Professor Porter is considered the world’s leading authority on competitive strategy and the competitiveness and economic development of nations, states and regions. Among those who attended the session were top executives in the corporate circles and the public sector, entrepreneurs, and Strathmore Business School MBA and Executive Program students, among others.

Professor Porter’s talk, entitled “Global Competitiveness: Implications for Kenya” and moderated by strategy consultant and SBS Advisory Board Member Sunny Bindra, focused on two areas. First was how companies can tap the advantages that exist within the nation to excel in international competition. Second, it provided a framework that the government policy can use to enhance the national competitive advantage.

Using Kenya’s Cut Flower industry as an example, Professor Porter explained how businesses can play a key role in improving the country’s competitiveness. He singled out the Italian example and noted that, “You can become very poor making shoes, or you can become very rich making shoes.” He used this example to illustrate that how the country does things is more important than what the country does, and that the most important element is productivity.

Professor Porter was at SBS as part of a day long program that started with a luncheon with senior level government officials. including his host Hon. Amos Kimunya and other members of NESC. He gave an abbreviated version of his lecture and fielded questions from the participants. He applauded Kenya’s 2030 vision and noted that “The Vision 2030 is a step in the right direction, but Kenya still has a long way to go”. He concluded the day’s program with a dinner with CEOs of Kenya’s top companies together with the class representatives of the MBA program.

SBS is one of two African Business Schools officially affiliated with the Harvard Business School Institute of Strategy and Competitiveness through which Professor Porter’s course on the Microeconomics of Competitiveness (MOC) is being offered. The course is currently incorporated into the MBA curriculum and is anticipated to be available as part of the SBS Executive Program offerings.

Upon his arrival at the University, Professor Porter was received by Strathmore University Vice Chancellor Professor John Odhiambo and the Deputy Vice Chancellors Dr. Joseph Sevilla and Dr. Florence Oloo. Professor Porter was accompanied at the various day’s events by the SBS Director Mr. George Njenga and the Kenya Vision 2030 Director, Dr. Wahome Gakuru.