As general manager of Soku Laundry Soap Enterprise in Liberia, Geedeh hopes to expand into new markets, grow his business and create jobs for others. Winning the Brigham Young University Management Society Africa Business Plan Competition at the inaugural BUILD Conference brought him one step closer to making those goals a reality.

“Winning this competition means a lot to us,” Geedeh said. “We received the award with so much joy, gratitude and a commitment to grow our business to the degree that we are able to expand to new markets and employ more people, particularly our rising generation.”

Geedeh was one of more than 600 entrepreneurs, students and business professionals from 24 African countries who gathered in Johannesburg, South Africa, for the BUILD Conference, co-hosted by the BYU Management Society and BYU-Pathway Worldwide. The conference offered mentorship, workshops and two entrepreneurship competitions that awarded more than $100,000.

The partnership reflects a shared commitment to helping students become more self-reliant through education and entrepreneurship, said Michael Roberts, managing director of BYU Alumni & External Relations.

“Together with BYU students and alumni, we organize and conduct business plan competitions that empower BYU-Pathway Worldwide students to develop entrepreneurial skills, build confidence and create opportunities to strengthen their families and communities,” Roberts said.

Business professionals from Africa and the United States volunteered as mentors, speakers and judges throughout the two-day event, providing budding entrepreneurs with individualized feedback as they honed their business ideas and strategies.

The conference featured two entrepreneurship competitions designed to support businesses at different stages of development. The Africa Business Plan Competition recognized established businesses from across the continent, while the Johannesburg Great Idea Competition gave local entrepreneurs the opportunity to develop early-stage ideas, receive mentoring and present the business before a panel of judges.

For Great Idea Competition winner Lilian Shongwe, the conference’s greatest reward wasn’t only the recognition; it was discovering confidence she didn’t know she had.

“I’m normally the shy and quiet one,” Shongwe said with a smile. Shongwe’s business, The Wild Farmstead, is a successful small-scale poultry farm located in Johannesburg, South Africa.

“I felt myself grow,” she said. “I’ve spoken to so many people here, and speaking to them inspired me. I think it’s a very good opportunity to be able to be inspired. This is definitely a growing experience for me.”

That kind of personal growth was central to the conference’s purpose. The Great Idea Competition encourages self-reliance, local job creation and leadership development by helping participants refine their ideas through coaching and real-world business experience.

Kamohelo and Matjama Mejaele, owners of Matt Design, a tailoring business in Bloemfontein, South Africa, said the competition helped them see new possibilities for their business.

“It’s been an interesting journey for us because we have learned a lot about ourselves, and we have learned a lot about the market,” Kamohelo Mejaele said. “We see how much we can grow.”

For Matjama Mejaele, presenting their business also strengthened her confidence.

“I’ve learned to be more confident in what I am presenting today and throughout my work,” she said.

The Africa Business Plan Competition focused on entrepreneurs whose businesses are already serving communities and are ready to expand. Winners received grants to help grow their operations to reach more people and increase impact.

Ann Agbiji Nsign, co-owner of Sujan Farm, an agribusiness that cultivates crops including cowpeas, Irish potatoes and tomatoes, said the award was a blessing of validation.

“This support means a great deal to me, but the opportunity is not just financial support,” she said. “It’s encouragement, motivation to keep pushing forward.”

She said the award will help strengthen the farm’s operations and better serve customers in a region where food can be scarce.

Although more than $100,000 was awarded during the conference’s two competitions, participants consistently described the mentorship and relationships they built as equally valuable.

Roberts said that impact extends well beyond the conference.

“The impact goes beyond the competition by transforming the lives of the participating students while enriching the experiences of the volunteers, mentors and alumni who serve alongside them,” Roberts said.

Interested in mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs? The BYU Management Society is seeking business professionals and alumni to serve as volunteer judges and mentors at future competitions. Those interested in sharing their experience and supporting aspiring business owners can sign up here.