The University of Arkansas welcomes Erika Amoako-Agyei
Erika Amoako-Agyei
Erika Amoako-Agyei recently joined the University of Arkansas as an adjunct professor and visiting faculty member to teach Conducting Business in Africa.
DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS
May 2015 Intersession Course | WCOB 410V/510V
Course: Conducting Business in Africa
Instructor: Erika Amoako-Agyei, Adjunct Professor & Visiting Faculty Member
May 2015 Intersession Course | WCOB 410V/510V
Course: Conducting Business in Africa
Instructor: Erika Amoako-Agyei, Adjunct Professor & Visiting Faculty Member
by Sandra Cox | June 11, 2014
Source: University of Arkansas
Erika Amoako-Agyei is passionate about Africa. She consults corporations wishing to expand to the continent and advises college students considering careers there.
As executive director and founder of Africa Intercultural Consulting, Amoako-Agyei often lives out of a suitcase. Her job may take her to Houston, where she advises oil companies with a presence in Africa and then, perhaps, to an academic setting, such as the Sam M. Walton College of Business, where she recently taught a class titled Conducting Business in Africa.
“I encourage students to explore opportunities to invest in and launch successful partnerships with African-led businesses and enterprises in order to create needed jobs and spur economic growth."
For the business course, which included both graduate and undergraduate students, she used the same model that she applies in the corporate world. She discussed the importance of building relationships in Africa and, as the main assignment, had students come up with socially responsible business plans for African nations that are sustainable and “uplift the community.”
They looked at the issues the continent faces, such as the need for preventative health care, jobs and skills training for a population mostly under the age of 25 and the need for improved infrastructure, running water and better roads. Amoako-Agyei hopes this inspires students to consider Africa as a viable investment destination with growth opportunities in multiple sectors,” she says. “I encourage students to explore opportunities to invest in and launch successful partnerships with African-led businesses and enterprises in order to create needed jobs and spur economic growth.
“Sub-Saharan Africa is still the second fastest growing region in the world, growing at a rate of about 6.5 percent, but the masses of people have yet to feel the growth and experience the prosperity. The continent certainly has its share of problems, but there are also real stories of a growing middle class,” she says.
Based in Glendale, Arizona, Amoako-Agyei has many family members still in Ghana. She visits Africa often and has lived and worked professionally in six African nations while working in various management and consulting roles including several years with the IBM Corporation. Her work has been the subject of National Public Radio and feature articles such as Money Magazine and UK-based Western Africa Magazine (WAM).
While in Africa, Amoako-Agyei noticed much environmental damage caused by oil companies and the need to improve how resources are extracted. “We can have all the resources in the ground, but if we don’t have the expertise to extract them, we’re worth nothing,” she says.
The observation led her to consult with oil and mining industries, and others as well, in promoting cross-cultural management, communications, teaming and socially responsible business practices. “I like to steer companies to provide sustainable benefits to the people and communities in which they operate,” she says.
Amoako-Agyei says she came to the University of Arkansas to teach at the invitation of Dr. David Douglas, Walton College information systems professor, whom she met through a Ph.D. program aimed at getting more minorities involved with the sciences. She describes her visits to the Walton College as “fascinating” and sees a role where the University of Arkansas’ presence could be felt in Africa.
It’s quite likely that Amoako-Agyei will be walking down the hallways of the Walton College in the near future. She says she plans to return as she continues to promote an exchange between Africa and the University of Arkansas. “My passion comes from my love for Africa,” she says.
To learn more about Erika, please visit her website at www.africaintercultural.com.
Source: University of Arkansas
Source: University of Arkansas
Erika Amoako-Agyei is passionate about Africa. She consults corporations wishing to expand to the continent and advises college students considering careers there.
As executive director and founder of Africa Intercultural Consulting, Amoako-Agyei often lives out of a suitcase. Her job may take her to Houston, where she advises oil companies with a presence in Africa and then, perhaps, to an academic setting, such as the Sam M. Walton College of Business, where she recently taught a class titled Conducting Business in Africa.
“I encourage students to explore opportunities to invest in and launch successful partnerships with African-led businesses and enterprises in order to create needed jobs and spur economic growth."
For the business course, which included both graduate and undergraduate students, she used the same model that she applies in the corporate world. She discussed the importance of building relationships in Africa and, as the main assignment, had students come up with socially responsible business plans for African nations that are sustainable and “uplift the community.”
They looked at the issues the continent faces, such as the need for preventative health care, jobs and skills training for a population mostly under the age of 25 and the need for improved infrastructure, running water and better roads. Amoako-Agyei hopes this inspires students to consider Africa as a viable investment destination with growth opportunities in multiple sectors,” she says. “I encourage students to explore opportunities to invest in and launch successful partnerships with African-led businesses and enterprises in order to create needed jobs and spur economic growth.
“Sub-Saharan Africa is still the second fastest growing region in the world, growing at a rate of about 6.5 percent, but the masses of people have yet to feel the growth and experience the prosperity. The continent certainly has its share of problems, but there are also real stories of a growing middle class,” she says.
Based in Glendale, Arizona, Amoako-Agyei has many family members still in Ghana. She visits Africa often and has lived and worked professionally in six African nations while working in various management and consulting roles including several years with the IBM Corporation. Her work has been the subject of National Public Radio and feature articles such as Money Magazine and UK-based Western Africa Magazine (WAM).
While in Africa, Amoako-Agyei noticed much environmental damage caused by oil companies and the need to improve how resources are extracted. “We can have all the resources in the ground, but if we don’t have the expertise to extract them, we’re worth nothing,” she says.
The observation led her to consult with oil and mining industries, and others as well, in promoting cross-cultural management, communications, teaming and socially responsible business practices. “I like to steer companies to provide sustainable benefits to the people and communities in which they operate,” she says.
Amoako-Agyei says she came to the University of Arkansas to teach at the invitation of Dr. David Douglas, Walton College information systems professor, whom she met through a Ph.D. program aimed at getting more minorities involved with the sciences. She describes her visits to the Walton College as “fascinating” and sees a role where the University of Arkansas’ presence could be felt in Africa.
It’s quite likely that Amoako-Agyei will be walking down the hallways of the Walton College in the near future. She says she plans to return as she continues to promote an exchange between Africa and the University of Arkansas. “My passion comes from my love for Africa,” she says.
To learn more about Erika, please visit her website at www.africaintercultural.com.
Source: University of Arkansas
