THE MAGNET INSTITUTE
Our Founding Story
The Magnet Institute was founded by BPN's Business Owners Association members with a vision to create a competence centre for providing solutions to the entrepreneurs succession and to managerial training needs in Africa.
As successful business owners, the founding team of The Magnet Institute keenly observed the critical gaps in managerial competencies that directly impacted business development and growth. The lack of ownership and autonomy created a bottleneck in decision-making processes, making it challenging for business owners to invest their valuable time and energy into strategic planning and growth, thereby impeding the overall progress of their enterprises.
Recognizing the profound impact of these gaps on business performance, The Magnet Institute was established to bridge these managerial competency and attitudes gaps and equip managers with the necessary knowledge, skills and behaviours to lead their teams effectively and make informed decisions. As a result, managers become vision-driven and capable of running the business as if it were their own.
Through the programs provided by The Magnet Institute, we aim to cultivate a new breed of service-driven African businesses by raising managers who can address the bottlenecks of growth faced by businesses in Africa.
Our vision
The Magnet Institute is the leading competence centre in Africa for providing solutions to managerial training needs.
Our mission
We equip competitive, practice-oriented managers with the knowledge, skills and behaviours necessary to address their professional and technical needs. Through our tangible development facilitation, we provide substantial support to the success of SMEs, Corporates and interested parties in Africa.
Our values
Integrity
We believe in doing the right thing and doing the thing right, even when no one is watching.
Ownership
We empower managers to take ownership of their growth and development. To be responsible, take initiative, and be accountable.
Innovation
We push the boundaries of today’s business mindset so we can reach the future of business in Africa.
Sustainability
Our focus is the long-term
well-being of businesses
and managers.
Our board
Solange Murekezi
Solange Murekezi, the distinguished chairperson of the board at The Magnet Institute, is the visionary founder of Aux Delices Honey Ltd.
Robert Bayigamba
Robert Bayigamba has been leading Manumetal Ltd, Rwanda's oldest furniture manufacturing company, since 1994.
Paradine Nishimwe
Paradine Nishimwe, founder of Wood Habitat and has spearheaded the company as its creative director since 2016.
Jean Baptiste Muhirwa
Muhirwa Jean Baptiste, a distinguished board member at The Magnet Institute, co-leads Futuristic Design Group (FDG) Africa since 2015.
Jackson Kagabo
Jackson Kagabo, a visionary leader and CEO, spearheads Master Beauty Products, a thriving company he founded in 2014.
Ysolde Shimwe
Ysolde Shimwe, co-founder and creative director at UZURI K&Y, leads the forefront of sustainable fashion in Rwanda.
Isaac Niyonsa
Isaac Niyonsa, a renowned board member at The Magnet Institute, leads Vision Business Company as its visionary founder.
Our team
Marco Schommer
Managing Director
Marco Schommer, a seasoned operations and production engineer, boasts an impressive career spanning over 25 years. His journey began in the heart of the Swiss watch industry, where he honed his skills in various roles, including material flow expert and production planner, for the renowned watch company ETA, a member of Swatch group.
Gloria Mutesi
Administration Officer
Gloria, is currently pursuing her Master’s in Business Administration from United Stated International University-Africa. She has a strong passion for management and is dedicated to enhancing her skills and knowledge in this field.
Candice Amata Teto
Training Lead
A young dedicated and ever keen to learn with a background in analytics, training and leadership. Born and raised in Kigali Rwanda, has lived most of her life in the land of a thousand hills. In the year 2018, she moved to the south of China in the city of Chengdu to pursue her bachelor’s degree in Electronic Commerce and the Neusoft University.
Beatrice Tuyishimire
Sales Officer
Beatrice is a dynamic professional with experience in sales and marketing, passionate about market research, client relationships, and driving business growth. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Management with a concentration in Logistics and Operations from Kepler/Southern New Hampshire University.