Kenya and South Africa: If we can make it, Africa can

Louise shares some of her experiences and impressions from a recent immersion to Kenya during which she got to visit Naivasha, Nairobi, Mombasa and Diani. She had the opportunity to explore and engage with amongst others companies and farms that operate in the $900m per annum Horticulture industry, Safaricom – the biggest telco and mobile money (MPESA) operator in the country, and trade through the East African Tea Trade Association (EATTA). She ventures some thoughts on how a stronger relationship between the two countries and a deeper trade relationship – especially with the advent of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) – could benefit the broader region.

Bio

Louise Claassen is a consultant that designs, develops and facilitates people development initiatives that equips leaders, managers and specialists to elevate the present and to create
a compelling future. She is particularly interested in how leaders develop a more global outlook from a South African and African context.

Louise is passionate about the power of immersive and participative models of learning in unleashing creative and innovative thinking in individuals and teams. This energy is applied to solve complex problems and create new opportunities for organisations. Action learning, local and international immersions and gamification can be used to take learning about self and other to new levels, and to encourage collaboration and develop highly effective teams. She is also experimenting with “virtual immersions” that will allow people an experience of the world beyond our borders by harnessing the power of digital and virtual technologies. Louise thinks Johannesburg is the most extraordinary city in the world and is proud to call it home. She has a passion for the African continent and its incredible people.

She has worked with a range of companies such as Business Connexion Group, Standard Bank, Discovery Health, Massmart, UCS Solutions, Mr Price Group, AON, Pick n Pay, Edcon,
Shoprite and Pepkor. She has also worked on sector programmes such as the BANKSETA International Executive Development Programme, W&RSETA International Leadership

Development Programme and the INSETA Captains of Industry Programme. She has been involved with the African Women Chartered Accountants (AWCA), the Graça Machel Trust and Tateni.