South Africa was everything we imagined and so much more. For nine of us: Ruby, Beverly, Bryonna, Mujijima, Esther, Diana, Ivy, and Erica, the journey began at Strathmore University Business School through the Strathmore Supply Chain Simulation Challenge powered by Learn Logistics and Strathmore Business School. Together, we emerged at the top of the program, which tested abstract supply chain decision-making and strategic thinking.
The challenge was built on The Fresh Connection platform, a global simulation driven to us by Learn Logistics and Strathmore Business School, and facilitated by Mr. Thomas Zink and Dr. Julia, and further supported by Dr. Patriciah Gachambi, Dr. Mary Aming’a, Dr. David Mathuva, Mr. Felix Mogesa, Mr. Sos Peter Gichane, Ms. Mary Weremba, and Mr. Romuald Ashuza. We are grateful to this team for tirelessly working behind the scenes to power the simulation and make the experience truly transformative.
It was challenging. We were combined in different teams, competing and winning at different time horizons, while our ROI kept playing games with us. Just when we thought we had found the perfect balance, a single decision would shift everything. But through persistence, shared learning, and teamwork, we finally emerged as the winning team.
We learned that supply chain excellence is about alignment, ensuring that purchasing, production, logistics, and sales decisions work together to support both business and market needs. We also learned that every strategic decision carries a cost, a trade-off, and a consequence, and learning to navigate those tensions builds true business capability for companies. For the five of us, Ivy, Ruby, Beverly, Bryonna, and Esther, this pushed us to a regional supply chain conference in Africa powered by Learn Logistics.
A Learning Journey in South Africa
On September 15, we flew to South Africa for the ACOSCM 7th Annual Conference held in Stellenbosch, supported by Dr. David Mathuva and Ms. Linda Ingari. The cool Cape Town wind greeted us with excitement and anticipation. Upon arrival, we quickly realized something humbling; we were the only undergraduate students among professors, researchers, and industry professionals from across Africa, all gathered to explore the future of logistics and supply chain management on the continent.
The conference featured sessions on sustainability, digitalization, trade, and logistics innovation. To make the most of the experience, we attended different sessions and later regrouped to share insights. Listening to experts discuss frameworks and strategies we had explored during the simulation felt like watching our classroom learning come to life. Networking with scholars and practitioners was equally inspiring, reinforcing that Africa’s supply chain transformation must be driven by collaboration, research, and homegrown innovation. The visit concluded with company tours, where we observed how South African businesses integrate technology, sustainability, and efficiency in their operations. Each encounter deepened our appreciation of how theory connects to practice and how innovation strengthens Africa’s supply networks.
We are grateful to Strathmore University for these opportunities under the BSc in Supply Chain and Operations Management, which continue to shape us into the professionals of tomorrow.
By Beverly Nduleve, a fourth year Bsc. In Supply Chain and Operations Management, Strathmore University
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