From A Dream To a Business
By Neil Palmer (as published in The National February 9, 2012) Like many entrepreneurs in the Emirates, Natalie Brown started a small business from scratch. “It’s everybody’s dream,” says Ms Brown, who set up an advisory company, Select Training and Management Consultancy, in 2006. “When I speak to people they always say ‘I want to have my own business. I want to be my own boss.’ And it sounds great, but it’s easier said than done,”says the managing director of Select Training. At the latest Tamakkan Inspire, a free monthly seminar for entrepreneurs that alternates between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, Ms Brown and others shared their strategies for successfully building a business from the ground up in the UAE. Planning was a key theme. Ms Brown, for one, drafted a number of growth plans early on, with goals at three-month, six-month and three-year intervals. Yet it is impossible to draft a plan that accounts for all possible bumps in the road, some argue. “You can never anticipate everything that’s going to happen,” says Alma Kadragic, who has owned a public relations agency and now develops academic programmes at the University of Wollongong in Dubai. Here are tips offered by small-business owners: Hire strategically Finding the right employees is “not about hiring who we want”, says Shridhar Sampath, the founder of the business advisory Motivaluate Consulting. Instead of recruiting those who seem nice enough and would make for a comfortable fit in the office, entrepreneurs should remain focused on the purpose a person would fulfil. Sometimes that requires taking more time. “I wanted a salesperson and someone who could do secretarial work as well,” says Mr Sampath. “It took four months to find someone who had an entrepreneurial mindset to deliver more.” Develop a niche Many employee training companies now operate in the Emirates, and there were even some back in 1995 when Ms Brown arrived in Abu Dhabi. But over the years she noticed a lack of firms focused on UAE nationals and Emiratisation programmes, which is part of the reason she eventually targeted nationals when she launched her advisory more than a decade later. “I realised there was a niche in the market for training,” says Ms Brown, who has about 25 employees. “I’ve had a lot of exposure with Emiratis and the culture, and I tried to devise my own materials. I would have case studies for the weekend – being Friday and Saturday, not a Saturday and Sunday, and people going to a cafeteria – not a pub.” Conserve cash Some experts note that most small businesses that fail tend to go under within their first...
Unleash Your Business Success
PROGRAMME: “How to Achieve Profitable Growth while your Competition groans!” by Shridhar Sampath, Consultant and Founder of Motivaluate Consulting. “Top Ten Ways to Engage in 2012” by George Swan, Manager Strategy and Performance – SEHA Entrepreneur Spotlight: Natalie Brown Creativity Focus: “The Dream Players” Panel Discussion by Suleman Din, Associate Editor, Arabic, Knowledge@Wharton Poem Recitation by Noura
ACHIEVING PEAK PERFORMANCE
Tamakkan presents ‘unleash business sucess in the new year’. This workshop invites participants to gear up for peak performance and business success! Get planning with your business strategy with valuable insights from experts in strategy making. Presenters include Shridhar Sampath, George Swan and Natalie Brown.
UOWD hosts Tamakkan seminar on ‘How to Start a Business’
Dubai, : International and regional entrepreneurs shared their experiences and their “passion” at the second Tamakkan Entrepreneurship Seminar organized by the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) on the topic “How to start a Business and How to Find Investors.”
Tamakkan Corporate Bootcamp Workshops
Tamakkan is pleased to announce its upcoming Corporate Bootcamp schedule for January 2012, organised by BrandMoxie. Learning is spread across one day and half day intensive learning bootcamps. TOPIC OUTLINES FOR JANUARY GIVING PRESENTATIONS THAT WIN How to make powerful audio-visual presentations and impress your audience Instructor: Ian Mason Many people hate giving presentations because they are afraid it will be boring. This full-day workshop shows you the simple and effective techniques that will turn your presentation from dull to dynamite. Learn about where to stand in the room, what audio and visual aids to use, how to make the most of audio and visual aids, how to time your presentation, and how to handle questions from the audience. This workshop will offer the chance to learn new skills and practice them. Date of the course: January 4, 11, 18 and 25 Length of the course/ cost: Full day/ AED 2000 ACHIEVING LEADERSHIP IN 2012 Skills to help you be the leader your company wants you to be Instructor: Ify Akpuaka Your leadership skills will make or break your business; are yours up to the mark? How are your leadership skills impacting your business? In this workshop we discuss two approaches to leadership – Situational Leadership and Action Centered Leadership. With situational leadership you will learn how to identify your employees’ competence levels in a given business situation and how to adapt your leadership style to suit your employees’ capabilities. With action centered leadership you analyze the three areas of the work environment and adapt your leadership style to that. Bonus: Within seven days of the course you can avail a private one-to-one individual coaching session to discuss the particular challenges you faced with your leadership skills in the past week to learn alternative responsive actions. Date of the course: January 21 Length of the course/ cost: Half day/ AED 1500 MANAGING YOURSELF: PRIORITIES AND DECISIONS Know your priorities and identify ways to get it Instructor: Ify Akpuaka This half day workshop focuses on you – your ability to identify your priorities, your problem solving skills and your decision making skills. It introduces you to the priority management matrix; a problem solving model and a 2X2 decision making matrix. Using these tools can help you run your operations easier than ever and leave your more time to focus on strategic management. Date of the course: January 28 Length of the course/ cost: Half day/ AED 1500 SIMPLE YET EFFECTIVE SELLING SKILLS Increase sales and boost your business Instructor: Ian Mason Many businesses miss out on opportunities to make easy money. Learn some quick and simple selling techniques that your staff...
