Words. For me words are a form of action, capable of influencing change. Their articulation represents a complete, live experience. Through words we influence change, we talk to people who we have never met and we can mentor a generation especially today when most people assume that life is given, but you and I know that it’s not. You and I both know that breath can end, so we know that life is a gift. We understand that what we do with life matters. Again we also know that in life it is not what you are called, but what you answer to. This is a success story of peer pressure gone right.
Behind every success story is an embarrassing first effort, a stagger, a setback or a radical change of direction. It’s these first clumsy steps on the road to fame and fortune that fascinated me to write about the milestones, challenges and the future of PROSPA-K. When you see someone who’s very successful, you almost imagine that it was a foregone conclusion that they’re a genius, that they were destined for great things. However, writing this story I think the big takeaway is failure and setbacks, far from being uncommon, are in many ways essential.
The story of PROSPA-K is one ridden with intrigues, fears, failures, sacrifices and above everything resilience and passion. It all started on the 14th of December 2014 when a group of Fresh graduates met at the University of Nairobi with only one goal, to share ideas in the nascent field of Supply chain management-one they had little or no experience in. Ever since that fateful day the words of Henry Ford that Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success seem to have kept the group going.
Through the few years we have been in existence a lot has happened but most notably is the growth of the group and the empowerment of members. Most notably the success stories range from growing the network to almost 3,000 members spread across Universities and colleges in Kenya, winning an African award in 2016 to the surge of members joining reputable organisations and others winning scholarships courtesy of PROSPA-K. As we will see from a sample of a few the individual efforts and successes have counted greatly to the success of the group. As we say it is one thing to talk about success— it’s another to truly demonstrate it.
Evident is the effort put by Mr. Laxminarayan a supply chain Professional based in Dubai (CIPS chair of the Northern Emirates Region) who has mentored many of the members in PROSPA-K. He has even organised in 2017 two of our members to visit UAE CIPS conference which has greatly paid off. There is a belief in him that by mentoring he brings out the supply chain talent and skills for the world of tomorrow or as the Zulu would say, Inkunzi isematholeni (the bull is among the calves).
The results are evident. Procurement Students and Professional Association of Kenya (PROSPA-K) was awarded the prestigious CIPS 2016 Pan-Africa award for emerging overall winners in the category ‘Best People Development Initiative’ in the procurement challenge hosted by CIPS-UK in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The group, which was unable to travel to South Africa, was represented by its members Mollen Atieno, Brian Mutie, Micah Sitawa and Michael Masinde at the Villa Rosa Kempinski as they received their award from the Managing Director of CIPS Africa, Mr. Andre Coetzee, in the presence of the crème de la crème of supply chain leadership in Kenya.
The event which was hosted by CIPS-Kenya branch team, led by Ms. Wambui Mbugua, was an intimate cocktail affair graced by major supply chain leaders including Mr. Polycarp Igathe of VIVO energy, Mr. Ken Mbugua of BAT, Mr Andrew Waititu of VIVO energy, Mr Amin Dharsi from The Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, Mr Nelson Olouch from Care International, Mr Joe Munoru of CIPS Kenya Branch, among many other supply chain leaders.
Individual success has also not gone unnoticed.Sitting down with some of the members one can see the passion and the cogs that keep the wheel of this Supply chain network Group rolling. We all have a story to tell and these stories from a few sampled members can be very inspiring to people who have no idea what networking can do in today’s world.
Take Walter Simotwo for example a graduate from the University of Nairobi (December 2015) and currently working as a Procurement Officer at Mabati Rolling Mills. He joined PROSPA-K on his last semester in college and since then he has never looked back. Walter says,”PROSPA-K has helped me in various facets in my profession as well as personal life. First and foremost through the various forums organized I have been able to meet supply chain practitioners with vast global experience in the field from whom I have gained knowledge that my class work wouldn’t equip me with. I have also been able to network and get in contact with people with whom we can share experiences, opportunities as well as how to mitigate challenges encountered in the field and build on the opportunities there in. Lastly PROSPA-K creates an avenue through which I can improve on my confidence and presentation skills; this is through researching and presenting on various topics and emerging issues in supply chain to an audience.” He continues to say that,”My aspiration is to be an expert in supply chain field, scale upwards in my career and be a supply chain manager if not CEO in the near future. I also aim to have a fully-fledged business which I will be able to incorporate skills gained from supply chain knowledge and my corporate life experience.’’ Since PROSPA-K is forward looking Walter concludes by offering to mentor students and graduates joining the corporate sector and share his experience in job hunting, setting up of business among other emerging issues in the market.”
Joshua Gitoho a Bachelor of Commerce, Procurement and Supply Chain Management Option graduate of The University of Nairobi is a passionate and proud PROSPAK-K member. He reflected on the lessons he has learned .He had this to say, “Although I am currently working with Bata Shoe Co. (K) Ltd as a Sales Representative I aspire to secure a job in my profession as a Procurement and Supply Chain practitioner soon. Being a member of PROSPA-K since its formation in 2014 it has been very instrumental in building me professionally. Through it I have built networks and even met mentors in the Supply chain profession and other professions. Additionally, through the many conferences both national and regional that we have organized as the PROSPA-K team, I have gathered information on industry best practices as well as the requisite knowledge needed for a future Procurement career. Some key lessons I have learned include, the need of keeping abreast with the emerging market trends, having a complete paradigm shift of mind, employing ethical while practices, building supplier relationship management skills, agility and the green procurement initiative. Emphasis has also been laid on getting certifications and also on networking and being technological savvy. There is still more in store for me going forward since this is just the tip of the iceberg as we thaw the ice through scheduled monthly meetings for presentations, one on one coaching sessions, meeting with industry leaders as well as coffee sessions where we share challenges, face as practitioners in the country as well as propose ways of litigating the risks involved. The sun is only rising and through such a network Africa is being awakened.”
With over 4 years experience in supply chain Mollen Atieno offers a surprisingly simple take on PROSPA-K success. She had this to say,” Life in Africa has greatly improved over the past few decades, and as it continues to be even better, Procurement will play a key role in improving the lives of individuals through holistic public project delivery. Supply chain management in Africa, especially in Kenya, within a short span has made big strides in moving from a cost – oriented transactional function to a more strategic, value- addition and innovation activity. Those in the field stand to gain a lot now and in the future if they work smart and PROSPA-K engagements is one of those ways.
On what she has gained from the group started four years ago she says,”I believe in continually learning to grow enlighteningly, mature professionally and thereby at some phase to give back by enabling and empowering others, this is what I was looking at before I joined the PROSPA-K WhatsApp group, so far I have gained a lot from Hariharam Laxminarayan and other professionals. As a founder member and Looking at where we started few individuals exchanging views and ideas, it was a worthy investment. It has opened doors I never even thought existed and given opportunities to so many. It is learning platform and a place to apply knowledge and share experiences. People are mentored and others even have won scholarships due to the network created by us coming together.”
She concludes by saying, “To me, grooming takes time but if such initiatives such as PROSPA-K are encouraged and promoted there is a bright future for all the African professionals and that is one thing I would be personally involved in.”
Looking at the above and knowing this is just a random number among a group of over 1000 members I would say PROSPA-K is on course in achieving its objectives. My definition of success is a little unconventional because to me, Success isn’t how much money you have. Success is not what your position is. Success is how well you do what you do when nobody else is looking and that one I have learned from my PROSPA-K interactions. Working as a procurement officer with the EU which has some of the most progressive (although sometimes beaurecratic) Procurement policies and frameworks, I can say the idea of PROSPA-K could not have come at a better time.
In conclusion, I know the group has a long way to go and it faces many challenges that need to be addressed with urgency but I am reminded People do not lack strength, they lack will. The idea if nurtured with honesty, integrity and goodwill maybe one of the best ideas out of Africa and could change entirely how the world views Africa and its young professionals. As Victor Hugo said, “The best idea is one whose time has come”, and so is PROSPA-K.
lebcal 
Waow its a profound article
LikeLike