Many participants in the BPN program have been running their own SMEs for years. They have experience, but often gaps in their business management knowledge, particularly in financial management, organization, and leadership. This is where BPN's two-year training program comes in: key management skills are taught in structured seminar and workshop blocks. From financial planning and control to project and time management to law and human resources management. Supplementary special seminars (e.g., social media or customer care) delve deeper into current topics.
In the following interview, René Luchsinger, Country Director for Mongolia and head of the Expert Pool, explains how this program is structured, who is responsible for its content, and how quality is ensured:
What is the specific added value of the two-year BPN program for entrepreneurs who already run an SME?
Participants quickly acquire the necessary business management knowledge with tried-and-tested recommendations for action. At the same time, program participants take advantage of the opportunity for individual support through consulting and coaching from our local country teams.
How does this training program work? When do the entrepreneurs attend the seminars during these two years?
At BPN, we conduct four basic seminars each year in every country on marketing, business management, employee management, and financial management. Our seminars in Mongolia, for example, take place from Wednesday to Friday and last 2-3 days, depending on the topic. These seminars are conducted by the Country Director himself. A further 2-4 seminars on specific topics are conducted by experts from the expert pool. The duration and times of the seminars vary slightly depending on the BPN country and are tailored to local needs.
How flexibly does BPN respond to new issues or local market changes?
We respond quickly to market requirements and find the necessary expertise in our pool of experts. This pool is constantly being expanded with experts who have the relevant knowledge. The BPN pool of experts is a group of highly experienced Swiss experts with specialized knowledge in areas such as process and project management, contract law, and gastronomy.
Who actually conducts the seminars at BPN, and how do you ensure their quality?
The basic seminars are conducted by the country directors of the respective country. This also ensures a relationship of trust with the program participants. The quality of the seminars is ensured by conducting a qualified survey among the participating entrepreneurs. In Mongolia, for example, our Net Promoter Score (recommendation rate) is 93%. For additional seminars, we draw on our pool of experts or local experts in the country.
What role does BPN's "Expert Pool" play in this?
The Expert Pool is playing an increasingly important role. It ensures that, in addition to basic business knowledge, contemporary specialist knowledge is also imparted. This pool currently comprises around 15 Swiss experts who often work on a voluntary basis in our BPN countries. We greatly appreciate their commitment!
In your opinion, what distinguishes BPN from traditional continuing education providers?
Our practical approach is central to what we do and is ensured by the fact that we, as country directors, and our experts have many years of experience in management and/or entrepreneurship. We also consult local experts to take local conditions and characteristics into account. For example, we regularly engage local experts on tax law issues.
