Joanie Connell once said, “No matter how you define success, you will need to be resilient, empowered, authentic, and limber to get there.” While these words capture the essence of success, building a resilient startup demands an extra layer of grit and creative out-of-the-box thinking. At Emergi, one significant contributor to our resilience has been the YEP Programme.
Joining the YEP Programme two years ago marked a turning point, impacting both my personal growth and Emergi as a company. Little did I anticipate the profound influence it would have on me, aligning me with a dynamic community of young professionals supported by exceptional coaches and trainers. Amid the backdrop of a world grappling with the lingering crisis of COVID-19, and international trade still rebounding from its largest decline since World War II, Emergi’s vehicle supplier faced substantial setbacks in the manufacturing of our electric solar-powered tuk-tuks. These challenges demanded a level of resilience that surpassed our initial expectations, and we rose to the occasion.
A pivotal strategy in fortifying our resilience was enhancing the team's capacity, with the YEP Programme being the first crucial step towards this goal. Confident and enthusiastic, I entered the programme aware of some strengths but oblivious to my weaknesses. The programme not only revealed areas for improvement but also unearthed strengths I was unaware of. This growth became notably apparent during the return training in March of last year in The Netherlands.
Feedback from my fellow Yepper Olga Mufanequisso echoed this growth:
“Elvis was already very confident and well-spoken during the training last year. But this year, you can see that he has become more of a leader. He is more focused on the people around him; how to empower and support them.”
This feedback marked a moment of personal pride.
Today, Emergi stands on solid ground; our tuk-tuks have reached Liberia, and we are on the brink of launching our e-mobility services. The YEP Programme did not only equip us with tools for resilience, but also served as a catalyst for personal and professional growth, propelling Emergi toward a future of sustainable success — a future as bright and sunny as our rides.
Head of Operations Liberia
Elvis is the head of operations in Monrovia. Born and raised in Liberia, his goal is to ensure that his people make the transformation to cleaner and sustainable sources of energy. He believes that moving from fossil fuels to renewable energy is not only the right step, but a massive one in reducing greenhouse gas emission in the atmosphere, thereby reducing the adverse effects it has on the environment.
