Volume 1 no.

1 Issued Quarterly February 2019

GHANA

Mustard Seed
The

In This Issue Stanford Seed Network Brings

Together Over 200 Businesses And
Stanford Seed Network
Brings Together Over 200 40+ Investors To Its First Global
Businesses And 40+ Investors
To Its First Global Summit Summit 2018 In Nairobi, Kenya
2018 In Nairobi, Kenya
In September last year, over 200 business founders/owners from across Africa and India
Seed Transformation gathered in Nairobi, Kenya, for the inaugural Seed Transformation Network Global
Summit. Each business leader in attendance completed the Seed Transformation
Network
Program, a one-year certificate program delivered by Stanford University through
(Ghana Chapter) Holds First Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Conference

Seed Transformation Network

Ghana Inducts New Members

Training Workshop On
Finance Masterclass For Seed
Transformation Network
Members

Know Your Executives
The inaugural event provided an
opportunity for some of the most
promising business leaders in Africa and
India to continue their learning and to
network with the goal of scaling their
businesses, creating jobs, and, ultimately,
expanding the impact their businesses
have on their communities and countries.
The event included industry expert
panels, company tours to Kenyan
participants’ businesses, and learning
sessions, facilitated by Seed Faculty
Director Jesper Sørensen and Professor of
organizational behavior Sarah Soule
“We have found that 58% of Seed
participants conduct business together
after completing the program. I am
continually amazed at their level of
commitment to each other and their local
communities,” said Darius Teter, Seed
Executive Director. “This Summit builds on
the idea that a lasting sustainable solution
to poverty relies on entrepreneurs’ initiative,
perseverance, and willingness to take risks.
The global network of entrepreneurs that is
gathered here is united by a shared mission:
to grow their organizations and bring
prosperity to their regional economies.”
Company tours included visits to vibrant
businesses such as FunKidz, the first global
children’s furniture brand in Africa; Vivo
Activewear, an 11-store business providing
the largest range of locally designed and
manufactured women’s clothing and
activewear in Kenya; and Magana Flowers, a
floriculture farm that produces and exports
flowers to Russia, Japan, Australia, Europe,
and the Middle East.
“Since completing the Seed Transformation
Program, we’ve grown from six stores to 11.
We’ve doubled our revenue. We’ve doubled
our staff,” said Wandia Gichuru, CEO of
Vivo Activewear. “I think what is so special
about Seed is not just what happens in the
classroom, but also what happens outside
the classroom. The network is perhaps as
valuable as the coursework and the other
resources the program offers. I think we
have just begun to scratch the surface on
how powerful a network like this can be.”
The Seed Transformation Program first
launched in West Africa in 2013, expanded
to East Africa in 2016 and to India and South
Africa in 2017. Stanford faculty members
travel to each region to share Silicon Valley
insights into entrepreneurship to business
owners/founders with the goal of spurring
business growth and, as a result, global
prosperity.
Recent surveys indicate the majority of
Seed participants who completed the
program grow their businesses overall.
Findings include: 62 percent hire new
full-time employees; 63 percent increase
revenue; and 86 percent increase their
overall customers after completing the
program. Past participants have raised over
$25 million in capital for the growth of their
companies.
 Seed Transformation Network
(Ghana Chapter) Holds First Conference
The maiden edition of the
Stanford Seed Transformation
Network (Ghanaian Chapter)
Summit was held in Accra
on the 22nd of June 2018, at
the Marriott Hotel, Airport
City. With a broad panel of
speakers, the summit gave
participants an opportunity to
network and be inspired, with
a focus on the theme “Turning
Adversity into Growth.” The
speakers included Ambassador
Robert Jackson (US Ambassador
to Ghana), Dr. Yaw Adu-Gyamfi
(President of Association of Ghana
Industries), Mr. Emmanuel Kitcher
(Stanford Seed Regional Director,
West Africa), and Mr. Vish Ashiagbor
(Managing Partner, PwC Ghana).
Georgette Barnes (CEO of Georgette
Barnes Ltd.) and Ehi Binitie
(CEO, Clearspace Lab), were the
chairpersons for the event.

Seed Transformation Network Ghana Inducts New Members

The Class of 2018, West and Southern Africa
are the latest to complete the yearlong
Stanford Seed Transformation Program.
The West Africa centre was established in
2013 to equip entrepreneurs to lead their
regions to prosperity. Leaders of private
sector business are taken through intensive
sessions taught by Stanford faculty
and industry experts using experiential
learning. Made up of over 100 Ghanaian
entrepreneurs, the Network has a mission to
transform local companies to international
players. It hopes to achieve this by creating
a learning environment for members as
well as competitive advantage through
partnerships to grow their businesses.
Madam Constance Elizabeth Swaniker,
President of the Seed Transformation
Network (Ghana Chapter) and CEO of
Accents and Arts welcomed the new
members and urged them to be guided by
the values of Stanford Seed, “I entreat you
all to live the Stanford Seed value of using
your knowledge and skills to transform your
businesses to grow the economy”.
am convinced that together
we can contribute to the
development of Ghana,” he
stated.
The event afforded the
new executive committee,
who were elected into
office in September 2018,
an opportunity to network
and share experiences with
members. Other executives
present at the event
were Linda Ampah, Vice
She said the Network will work with the relevant government President and CEO of Kad
agencies in the coming year to address the needs of members, Manufacturing Limited
“we are committed to building a relationship with relevant (Cadling fashions)
government agencies and other stakeholders to elicit their Mr. Samuel Agyapong
support for the business needs of our members and how we can Appenteng, Treasurer,
contribute to the growth of the Ghanaian economy.” Mr. Romeo Kwame Bugyei,
Communications Officer,
Mr Eugene Eluerkeh, on behalf the newly elected Network Georgette B. Sakyi-Addo,
members expressed appreciation for the opportunity to be Learning and Events Officer,
part of the Seed Transformation Network, “we cherish this and ambassadors of the
platform that offers support for the growth of our businesses, I other cohorts.

Training Workshop On Finance Masterclass

For Seed Transformation Network Members
Seed Transformation network
has held a Training Workshop on
Finance MASTERCLASS for the
network members. The training-
workshop took place on 6th
April, 2018 at the Best Western
Premier Hotel at the Airport
Residential area in Accra and was
led by Stanford Seed West Africa
Facilitator, James Sagoe. James
Sagoe is a Chartered Accountant,
Banker and Financial Analyst in a
career spanning over thirty years.
The class was divided into three
different sessions which included
Financial Statements, Accounting
Ratios and Operating cycle.
The workshop was attended by
nineteen (19) persons from the
various Seed companies including
representatives from Stanford
Seed.
WHY JOIN SEED TRANSFORMATION NETWORK?
Participants were pleased with
• Opportunities for growth through a vast inter-company
the course content and materials.
networking and referrals
They remarked that discussions
• Efficient Advocacy to ensure better government policies for
during learning process was very
members
relevant in training. Participants
• Access to funding opportunities for members
were also impressed with the
• Access to technical support (Coaches and consultants)
general presentation, effectiveness
• Providing a platform for efficient and fair market
of audio visuals materials and how
opportunities both home and abroad.
the course was relevant to their
• Continues learning Opportunities through
responsibilities and needs.
tactical conferences, leadership labs and workshops.
Know Your Executives Constance Elizabeth Swaniker was born in diplomatic missions both home and abroad.
August 1973 in Accra, Ghana. She obtained
her basic and secondary education in The Her work has been recognized in reputable

Constance Gambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Accra

Elizabeth Swaniker
President-Seed Transformation Network Ghana
Academy in Ghana from 1980-1993. This
diversity in her background has strongly
influenced her outlook on life, art and
business.
She studied for a Bachelor of Arts degree
majoring in Sculpture at KNUST College of Art
in Kumasi from 1994-1999. During this period,
Constance also undertook her apprenticeship
as a carpenter at Art Deco Ltd.
The entrepreneur and strategic thinker in her
motivated Constance to establish Accents
& Art Ltd, the premier purveyor of the finest
crafted bespoke wrought iron furniture made
in Ghana and arguably, West Africa six months
after graduating from school.
Constance’s work can be found in a wide
range of upscale homes, offices and
awards such as “Outstanding Industrial Metal
Furniture Firm” in Ghana Award by wAi Africa,
The Network Journal Africa 40-under Forty
2010 Achievement Award, Best Entrepreneur
SME Innovation Award 2010, VLISCO Be Your
Dream Award -2013, Metal Product of the Year
2013 and Regional & Country Winner, Africa’s
Most Influential Women in Leadership and
Governance-2014
Recently, she has established the Design and
Technolgy Institute, working closely with
the local universities and polytechnic to aid
bridge the gap between the archaic school
curriculum and industry by providing students
a platform to gain practical experience.
In June, 2018, she was elected as the
President of STN to steer the affairs of the
network for the next two years.

Linda Ampah of women and children. With 130 workers,

Vice President, Seed Transformation Network - Ghana
Linda Ampah is a Ghanaian fashion designer
and entrepreneur whose collections are
inspired by Africa’s bright and fun fabrics.
Linda turned a small tailor shop into a
global manufacturing business without
compromising quality and personality. Over
the past years, Linda has defied odds to
expand production capacity in order to mass
produce for other designers and companies.
Her success is due largely on the networks
she has forged: with clients, she prioritizes
the need for comfort, particularly, fashion,
and quality with employees, she cares deeply
about their well-being. Linda is passionate
about providing skills and job avenues
that significantly heighten living standards
many of them recruited from Accra’s streets
and trained in-house. She has plans to build
housing for her female staffers, a canteen,
and a nursery for their children. She also is
building new production facility that should
enable KAD to grow its workforce to 450 within
two years
Linda Ampah, CEO of Kad Manufacturing and
Cadling Fashions, an alumnus of the Stanford
Seed program, was invited to be a panelist
at the Africa Business Forum (ABF) on May
12, 2018 at the Stanford Graduate Business
School. Also, Linda is the longest serving judge
on TV3’s Ghana’s Most Beautiful pageant.
At the STN general meeting in June, Linda
was elected the Vice-President of Stanford
Transformation Network.

Samuel Agyapong Appenteng

Treasurer- Seed Transformation Network Ghana

Mr. Samuel Agyapong Appenteng is
an Engineer and an accomplished
Entrepreneur. He is a graduate of
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science
and Technology, School of Engineering
and University of Leicester, UK where
he graduated with BSc (Chemical
Engineering) and MBA (Finance)
respectively. He has in-depth industry
and business leadership experience
gained from various capacities as Director
(Technical Services) and General Manager
of Intravenous Infusions, Ghana Ltd. He
has also been a long standing member
of the Association of Ghana Industries,
AGI where he was National Treasurer and
twice as National Vice-President for 8
years and a Council Member for 20 years.
He is currently the Managing Director
of the Joissam Group (Joissam Ghana
Limited, Joissam Cote D’ivoire Sarl,
Joissam Liberia Ltd, Joissam Sierra Leone
Ltd, Joissam Ghana Au Togo, Joissam
Benin Ltd, Appenbros Nigeria Ltd and
Joissam Gabon Sarl). He is the Chairman
of the Ghana Alternative Exchange (GAX),
Chairman of IFS Capital Management
Limited, Chairman of Development
Fund for Industries, Chairman of Eastern
Premier Hotel and Member of the Board
of IFS Financial Services, Intravenous
Infusion Limited and Methodist University
College Council.
He is a Corporate Member of the Ghana
Institution of Engineers and a fellow of
the African Leadership Initiative, West
Africa (affiliate of the Aspen Institute
of Colorado, USA). In recognition of his
efforts and experience he was elected
the Treasurer of the Seed Transformation
Network, Ghana.
Romeo Kwame Bugyei
Communications Officer , Seed Transformation Network -Ghana

Romeo has vast experience in Insurance
Management and Entrepreneurship having held
top managerial positions in a number of IT and
Financial Services organizations, including SIC
Insurance Company Limited, Ghana for well
over
a decade. His range of experience also includes
IT
Consulting roles with Deloitte & Touche
Consulting West Africa, and involve advising
companies on Business process re-engineering,
systems development, audits and analysis, and
the development of database systems for varied
industrial applications and fields. He has been
involved in the design and implementation of
systems for Financial Institutions, Insurance
Companies and many other industries using
digital means of payments on the web, mobile
phone and tablet.
Romeo has a Masters and Bachelors degrees in
Computer programming and Systems Design
& Analysis from Shanghai University of Science
and Technology, China and the Kwame Nkrumah
University of Science and Technology, Ghana
respectively. He has programming experience
from University settings; hardware and
software problem solving for departmental
systems; experience in supervising
programmers as a senior programmer
and as a systems analyst for the Cape
Coast University. He also has extensive
experience in Mobile Money Operations and
related integrations.
Romeo is currently the Managing Director
of IT Consortium Ltd, one of the first
companies in Ghana to introduce Mobile
Money as an alternative means of payment.
He currently chairs the Governing Council
of the Technology Chamber of Ghana and
has been a discussant on many issues
relating to digital payments, financial data
aggregation and the use of the phone as
a means of targeting the informal sectors
of the economy
for financial inclusion. He
was elected the Communications Officer
for Seed Transformation Network Ghana in
June, 2018.

GEORGETTE B. SAKYI-ADDO
Laerning And Events Officer, Seed Transformation Network -Ghana.

Georgette Barnes Sakyi-Addo has
consistently founded and managed
startups and small and medium
business entities in the mining
sector, and sought to give of herself
and make an impact on others in
the mining community. In 1993, she
served as an Administrative Assistant
at International Gold Resources (IGR)
in Accra and went on to represent the
company and established IGR office in
Burkina Faso, She travelled all over West Africa
to assist with Concessions Acquisition and also
actively giving other young job seekers a chance.
She was subsequently the first hire at Resource
Services Group (RSG) where she established its
new offices as head of administration. But she
went beyond duty and took interest in the core
business, and for the following 10 years she
worked with the Team on projects throughout
West Africa that have culminated in the collection
of geological data of the sub-region that has
become an important exploration resource in the
public domain today.
In 2004, She became Founding Managing Director
of Corstor Ghana Limited, a mining supplies
firm headquartered in Johannesburg. Under
Georgette’s direction and leadership, the mine
support business caught the attention of an
Industry Giant which acquired the Corstor group
including it’s Ghana branch. She also represented
Westernex in Ghana and the West Africa sub
region as non-executive director.
She has also established her own locally-owned
drilling supplies company, Georgette Barnes
Ltd, representing known sector brands such as
Australian Mud Company, Breithaupt, RIDGID
and Westernex. To top it all, she is sharing her
knowledge and experience by establishing
Women in Mining Ghana and volunteering as
co-ordinator. Georgette is also a volunteer
and Founder of Accra Mining Network (AMN)
dedicated to people working in all aspects of the
mining industry in Ghana to “meet, learn & earn”.
AMN currently has an on-line presence of over
500 people.
She studied for a BA in French and Linguistics,
and a Graduate Diploma in Communications
at the University of Ghana. Yet, Georgette
continues to learn. In 2005 she earned a diploma
in Accounting/Finance; and in 2015, received a
Certificate in Mining Law & Policy (University of
Ghana) and another for Proficiency in Principles
of Mining Engineering and Surface Mining
Operations from UMaT. Georgette has been
named as one of the 100 Global Inspirational
Women in Mining. In June 2018, she took the
office of Learning and Events officer for Seed
Transformation Network Ghana.

Contribute To The Impact Of The Seed Pay by cheque/Direct Bank Transfer

Transformation Network, Ghana Chapter
Pay your dues. Ghc 1500 for
companies with one member. GHC
2000 for a company with more than
one member
Bank details:
Name: Seed Transformation Network
Bank: Stanbic Bank
Branch: University of Ghana
Account No: 9040006180153