As a summer fellow with Rwanda Development Board (RDB), I played a role in defining the foundational elements of the organization's upcoming digital transformation. RDB, with a mandate to accelerate economic development and enable private sector growth through attracting and facilitating investments, promoting tourism, facilitating exports, and developing skills for the private sector, recognized the significance of digital transformation in achieving continued institutional growth and delivering more efficiently and effectively for Rwanda. To ensure effective coordination and alignment with the initiative's goals and objectives, RDB has established a digital transformation working committee at the operational level. Assisting this committee, I have provided assistance in fine-tuning the scope granularity, ensuring that it is well-aligned with the overall objectives of the initiative and the institutions involved. Working closely with Delphine Uwase, the acting head of the strategy and competitiveness department, and Zoe Lin, an economist and policy expert, I collaborated to prepare RDB for the forthcoming changes, ensuring alignment among major stakeholders and facilitating the onboarding of experts involved in the next stages of the digital transformation journey.

Digital transformation encompasses diverse aspects within the realms of business and technology. It is crucial to emphasize that RDB's digital transformation extends beyond technical aspects, as it aims to foster a digital culture organization-wide. RDB will lead initiatives to enhance digital literacy, coordinate upskilling in relevant digital areas across departments, and facilitate this cultural shift. Columbia Business School offers courses on organizational change, preparing students to navigate the multifaceted dimensions of change within an organization. Digital transformation, driven by the demand for streamlined services, operational efficiency, and emerging digital technologies, is one such transformational change. Companies often encounter challenges associated with siloed data, hindering deeper analysis and data-driven decision-making, necessitating a modernized approach embracing data democratization and disrupting established practices. The negotiation concepts covered in prior courses prove invaluable as change involves multiple stakeholders, enabling the identification and grouping of issues for negotiation and charting an accessible path forward based on various inputs. These skills have been cultivated during my time at Columbia.

Settling into a new place is always an exciting adventure, and for me, that place was Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. Despite being unrelated to work, aspects like finding the perfect apartment, navigating a unique mobile payment system, and choosing appropriate attire for a local wedding added an extra layer to my experience.

Although not a challenge, there is a notable distinction between the private sector and RDB as a government institution. RDB operates within the same realm of opportunities and limitations prevalent in the public sector. This distinction subtly influences certain aspects of digital transformation, which was my primary project at RDB. Notably, processes are in place to safeguard taxpayer money when it comes to hiring or expenses. While the private sector often operates more seamlessly, the involvement of government contractors and the bidding process for government contracts can introduce delays. It was fascinating to observe how we conscientiously worked within these frameworks, ensuring optimal progress while adhering to necessary protocols.

The decision to join RDB was driven by my desire to explore the public sector, following my experiences in the nonprofit and corporate sectors. RDB, tasked with accelerating economic development and enabling private sector growth, provided an opportunity to work alongside professionals who focused on the broader scope of an entire country and its mission. Rwanda's current trajectory of rapid growth is evident not only in governmental institutions but also in everyday life, and I am excited to witness how this momentum continues to unfold in the coming years. I hope to return and witness the progress firsthand. Throughout my time at RDB, I gradually adopted a broader perspective, matching the enthusiasm of my colleagues and eagerly sharing ideas whenever possible. I am immensely grateful for this enriching experience and the thrilling adventure it has been.