In March 2009, a journey was started. It was an enriching and challenging journey that saw 29 participants of the Advanced Management Program (AMP), who, prior to meeting in class, may have been strangers or business partners to each other. Choices, and good choices at that, brought them together in a forum of learning and sharing of work challenges, experiences and applicable insights. It was a forum where they got to learn from best practice and shared useful insights with each other on a lateral level. This 4-week transformational experience culminated in IESE Business School, Barcelona - Spain, where together with AMP participants from Lagos Business School, closed the journey of classroom discussions and case studies, but began a journey of knowledge application at an individual, organisational and societal level.

Hitherto, these participants periodically meet for business and social matters alike, even after the SBS-AMP. Site visits, dinners, business concepts & ideas, are just but a few of the aftermaths that have now become synonymous with the AMP alumni groups. For instance, the AMP ‘08 class has been actively pooling funds to start a company, whose idea is yet to be conceptualized. But, from the zeal that they express, this will definitely become a reality. The AMP ‘09 class visited Mt. Kenya Bottlers – Nyeri, on Sunday, 17th January 2010, where they got to learn about the company’s strategy (at abstract level) and got to see the production process of the famous Coca-Cola products. Led by Joyce Macharia, MD of Mt. Kenya Bottlers, and alumni of the AMP ’09, the group got to witness the re-introduction of Coca-Cola’s Fanta Pineapple, from the source, through the production and up to its bottling process. They got to learn the elements that the company has chosen to employ to ensure operational excellence, which, needless to say, leads to efficiency and hence higher productivity, in terms of revenue and supply. The same group (AMP ‘09) visited HACO Industries, courtesy of Polycarp Igathe, MD of HACO and alumni of the AMP program with the same objective as of Mt. Kenya Bottlers.

Such endeavours have been and will be the fuel that keeps together this rich caucus of participants to continuously stir up practical knowledge amongst themselves and their organisations. SBS holds the element of networking as a key benefit to its participants, to acquire and continue with; as tool that will enable them benefit throughout their lifetime from class and thereafter.

Delivery of the AMP has improved through the years, with the last feature being the ‘West meets East’, where AMP participants from Lagos Business School and SBS have been meeting at IESE Business School during the 4th (last) module. AMP 2010 will have two international modules, with the 2nd and 4th modules being held at Lagos and Spain respectively, in the relative business schools.

For more information regarding the Advanced Management Program (AMP), please click here.