also receive an honorary certificate for their accomplishment.
