Participants share overwhelming experience
The Growth Leadership Academy (GLA) organised a five-day ‘Business Immersion Programme’ in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), from November 9 to 15 (including travel time). This immersive learning programme for professionals included training, exposure visits, experience sharing and excursions.
The programme covered a wide range of themes, including artificial intelligence (AI), fintech, sustainability, technology, entrepreneurship, retail, hospitality, art, architecture and climate change. Samjhana Sharma, Coordinator of the programme and Editor-in-Chief of HRM Nepal, emphasised that the programme aimed to broaden participants’ horizons beyond specific professional skills, focusing on exposure to emerging trends and issues affecting human life.
A total of nine participants from banks and financial institutions (BFIs), as well as the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), participated in the programme. These participants included assistant general managers, managers and heads of credit departments.
“This is the first international training and exposure programme for GLA,” stated Jyoti Prasai from the Training and Development Department of the GLA. “It was a business programme designed primarily for executives, featuring a series of meticulously curated sessions, business visits and excursions.”
Participants had the opportunity to interact with experts, visit enterprises and gain valuable knowledge and experience from industry leaders. They also gained insights into global trends and broadened their perspectives through travel.
“It was a wonderful programme,” said Rishi Ram Gyawali, Head of Sales Department at Nabil Bank. “We learned about various new global trends and how development has been achieved. While the travel schedule was a bit hectic due to time constraints, it was a truly enjoyable and enriching experience.”
The programme was designed to foster innovation, creativity and out-of-the-box thinking. Anju Sharma, Chief Manager of Everest Bank, found the training and excursions beneficial and believes it will add value to her career. She stated, “It wasn’t a traditional classroom-style training; it was a unique learning experience that involved visiting various places, including businesses, and interacting with people. Such programmes should continue in the future.”
Other participants shared similar experiences, highlighting how the programme contributed to their growth through experiential learning opportunities.
The programme was specifically designed by GLA for executives and leaders to deepen their understanding of the evolving business landscape. It aimed to provide firsthand insights into innovative practices employed by both established corporations and emerging startups. Additionally, the programme helped participants gain knowledge about industry trends, competitive strategies and disruptive technologies. It also equipped them with the strategies and skills to navigate challenges and embrace risk-taking.
Umesh Prasad Subedi, Manager at the Employees Provident Fund, participated in the programme. He praised the initiative, themes and overall activities. “It is a good start and the organisers have managed it well, especially considering it was their first time,” he said.
The programme was tailored to a wide range of participants from various sectors, including BFIs, retail and e-commerce, education and EdTech, technology and IT, manufacturing, automotive and transportation, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, and media and entertainment.
Basu Dev Bhattarai, Credit Manager at Prabhu Bank, shared an overwhelmingly positive experience regarding the overall learning. While the tight schedule, due to the many places visited, was a minor challenge, he found the programme highly valuable and enjoyed interacting with other participants.
The organisers have committed to improving the programme in the future and providing opportunities to help participants excel in their careers.
