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
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 1, 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 2022:
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.
