{"id":2000120480,"date":"2026-07-26T08:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-26T06:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/?p=2000120480"},"modified":"2026-07-26T12:30:15","modified_gmt":"2026-07-26T10:30:15","slug":"inside-the-alx-enterprise-simulation-forcing-kigali-ceos-to-rethink-leadership-hiring-and-workforce-strategy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/inside-the-alx-enterprise-simulation-forcing-kigali-ceos-to-rethink-leadership-hiring-and-workforce-strategy\/","title":{"rendered":"Inside the ALX Enterprise simulation forcing Kigali CEOs to rethink leadership, hiring and workforce strategy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

That was the central message at Leading in the Age of AI, an executive breakfast hosted by ALX Enterprise at Norrsken Kigali on Friday, where CEOs, senior executives, HR professionals and business leaders gathered to examine how AI is reshaping organisations beyond automation. Rather than focusing on software or technical demonstrations, the event challenged leaders to rethink the future of work itself through practical discussions and an immersive simulation that mirrored the disruptions AI is already creating across industries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For many organisations, the question is no longer whether AI will transform business operations, but whether leadership teams are prepared to guide their companies through the transition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leadership in an era of constant disruption<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delivering the keynote address, Minister of State for ICT and Innovation Yves Iradukunda said leadership has become significantly more complex because AI technologies evolve at a pace that makes yesterday’s assumptions obsolete almost overnight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Minister of State for ICT and Innovation Yves Iradukunda delivered a keynote address at the event.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

He noted that executives today must make decisions in an environment where new AI models and tools are constantly changing how businesses operate, requiring organizations to rethink not only technology adoption but also governance, regulation and workforce development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The companies that are going to succeed are not the ones that have adopted these AI tools first,” Iradukunda said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I believe they are the ones that will be able to deploy these tools to generate the highest impact, but also do it responsibly and equitably.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the minister, responsible AI adoption extends beyond purchasing new software. It requires businesses to think carefully about data governance, ethics, workforce readiness and long-term competitiveness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also emphasised that organisations cannot rely indefinitely on imported AI technologies, arguing that Rwanda is investing in local capabilities through a National AI Agency, AI-ready infrastructure, stronger data governance frameworks and expanded talent development to help businesses innovate responsibly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Attendees follow a highly engaging session at Norrsken Kigali on Friday, July 24, 2026.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Workforce training becomes a business strategy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps the biggest shift highlighted throughout the discussions was the changing role of workforce development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead of treating employee training as a human resources function, speakers argued that continuous learning is becoming essential for business survival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The team you have today, the team that has gotten you here as a corporate, is not the team that is going to take you to the next level if you are not constantly training and building their capacity,” Iradukunda said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALX Africa Regional Director Nimie Chaylone echoed the same message, urging organisations to stop viewing upskilling as something employees do away from work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“If you find someone who is a culture fit and they have skills, but their skills are becoming obsolete, how can we make sure that you are not losing them but literally keeping them while upskilling them?” she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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ALX Africa Regional Director Nimie Chaylone urged organizations to embed upskilling into the workplace.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

She argued that organisations face growing challenges recruiting employees with both the right technical capabilities and cultural fit. Rather than repeatedly replacing workers whose skills become outdated, companies should focus on continuously developing existing talent while employees remain in their roles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That philosophy underpins ALX Enterprise’s approach of working directly with businesses to design customised AI and leadership training programs tailored to their operational needs rather than offering generic courses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AI is changing the role of managers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The discussions also highlighted a shift that is often overlooked in conversations about artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While much attention focuses on software developers and data scientists, speakers argued that middle managers may ultimately determine whether AI investments succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to ALX Enterprise, AI is changing where value is created inside organisations, making managers responsible for translating new technologies into measurable business outcomes. Workforce training, therefore, is no longer simply an employee benefit but a business continuity strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chaylone added that leadership itself must evolve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Managers must understand not only AI tools, but also AI ethics, cybersecurity risks, data privacy and organisational change management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Managers were challenged to ensure new technologies deliver measurable business impact.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

She warned that many employees are already using generative AI applications in ways that could expose sensitive company information, making leadership awareness just as important as technical capability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learning through experience<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead of relying on keynote speeches alone, organisers placed executives inside an interactive simulation called The Future of Work Marketplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Participants assumed the roles of CEOs, hiring managers, employees, training providers and market forces, navigating rounds of AI-driven disruption involving automation, changing salaries, evolving client expectations and shifting workforce demands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The exercise concluded with each group presenting a 90-day strategy for how their organization should respond to the challenges they had experienced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kwame Norvixoxo, Research Lead at the World Bank and facilitator of the simulation, said the exercise was intentionally designed to move away from traditional conferences where participants passively listen to presentations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead, leaders were encouraged to experience the uncertainty organisations now face and collectively reflect on practical responses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said the exercise also provides an opportunity for businesses and training institutions to better understand future workforce needs and collaborate on closing emerging skills gaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Kwame Norvixoxo, Research Lead at the World Bank, facilitated the simulation.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Business leaders see AI as unavoidable<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Participants from different sectors agreed that AI adoption is no longer optional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brian S\u00f8rensen, who leads Vertland Africa, said AI has become a strategic priority across his organisation because it enables businesses to become more efficient while delivering faster services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We know that this is a must-have,” he said, noting that continuous upskilling has become central to the company’s growth strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wilson Muhirwa, Managing Director of Shift Africa, said organisations that delay adopting AI risk falling behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The only thing we have to do is to make sure that we adopt, we learn, we unlearn where necessary, and adapt to the new technologies,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He encouraged business leaders to build organisational cultures that embrace experimentation and continuous learning rather than fearing technological change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Wilson Muhirwa, Managing Director of Shift Africa, said organisations that delay adopting AI risk falling behind.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Laura Gotti, Communications Manager at Rwanda Men’s Resource Centre (RWAMREC), said AI adoption should begin with educating employees and strengthening governance around data protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For her organisation, one immediate takeaway was the need to develop an AI policy aligned with existing data protection frameworks before expanding AI use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Raissa Mahoro, Healthcare Solutions Manager at Sand Technologies, argued that leaders should first identify operational challenges where AI can create value before investing in workforce capability, to ensure employees can use new technologies effectively and responsibly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Raissa Mahoro, Healthcare Solutions Manager at Sand Technologies, speaking at the ALX Enterprise AI leadership breakfast in Kigali.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Leadership, not technology, will determine success<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Across every session, one conclusion consistently emerged: the future of work is becoming less about technology itself and more about leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AI may automate routine tasks, improve decision-making and accelerate productivity, but organisations will only realise those benefits if leaders create cultures that encourage learning, build workforce capability and adapt business strategies to an increasingly AI-driven economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For today’s CEOs, the challenge is no longer deciding whether AI matters. It is deciding whether their people, their managers and ultimately their leadership are prepared for what comes next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALX Enterprise is the corporate training arm of ALX, a pan-African talent and skills organisation that has trained hundreds of thousands of learners across the continent in software engineering, data science, cloud computing and AI. Building on that track record, ALX Enterprise partners directly with companies and their leadership teams to close AI and data capability gaps, redesign workflows around new tools, and build the manager and executive capability needed to lead through disruption grounded in practical, Africa-relevant training rather than theory alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find out more information at: https:\/\/enterprise.alxafrica.com\/<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
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The executive breakfast hosted by ALX Enterprise at Norrsken Kigali on Friday brought together CEOs, senior executives, HR professionals, and business leaders.<\/strong>
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Minister of State for ICT and Innovation Yves Iradukunda told the business leaders that responsible AI adoption extends beyond purchasing new software.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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ALX Africa Regional Director Nimie Chaylone speaks during the “Leading in the Age of AI” executive breakfast at Norrsken Kigali.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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ALX Africa Regional Director Nimie Chaylone urged organizations to embed upskilling into the workplace.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Brian S\u00f8rensen, who leads Vertland Africa, said AI has become a strategic priority across his organisation because it enables businesses to become more efficient while delivering faster services.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Laura Gotti, Communications Manager at RWAMREC, says AI adoption should begin with educating employees and strengthening data governance.
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The event challenged leaders to rethink the future of work itself through practical discussions and an immersive simulation that mirrored the disruptions AI is already creating across industries.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The event challenged leaders to rethink the future of work itself through practical discussions.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Guests toured Sand Technologies at Norrsken, where the company demonstrated its services.
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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Artificial intelligence is no longer just another technology investment for businesses. It is rapidly becoming a leadership challenge, forcing executives to reconsider how they hire, train and manage talent in an era where workplace skills are evolving faster than ever before.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":131,"featured_media":2000120511,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[151,69],"byline":[192],"hashtag":[],"class_list":["post-2000120480","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","tag-editors-choice","tag-homehighlights","byline-wycliffe-nyamasege"],"bylines":[{"id":192,"name":"Wycliffe Nyamasege","slug":"wycliffe-nyamasege","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":131}],"contributors":[{"id":192,"name":"Wycliffe Nyamasege","slug":"wycliffe-nyamasege","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":131}],"featured_image":{"id":2000120511,"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/07\/153A9803.jpg","alt":"","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","width":1500,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/07\/153A9803.jpg","width":1500,"height":1000},"medium":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/07\/153A9803.jpg","width":1500,"height":1000},"medium_large":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/07\/153A9803.jpg","width":1500,"height":1000},"large":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/07\/153A9803.jpg","width":1500,"height":1000},"full":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/07\/153A9803.jpg","width":1500,"height":1000}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000120480","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/131"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2000120480"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000120480\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2000120551,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000120480\/revisions\/2000120551"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2000120511"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2000120480"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2000120480"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2000120480"},{"taxonomy":"byline","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/byline?post=2000120480"},{"taxonomy":"hashtag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hashtag?post=2000120480"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}