MBA Students from IESE Business School, a leading business school in Spain and the world had the opportunity to discuss a case study on M-Pesa at the Strathmore Business School (SBS) campus, Kenya. The students are in SBS as part of the Doing Business in Africa program which will see them stay in SBS for two weeks.

The program is designed to provide participants with a unique exposure to the African continent by providing practical skills and knowledge required to successfully operate and grow a business in Africa.

Guided by Prof. Alejandro Lago, the IESE MBA Academic Director, the students analysed the case from three angles; context, concept, and execution. The runaway success of M-Pesa, they decided, resulted from the favourable interplay of the three factors in the market. This ensured that the market was in the right condition when the product was launched i.e. a poorly served currency transaction market, not burdened by legacy regulation, and complemented by an open and existent clientele, resulted in the immediate adoption of the product.

Each year, students come from other international business schools convene at Strathmore Business School to study the African economic environment as part of the Doing Business in Africa Program. In addition to the sit-in class sessions, the participants visit local industries, markets and neighbourhoods. This ensures that their learning process is well-rounded and interesting.