Introduction
Ali Osman is an entrepreneur running a chain of after-school computer training programs. The institutions are established with the aim of ensuring that the young minds are engaged after school and during school breaks. This is critical in the middle-income neighborhoods as keeping the children busy prevents them from engaging in vices and other time wasting activities that are not beneficial for their growth and development. The programs enroll children from the age of 6 to 18 years. The learners are trained on different computers and technological applications relevant to their age. Mr. Osman initiated the program ten years ago, in 2007 after quitting his teaching job in a private school in his neighborhood. I met this man who is an opportunistic entrepreneur, willing to risk his career to venture into business (Leonard, 2013). I met the entrepreneur at one of the several centers that he is running in the same neighborhood. The number of the centers, according to him, is informed by security purposes, hence, the need to ensure that the enrollees are as close to their homes as possible.
Interview Write-up
- How did the idea of beginning the centers being?
The idea was born out of my career as an educator and professional in information communication technologies. I have realized that the young minds are super innovative and it is time the teaching fraternity channeled their innovative ideas to the right direction. The idea borrows from the innovative leadership which is critical in the modern age (Leonard, 2013). On inquiring about what my students did after school, it dawned on me that over 90 percent of them spend the time on technological devices such as Television and video games. It is technology, yes, but not helpful to their developing minds. I discovered that I could still make a living while at the same time channeling their energies in the right direction. Hence, the business was born with the economic goal of making a living and a social one to provide supportive developmental programs and to protect the children from engaging in negative behaviors after school.
- How did you decide about the location?
Iqbal, Melhem, and Kokash (2012) highlight the importance of the location as a factor in the success of any business. Mr. Osman said that he decides the location of the business based on the proximity to the children’s home for security purposes. He is willing to set up as many centers as possible as long as am getting closer to the homes of the children as possible.
- What was your mission at the beginning?
I believed in supporting younger children and teenagers to develop their technical skills through giving something more than what they were able to get during the school hours. I saw myself supporting the learning and development of these young minds in a more directed and useful way. I would take them away from the unsupervised past time use of technology to more supervised and helpful use. I wanted to work with the parents in saving their children from the destructive use of technology.
- When did you bring your vision to reality?
I quit my teaching career at the end of 2006 and started my first center in January 2007. The Young Techwiz Centers attracted 10 children by April of the same year, which led to the need to start up more centers and employ more trainers to help in running the centers branching off from the initial one. Currently, the Young Techwiz Centers are 10 in total and hoping to continue expanding as the demand grows.
- How many employees?
Currently, I have employed ten technology instructors, each running one of the ten centers operating. However, I am looking at employing more as I continue to expand.
- What roles have the employees played in the success so far?
Just as Leonard (2013), I am a believer in the role motivated and innovative employee play in the success of any business. By compensating them and engaging them in supporting my vision and mission, I should say that they have been an important part of my success so far. This is supported by Iqbal, Melhem and Kokash (2012) who argue for the role of motivation in the success of entrepreneurship. I hold regular meetings with all the ten employees to discuss any planned changes and the strategic plan for the business.
- What are your goals and objectives moving forwards in the business?
My primary goal is to be able to support hundreds of children to become techno-savvy in the next ten years. Hence, I have the objective of opening up more centers and absorbing into the business or technology experts to help in achieving the goals. I will not mind absorbing back the beneficiaries of the program as they grow and develop in the world of technology. I am also working towards developing the beneficiaries, including my employees, economically.
- Do you consider partnering as the business continues to grow and expand?
In the last decade that I have been running this business, I am open to new ideas and new possibilities going forward. My business is adaptive and subject to change with the changes in the business environment, especially given the reality that I am operating in the world of technology. Hence, if partnering is what will support my vision going forward, then I am welcome to the idea.
- What is your source of motivation?
Cassar (2014) posits that without motivation an entrepreneur cannot succeed. I gain my motivation in knowing that whatever I produce is critical to the positive change and development of the future leaders in the world. Just knowing that my every idea has an impact on the lives of those young people propels me forward to generating more ideas and implementing them in practice.
- What advice would you give other individuals having the vision of becoming entrepreneurs?
I would advise them that it is possible as long as they are creative in their thinking. They need to be emotionally and intellectually intelligent and understand that their ideas today are the basis for major solutions to the challenges people face in their daily life (Morris, 2015). It is important to avoid thinking logically because as there are many reasons for success in business, there are as many reasons why the same idea cannot work. Focus on the reasons it can work and banish the negative thoughts.
Personal Reflection
I have learned important lessons in the interview, among them the importance of being a critical thinker as well as being emotional intelligent. Businesses succeed if they are being run by such leaders. I also realize the opportunistic attitude of the entrepreneur; he saw an opportunity and went as far ahead as to risk his career to make it happen (Leonard, 2013). Cardon et al. (2012) reveal that the idea of being a critical thinker as opposed to logical and the importance of being adaptable to change will help me in future endeavors. However, I would have liked to know if the entrepreneur has any philanthropic initiatives, but the information did not come up in the interview.
References
Cardon, M. S., Foo, M. D., Shepherd, D., & Wiklund, J. (2012). Exploring the heart: Entrepreneurial emotion is a hot topic. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 36(1), 1 10.
Cassar, G. (2014). Industry and startup experience on entrepreneur forecast performance in new firms. Journal of Business Venturing, 29(1), 137-151.
Chapter 2 Maximizing entrepreneurial leadership, pp. 22-46
Chapter 3 Entrepreneurial Organizations, pp. 51-75
Iqbal, A., Melhem, Y., & Kokash, H. (2012). Readiness of the university students towards entrepreneurship in Saudi Private University: An exploratory study. European Scientific Journal, ESJ, 8(15).
Leonard, J (2013). Innovation in the Schoolhouse: Entrepreneurial Leadership in Education. United Kingdom: Rowman & Littlefield Education Publishers
Morris, M. H. (2015). Entrepreneurship as Experience. Wiley Encyclopedia of Management.
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