IMPM strengthens International HIV/AIDS Alliance mission
Published 20 December 2007
A leading executive at International HIV/AIDS Alliance in Uganda has turned to a management development course run by Lancaster University Management School (LUMS) and five other business schools across the globe to help her organisation make even greater strides to prevent the spread of HIV and provide care and support for those affected.
Milly Katana
Milly, who has been in post since May 2006, is responsible for the overall alignment of the Alliance’s country office in Uganda – focusing on strategy, partnership building, fundraising and resource mobilisation in areas affected by HIV.
“I signed up to the IMPM because I found that on-the-job management training is not sufficient to prepare me for the challenge of growing our organisation in Uganda,” said 37-year-old Milly. “I did an MBA in Uganda ten years ago, but that course also did not ready me for the combination of conundrums that I face in my job. As country manager I’m always thinking about strategy, finance, public image and so on, and I felt I needed something extra to help me overcome these challenges.”
Milly in her office in Uganda
Milly started the IMPM in April 2007 and, after completing the 18-month diploma, plans to register for a Masters degree.
“I found the LUMS reflective module very empowering and a great platform to build on,” she said. “It’s not always easy to take a step back and analyse the way an organisation is running but by doing that you get the overall strategic positioning. This is the biggest learning so far. Also to have patience with individuals and let things take their course without interfering.”
There are 27 students on the current IMPM cohort from a range of public, private and not-for-profit organisations.
“Working with participants from different countries and backgrounds, and sharing practical experiences, has really helped break down any perceived cultural barriers,” Milly said. “Ultimately I hope this will help me to present myself differently to different people, from understanding people with HIV to appealing to World Bank gurus for financial backing.”
The IMPM is a co-operative venture between Lancaster University Management School; McGill University, Montreal; INSEAD, Fontainebleau; Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore; KDI School of Public Policy and Management in Seoul, Korea; and academics from three universities in Japan – Hitotsubashi in Tokyo; Kobe, and the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology.
