When economic development is like doing the foxtrot.Monica Knight isn't afraid to do things differently. This Saskatoon-based conference speaker and economic development consultant, former teacher in India, and human resources The fancy word for "people." The human resources department within an organization, years ago known as the "personnel department," manages the administrative aspects of the employees. manager in South Africa South Africa, Afrikaans Suid-Afrika, officially Republic of South Africa, republic (2005 est. pop. 44,344,000), 471,442 sq mi (1,221,037 sq km), S Africa. , shares her world experiences in a vibrant and memorable way. Through her company, Shosholoza Productions, Knight helps communities develop "intrapreneurship", or post-entrepreneurial activity. Intrapreneurship encourages new economic development under the shelter of an established core business. It's a philosophy adopted by entities such as Kodak, Apple, IBM and Microsoft See Microsoft and IBM. . Shosholoza derives from the music and oral culture that Knight experienced in South Africa. "When I was explaining courage, determination, tenacity, the only way I could explain it was through dance," she says. "My speeches involve music and dance as a metaphor for the way economic development is approached." Knight likens the "partners foxtrot foxtrot one of the two artificial gaits of the five-gaited horse. A four-beat gait midway in speed between a walk and a trot. There is a great deal of similarity with several other gaits such as amble, fadge, slow pace, stepping pace, running walk, jog, hound jog. " to the economy: slow slow quick quick. "I encourage people to just keep moving forward, to have the courage to keep adapting to change." Currently, Knight is leading a project in North Battleford North Battleford, city (1991 pop. 14,350), W Sask., Canada, at the confluence of the North Saskatchewan and Battle rivers, opposite Battleford. It is the service and distribution center for NW Saskatchewan, which has rich farming, lumbering, and fishing. that will result in a new venture for "at risk" youth while revitalizing re·vi·tal·ize tr.v. re·vi·tal·ized, re·vi·tal·iz·ing, re·vi·tal·iz·es To impart new life or vigor to: plans to revitalize inner-city neighborhoods; tried to revitalize a flagging economy. the old RCMP building. The core business focuses on collecting, refurbishing and distributing used furniture to new immigrants in the community. Proceeds from the business will be used to support youth in establishing other new ventures, including a daycare, community kitchen, office area, school room, beauty salon, and car wash. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] |
|
||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion