Page 13 - issue 25

BIUST Post Graduation 13

‘Do.Fail.Learn.Repeat’

“ I think it is time we view failure

differently as constraints lead to
innovation and creativity.

he just ended BIUST graduation was held under this context the Doctor told
the theme ‘Harnessing Innovative Technologies, graduands not to suffer from
Tentrepreneurship in pursuit of a knowledge based analysis paralysis. In his own
economy’. The guest of Honour Dr. Tiroyaone Mampane experience he just started with
who is the Founder and President of Boitekanelo College one program and three employees
wasted no time in encouraging the graduands by stating that but now the programme has over
they were a lucky cohort because they were already engineers. 20 programmes and staff of
He cited international and local engineers who had broken over 200. “I think it is time we
the glass ceiling in entrepreneurship such as Mr Oabona view failure differently as
Kgwengwenyane of Innolead Consulting. constraints lead to
innovation and
As an entrepreneur from humble
beginnings Dr. Mampane
pronounced to the graduands
that indeed the world is their
oyster. In his journey he has
learnt a lot and he decided
to share these lessons
with graduating class at
BIUST of 2019.

Lesson one is to ‘identify Dr. Tiroyaone Mampane : Founder and President of Boitekanelo College
challenges and problems
and turn them into opportunities’. In line with this context creativity. Let us remember Winston Churchill said no
he explained how as a young doctor he had identified great success was ever achieved without failure.” he said.
challenges such as the global shortage of health care workers,
unfavorable working conditions for health professionals and ‘Collaboration is the new currency’. This was the last lesson
high unemployment among the youth to name a few. At only the Doctor shared he quoted Steve jobs when he said great
30 years old he then decided to start a college that would help things are not done by one man but by a team. The college
ease the shortage of health care workers in Botswana. “I had enjoys partnerships with the Ministry of Health, Duke
a dream. I seized the opportunity before me, converted the University, Stellenbosch University and University of Cape
challenges into golden opportunities which in turn created Town for quality assurance. The college has also housed
opportunities for other young people,” he said. one of its programme with Institute of Development
Management eSwatini.
Lesson two he said ‘Think big, start small, Act fast and stay
on course’. Dr. Mampane cited his own example of having “Alain Bezeau also said you are a piece of a great puzzle
started the college in a three bedroomed house. “To be and if you don’t play your role the puzzle will never be
a true entrepreneur you have to learn to work within the complete. Your piece is unique just like you. I have trust in
limited resources whether land, human resources or finance, you and I know you will be a leader first of all for yourself
“he stated. He urged the graduands to be the new type of and humanity,” he concluded.
entrepreneur called Intrapreneur and be the change and stay
on course.The third lesson was ‘Do. Fail. Learn. Repeat’. In

www.engineermagazine.co.bw Issue 25 - Dec/Jan 2020