Chief Executive Officer of the McDan Group of Companies, Dr. Daniel Mckorley, shared valuable advice for entrepreneurs during a fireside chat with Thelma Tackie at the 9th edition of the What I Wish I Knew (WIWIK) Conference,
He stressed the importance of employers giving more weight to the attitude of potential employees rather than solely focusing on their certificates when making hiring decisions for their businesses.
Dr. Mckorley revealed that he personally follows this practice in his own businesses.
He said: “I don’t employ degrees, I employ attitudes. My biggest problem is Human Resource (HR), at the organic level you see growth but what will bring you down is your HR”.
According to Dr. Mckorley, Human Resource can be a significant challenge, and focusing on the right attitudes is crucial for sustainable growth.
In addition, he expressed concern about the extravagant lifestyle prevalent among the youth and young entrepreneurs today.
Drawing from his own early entrepreneurial days, he shared the importance of simplicity and avoiding unnecessary show-offs.
“In my early years as an entrepreneur, I had a lot of money, but I was simple. The problem we have today is show off,” he said.
Furthermore, Dr. Mckorley advised entrepreneurs not to prioritize personal recognition over their companies.
He highlighted his 20-year journey with the McDan company, where he remained behind the scenes, allowing the brand to speak for itself and garner recognition.
As an annual event, the WIWIK Conference has become one of the largest personal development conferences on university campuses. Its primary aim is to educate, advise, and inspire final year undergraduate students.
The conference also featured Capt Rtd. Kofi Amoabeng (President, UT Holdings) who also shared his entrepreneurial journey with participants.
Distinguished panelists for this year’s edition included Dr. Dennis Oteng (CEO, Ravens Consulting Gh), Prof. Carol Javis (Professor in Knowledge Exchange and Innovation, Bristol Business School – UK), Sammy Gyamfi (Politician), Audrey Naa Dei Kotey, Esq, FCCA (Managing Partner, Audrey Grey & Chairperson, ACCA Ghana Network Panel) and Doris Ahiati (CEO, Crescendo Consult).
This year’s conference was on the theme “Thriving in uncertainty; a conversation on intrapreneurship and entrepreneurship”.
Speaking to the media on the side, the convener of the WIWIK conference Dr. Bernard Tawiah mentioned that “these past years have been marked by shifting narratives and unexpected outcomes. These year’s conference has equipped our participants with a toolkit of simple, practical, evidence-based techniques that can apply in their intrapreneurship or entrepreneurship journey in these challenging times”.
During the WIWIK Conference, Hannah Ashiokai Akrong, Vodafone Ghana’s Human Resources Director, delivered the keynote address, emphasizing the significance of cultivating an entrepreneurial spirit within organizations. She referred to this concept as “intrapreneurship” and stressed the need for creating an environment that fosters innovation and doesn’t penalize failure.
Dr. Dennis Oteng, the Chief Executive Officer of Ravens Consult Gh, urged participants to prioritize the growth of their family businesses rather than solely seeking employment opportunities, especially considering the challenges of the current business climate.
The WIWIK Conference was organized by the WIWIK Foundation, a non-profit organization, in partnership with the University of Ghana Business School and the Graduate Students Association of Ghana (GRASAG), along with Crescendo Consult.
The 2023 edition of the conference received sponsorship from Ravens Consulting Ghana, ACCA, Akosombo Textiles, MPA, and Benchmark Professional Institute. The event was powered by Order Consult.