By Sidi Teguedi, 2022 Mandela Washington Fellow
It was around midnight, the end of the last day of the 2022 Mandela Washington Fellowship group in Evanston. I sat on my bed, trying to process the overwhelming emotions, memories, information, and ideas I had been blessed with during the six-week program.
Since graduating from engineering school five years ago, I have worked in supply chain and sustainable business development at Tasiast Mauritanie Ltd. I also helped companies in Mauritania build and implement their missions and quality management systems. In the process, I noticed several everyday struggles and stresses among local Mauritanian businesses regarding supply management. In response to the needs I saw, started Shary, a distribution company providing an online business-to-business marketplace that connects small and medium businesses with limited resources and big aspirations to wholesalers, manufacturers, and lenders in one place to enable a seamless, insightful, and bold way of doing business.
2022 Mandela Washington Fellowship cohort
I felt proud to believe I could make it into one of the most selective African programs. Before starting the program, I reviewed my notes and worked out my top objectives for this opportunity. I decided that my main goal would be getting out of my comfort zone and learn more about business planning and execution strategies. I am Proud that I showed up for the challenge with an open mind and an inclusive approach, ready to learn and participate fully in the academic sessions, and ready to share, interact, and connect with my peers. And ready to grow my skills and embrace the different views, backgrounds, and leadership styles that each fellow brought to the cohort. I am grateful for the connections and knowledge acquired during the program.
I packed my bags that night and headed home to Mauritania the next day with a strong belief in Africa’s future and a clear development plan I wanted to pursue in my community, company, and country. Participation in the fellowship program helped me redefine my leadership vision. I aspire to implement what I learned and build an inclusive environment where we embrace our differences and focus on developing our people and culture to serve our community and empower organizations with more innovative ways to operate and grow efficiently.
As a young African leader, the Mandela Washington Fellowship helped me discover my strengths, identify my weaknesses, and redefine my vision, career goals, and projects. It was a privilege and an eye-opening experience to participate in the various communities at Northwestern
University, Evanston, and Illinois. From the site visits and community services we did, I learned that significant projects and big changes could be achieved when we have positive purposes and engaged people.
Sidi Teguedi is a sustainable business development specialist at Tasiast Mauritanie Ltd., part of the metal ore mining industry. He also has three years of volunteering experience as a student social entrepreneur in Morocco and holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering.