The African Social Entrepreneur: What can we learn from Bill Gates?
By: Onaoluwa Abimbola
Tags: Fellows, Bill And Melinda Gates, Johannesburg, Social Enterprise, Generationafrica

I have never met Bill Gates. But, the next best thing happened. During the course of this week, I was priviledged to meet some of the wonderful people at the South African office of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Generation Africa Fellows, in training, visited the office.

GenA Fellows at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation office in Johannesburg.

Moky Makura spent a few minutes describing the work of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on the first day of the training programme for the Thomson Reuters Generation Africa Fellows. From Moky’s words, everyone in the room could feel the passion and drive of this great man who has definitely made a tremendous impact on lives across the globe. Generation African Fellows were later invited to the Foundation’s Johannesburg office for lunch. It was a time for interaction and sharing. While at the office, I made some observations, which I share below.

Background: Bill Gates was also the only example that came to mind when my dad glibly told me back in 2013 to “go and make your own money first before you ask other people to support your medical outreaches and health education efforts”. I could not reject that advice because there is a man called Bill Gates (he made his money before deciding to give lots of it away).

That is the one key lesson I think all African Social Entrepreneurs can learn from him. He was a businessman until he saw an article about rotavirus and the consequent diarrhoeal disease killing millions of children before the age of 5. He did not lament but asked the question, what can we do about this? Did he abandon his business to focus on this new mission? No, he stayed on with Microsoft, even after he started the Foundation. He was able to remain focused on his primary business while still taking a very active role at the Foundation. This is a very important lesson, right? The idea that a social entrepreneur cannot effectively deliver if they have some other focus areas is thus proven false.

I realised a second lesson was on offer as we moved round the Johannesburg office of the Foundation. The smooth efficiency and cool professionalism of the team are reminiscent of a high flying business environment. Yet the family touch was not missing. Obviously, business best practices are incorporated into the workings of the Foundation. It appears this is a direct influence from Mr. Gates or from the Microsoft Culture. What does this teach me? A social enterprise does not have to be inefficient or not businesslike. The culture and atmosphere of the social enterprise do not need to be so different from any business enterprise because it is a social enterprise.

Finally, there was a cool diversity in the team at the Johannesburg office. From Moky whose tall, slim looks initially made me think she was a cool Rwandan lady- she is Nigerian by the way - to Liz to the two Americans — Lisa and to Uche Amaonwu, there is a very healthy mix and sufficient diversity in the room. For any social enterprise that will make maximum impact, building a team with people from diverse backgrounds is key and will likely be crucial to building an organization that will outlast the founders.

Onaoluwa Abimbola, Aminata Gba Kamara and Eno Okpo (Right to Left)

Perhaps, this is the reason why so many African enterprises appear to fade away in less than 4 generations. Hardly will you find an African company that proudly states “Established 1908”… After all, we had rich African traders at the time too, why have their enterprises died?

All the other lessons that entrepreneurs can learn will of course apply. Having an eye for great talent, staying adaptable, yet recognisable, remaining resilient etc.

So, feel free to take a moment, pause for a moment and pick a lesson or two from a great man.

P.S.

I can write easier on Facebook at the moment on this device, so will be sharing about the Generation Africa journey using the hashtag #GenA2019