Allan Gray Orbis Botswana beneficiary, Tshephiso Gower, who was nominated Botswana’s best brain to attend the world’s economic summit, came out strongly against the country’s leaders whom she accuses of flagrantly throwing away talent by not providing mentorship when confronted to offer the same.
The asset manager annually grooms potential local entrepreneurs from an early stage, with Gower being one of the notables from the batch roped in fresh from Moeding College in 2007, following her outstanding academic performance.
“One thing I have noticed about us as the youth is that we have abundant potential but the only barrier is our leadership who do not easily offer mentorship when requested,” decried Gower when giving a word of encouragement to this year’s new entrants at an annual gala dinner commemorated at Phakalane last week. The events saw four more local scholars welcomed into Allay Gray Botswana sponsorship.
“I therefore urge you not to lose hope and pursue your courses and become future leaders of this country despite the obstacles you may encounter. Those great leaders I have met abroad gave me hope and inspiration that despite my humble beginnings, I can conquer the world,” she said to applause from the audience, which included incumbent and new scholars.
Among the world leaders the Bcom, Economics and finance students from Africa  met in 2010 at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland was Jacob Zuma.
They  also met Ngozi Iweala Okonjo of the World Bank whose interactions with them left an indelible mark.
“You would not imagine that such great men and women who today are our heroes have earlier in their lives encountered such problems that today boggle our minds,” Gower said, insisting that “who knows, just like them we could be the world’s best”.
Coming from an infamous school known for bad acts and behavior, Gower would not let the trend at Moeding College carry her away as she stuck to her instincts, urging the scholars to follow suit and do what is right to become the country’s future leaders.
┬á“Who would have thought Moeding school with such a bad name during our times would produce some of the bright students. But through thick and thin we persevered and here we are,” she┬á said.
For his part, Allan Gray managing director, Tapologo Motshubi, was adamant his institution is right on the right track to give Botswana sustainable needs for a better future.
“We want to groom and produce scholars of higher caliber to effect change that has been an impediment in job creation in our country. As private entities, we are the best creators of employment and Allan Gray Botswana wants to be seen bridging the gap,” he noted, as he welcomed the new entrants, adding that access to knowledge and right ideas are the key to a sustainable enterprise without which one’s business is doomed to fail.
“Thus at Allan Gray, we have found it opportune that we groom scholars to┬á acquire necessary tools for the growth and sustainability of our economy,” he revealed.
To date, the company boasts of 6 scholars studying at one of the best universities in South Africa, with four more added up to the lineup this year.
