Short mission accomplished

I feel very privileged to be able to meet special people with great passion and determination to transform their country.

Stepan is co-founder of the Centre for Leadership Development (= CLD, see their website under the "links" column of this blog) which has been going for 8 years and offers a curriculum taught by visiting professors and business people which is unique for Armenia. He is also director of a pharmaceutical distribution company which apparently everyone knows: if it comes to buying expensive drugs where origin and quality matters, they are the undisputed source. Otherwise they are more expensive (and lost market share) because they pay all their tax. His mother-in-law, former member of parliament, who set up this business is also known to everybody because she did not abuse her position to monopolise the market in a time when she could have. Their integrity comes still at a high cost which they are prepared to pay. The same applies to several of the CLD students who decide to stick to ethical standards and take no bribes. They will be the winners - long term (and perhaps very soon as mny are hoping). That's why I know that investors will back them.

We meet Matt. Matt is an American with global experience in branding and advertising. 4 years ago he and his (Armenian) wife decided to take the risks of a new start and live here in Yerevan. He has his own branding and advertising company, above all he has a vision (and been patiently working at it over the last 4 years) to set up new businesses that will develop managers of the future who can take on new companies. Our discussion on possibly investing in Armenia comes soon the key point: finding the right people.
In Matt's and Stepan's view there are only very few people who you can trust will uphold integrity. You need a way to identify them. The CLD has been a great platform for this because you watch students over time and in various simulations. Hence Stepan gets a loot requests nowadays of the kind: "do you know someone who would be good for ...?".

We meet Tigran, formerly at the Central Bank, and now set up a small investment banking and asset management firm. I learn some surprising facts. E.g. that out of 7 publicly listed companies only 1 is effectively traded. That he was underwriter of the first Armenian corporate bond issue this year. Most surprisingly that (apart from the EBRD) there are NO funds investing into Armenian companies yet. If you walk through the centre of Yerevan (and see all the growth) and then hear this, it sounds unbelievable; I had to ask several times. Well, I leave you to guess what went through my head next.

Then we meet Samvel (Sam). Sam is a young alumni from the CLD. Hardworking, faithful and with authentic passion to impact society through enterprise. He set up an NGO for underprivileged and orphaned children. In the last 4 years he and volunteers spent time with these children doing homework, playing, helping. Now he steped forward to help taking the CLD to the next level. The idea is to create a business oriented curriculum and see enterprises emerge from it.
Our discussions go on until late night. Now you understand perhaps what it means to say that the CLD is a platform that helps to identify the right people.
Oh ... nearly forgot to mention that I was kindly introduced to Stepan's mother-in-law and to the wife of the first Armenian president who many put their hope in to come back restore their nation.

It is Sunday now and I stand again on the brige connecting Georgia with Armenia between the two border controls. As I look back to Armenia to re-enter Georia I feel a richer man and also humbled; inwardly I take my hat off before the wonderful people I have met back in Yerevan.
My mission is acomplished: I know now I want to come back. Next time with friends and to make plans for business.