Jimmy Choos, lectures in Finland, learning French. It's all in a day's work for Kofi Boakye
Kofi Boakye is a self-styled Afropolitan and an MBA candidate at EMLYON Business School. He is using the French business school's entrepreneurial environment to generate business ideas, and taking advantage of Lyon's proximity to other key European cities to assist his personal growth and development.
Kofi, 27, coined the term “Afropolitan” to describe his diverse and international upbringing and his love of travel. He is of Ghanaian heritage and was born in Lagos, Nigeria. He lived briefly in Ghana before starting elementary school in London but completed it in Queens, New York City. He attended a Quaker Boarding School outside Philadelphia, and did his undergraduate study in Finance at the College of William & Mary in Virginia.
Since he arrived in France, Kofi has attended lectures in Geneva, Milan and Finland. He also plans to go on exchange to both Dubai and China. Kofi also considered an exchange to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil but was afraid that particular trip might involve too much fun at the beach and eventually break the bank!
Kofi, who comes from a very entrepreneurial family, knew during his college days that he would eventually go into entrepreneurship. He spent time researching successful business people to discover how they had done it and even “daydreamed about it often at work”. He considered business schools in the Boston area but decided on EMLYON because the "Afropolitan" in him wanted new experiences.
“Where I was working was all about finance and everyone thought in the same way. There was no growth. Lyon has easy links to other European capitals. Here people all think different. There are people coming from industry, arts, teachers... All the different outlooks help me grow”.
During the first session Kofi acted as an advisor to the co-founders of S&M Consultancy as they conceptualized and executed Re-Connect Ghana 2011, a forum for young entrepreneurs or business people in Ghana to meet and create platforms for collaboration. He is now working to perfect his French as he has plans to do business with French-speaking West Africa. He’s set a target to become fluent by September so he practices with language exchange groups on campus and in the city.
From the very first group assignment at EMLYON, Kofi was hooked. They worked on women's shoes that were similar to Jimmy Choos. “Starting with lots of energy and on a high was incredible. It has kept me going,” he says.
This term Kofi is working on a year long project with Ahimsa Partners organized by EMLYON. This project is linked with the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation and aims at creating business models that will revolutionize the way the private and public sector work together on health issues.
He will also be heading to London in February with four other students to represent EMLYON at the Hult Global Case Challenge. He is very optimistic that by the end of his MBA program, he will have garnered enough entrepreneurial abilities to take on his own international start-up.
Student Reviews
Intense courses, helpful professors
I am an international student in my 3rd year and I love going to this school and do not regret chosing it for my BBA.
The classes are helpful, professors are always there to help as well and we have a very understanding administration.
Leadership in an amazing city
I decided to do my exchange in Emlyon because I wanted to get out of my comfort zone, and I found a space with very capable People.. participatory, empathetic and full of leadership. I will never forget Lyon, apart from giving me an unforgettable experience, he gave me great friends
A lot of opportunities professionally and socially. A unique program in France.
You can choose your courses and do your internship, exchange whenever you want. It's flexible and adapted to the needs of each student. A great program and a great city! Professionally, it opens a lot of doors for you to find internships or jobs in France or abroad thanks to the network and career events.
MSc in Digital Marketing
Combining both worlds into one, this course gave me all the on-demand technical skills in data science while maintaining a business-oriented approach. Thanks to the strong academic profile of this university I was able to secure an internship and full-time job at Amazon.
Top Business School fostering innovative entrepreneurs
EMLyon is one of the best business schools. The campuses, associations and courses offered provide the students with the best options to build the future they have chosen. The various opportunities to study and work abroad also offer a deeper understanding of the world, not only economy-wise but social, which helps the student become as well a better individual and not only a pre-formated business school student.
Emlyon campus in Paris
It has a great international community and you have access to many international tools, courses and professors. I had many networking events and workshops for students. Campus and some details of the program could have been improved or need to be bigger in order to have a better student life.
Entrepreneurship
Overall good content and good activities.
Lack of administration but still ok.
Good flexibility and liberty offered to the students. Finally, the amount of internship is also a good way to improve qualifications.
Good Reputation and International Business School
The course was not well adapted but it was up to the mark.
The professors are very well experienced and their experience comes in handy while working on assignments.
The facilities on the campus are top class. Truly professional. I really like spending time in the learning hub and using all the available resources.
Lyon is an amazing city. You will never get bored.
MSc International Hospitality Management
The best educational experience of my life so far!
It’s been full of exposure and great connections. From Lyon to London, Paris, Los Angeles and Las Vegas! Truly an exceptional way to discover the world of hospitality.
Real networking opportunities
- meeting new people, specially professionals during seminars or evening meeting at school.
- going abroad to study luxury
- being involved as an ambassador to promote the school and the program I was into (MSc LMM)
- having such a great professional core
white baccalaureate in the world of work
I really appreciated the MS SDAI as a whole. The teaching staff, the different subjects, the university exchange, TEM... I started my internship in a consulting firm having acquired a solid foundation. Downside for CentraleSupélec, which I found far too academic for a program such as this.
Great
Pretty great !
Emlyon business school is a top educational institution known for its outstanding academic programs, nurturing environment, and state-of-the-art facilities. It fosters creativity, critical thinking, and leadership in students.
