Monique Schmidt – Program Director
As a result of joining the Commonwealth, the Rwanda Development Board and the Commonwealth Business Council held the first Rwanda Investment Forum last week. Over 350 leaders from business and government, including 110 international delegates from 25 countries attended. And so did I. Before leaving for the conference, Elizabeth emailed me explicit instructions: “Network! Make connections and partnerships!”
Monday morning I got up early and psyched myself up for the event. All the way to the hotel, in my head I chanted, “network network network!” The first session started on time, and the keynote speaker, His Excellency, the President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame spoke on how the increased foreign and domestic investment will be reflected not only in increased income levels, but also in acquisition of new skills and knowledge.
After the first session, the doors to the conference hall opened to start the first coffee/networking break. Armed with my business cards, I set forth to network. Upon entering the coffee/tea tent, I had no idea how to select with whom I should speak; so I looked around…and in the back of the tent, surrounded by a group of East African Businessmen, I saw—His Excellency, Paul Kagame!
“Hmmm,” I thought, “it’d probably be good if I could talk to him.” So, I walked over and tried to break through the circle of suits surrounding him. No luck until a man from the Commonwealth Business Council came over and asked what I was doing.
“I’m supposed to talk to the President,” I said. (which, in theory, could have been true, since Elizabeth had told me to network, she could have meant, ‘talk to the President’ )
“Who are you?” he asked.
“I’m Monique Schmidt,” I replied.
No glimmer of recognition on his face. “For whom do you work?” he responded.
“I’m the Program Director for the Akilah Institute for Women,” I said (and I said it like it was reaaaally important)
“Oh,” he said. “Wait here.”
So, I waited, trying to formulate something intelligent in my head to say to His Excellency.
All of a sudden the Commonwealth Business Council man gave me a tug on my arm and said, “Go!”
Next thing I knew I was standing next to the President, handing him my business card, and explaining what Akilah does.
His Excellency listened to me, looked at my business card, and said, “That’s good.”
Then, someone else moved in, and I found myself back outside the circle of suits.
I found the rest of the conference truly educational, and as far as networking goes, it got a lot easier after I finished talking to the President. 