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29.10.2018 General News

Global Business Initiative To Be Launched

By Daily Guide
Global Business Initiative To Be Launched
29.10.2018 LISTEN

Dr. Crystal J. Scott, Assistant Dean and Associate Professor of Marketing at the University of Michigan Dearborn College of Business is collaborating with the Virtual Global Consultant (VGC) Group, LLC to launch the “Digital Futures Fellowship Program” in January 2019.

The VGC Group is a digital venture company that utilizes project management and digital marketing to

build and manage back-end operations that support people, businesses, and organizations aiming to

create business online.
“Our vision is to help people, organizations, and businesses go global – w e want to see them effectively

conveying their message to the world, and to see cultures collaborating to make a global impact through

various talents and areas of expertise,” shares Da'Cruz , Cofounder and Chief Operations Officer at the

VGC Group.
Naomi Jordan Cook, Cofounder and Chief Marketing Officer, adds: “We envision the VGC Group as a

leader in championing a global consciousness, promoting an understanding that everything businesses

and brands do have a global impact – from the executive level to civilians on the ground .”

Founded in 2016, the company which employs more than 30 team members has offices in both Detroit,

Michigan and northern New Jersey and is responsible for helping to raise millions of dollars a year in

at-will donations and business sales for clients.
With the “Digital Futures Fellowship Program”, students from the University of Michigan-Dearborn

College of Business will get real-life experiential knowledge by performing market research on small to

medium-sized businesses based in Ghana, West Africa.

Through the program, participating Ghanaian businesses will have leverage to compete in the global

market which Da'Cruz , who leads the Detroit office, says, “can ultimately increase economic

development for the country because of the positive impact it will have on employment and the labor

force.”
When asked about her initial thought when approached with the idea for students to work with

businesses abroad, in this case Ghana, Dr. Scott responded: “This is an exciting venture for our

students.” The newly appointed Assistant Dean for the College of Business explains, “The University

neighbors the City of Detroit which is adjacent to international waters. Through this program, we are

now leveraging on a global opportunity to connect students to countries across the world and make real

lasting impact.”
Da'Cruz agrees, “Opportunities for people in Africa are increasing. Irrespective of their social or

economic status, the digital environment is opening doors for them to transact within the global

economy, and for them to grow their own e-commerce business.”

A New Jersey native whose family is from Ghana , Da'Cruz explains that she's spent the last two years

observing her new surroundings, making a link between her passion and her new home. “The people of

Detroit and the people of Africa have had a similar plight, but both have been able to rise above their

situation,” continues Da'Cruz. “That is why we believe that this collaboration is one that is both timely

and necessary to benefit people from both places.”

DHL Ghana is an important partner in this collaboration because of its company-wide incentive that

offers special e-commerce shipping prices to any Ghanaian business interested in selling online.

According to William Ofori, the Commercial Manager at DHL Ghana, growing Ghanaian and African small

to medium sized enterprises is necessary for leveling the competitive position in the global marketplace.

He explains, “This collaboration is a special opportunity for the whole world to experience first hand

beautiful Ghanaian local and traditional finished products. Global customers will now have access and

will be able to connect with Africa in an authentic way unavailable to the masses before.”

For Ofori, this collaboration is the first step in the right direction to build “an active marketplace with

data-driven campaigns and integrated payment and shipping solutions to help Ghanaian and African

SMEs grow successfully.”
Through the combined resources of VGC, DHL and the University, students of the program are given a

unique insight into the global market and a chance to do professional work in the digital space.

“We are fine tuning the scope of work, but the intention is to pilot this collaboration with my market

research students this winter semester,” explains Dr. Scott. “One of my students interned at the VGC

Group last semester and enjoyed their experience, so we are happy to open the opportunity for more

students to be engaged with the company.”
The collaboration is the brainchild of VGC, who was awarded the '2018 Employer of the Year' by the

University for providing internship and employment opportunities for students. The “Digital Futures

Fellowship Program” is a gateway for providing more experiential knowledge to students and greater

potential to be hired in the future. VGC aims not only to train students, but to also provide potential

work opportunities to those who successfully complete the program.

Cook , who will occasionally hold virtual sessions from New Jersey with the students, says : “It's a win-win

situation. This collaboration shines light on the power of technology and how it can be used to positively

impact the world. ”
Both Da'Cruz and Cook hint that this is just the beginning of their global initiatives.

For more information about this collaboration, you may contact W.E. Da'Cruz at

[email protected] .

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