Blue Nile Program
Empowering African Australian entrepreneurs, working professionals, and leaders of not-for-profit organisations with the tools to grow their businesses.
Blue Nile Program Overview
The Blue Nile African Australian Business Masterclass Program is a heavily subsidised program designed for African Australian entrepreneurs, working professionals, and leaders of not-for-profit organisations.
The program has been developed by the University of Melbourne in collaboration with the African Australian community to respond to the specific business training needs and challenges faced by African Australian entrepreneurs, working professionals, and leaders of not-for-profit organisations in the Australian business landscape.
Participants engage with entrepreneurs, world-class staff, managers and community leaders, who will share tools for growing businesses and developing economic opportunities for the community at large.
The program is supported and run by the Melbourne Business School.
Who Should Attend the Blue Nile Program?
African Australian Entrepreneurs
Small business owners and start-up founders wanting to develop their business knowledge, networks, and confidence to grow their business.
African Australian Community Leaders
Owners and leaders of community organisations, social enterprises and not-for-profit organizations wanting to develop their business knowledge, networks and confidence to grow your organisation.
African Australian Professionals and Managers
Working professionals in corporations, government, and not-for-profits who are thinking of doing an MBA to accelerate their careers.
Blue Nile Program Key Takeaways
Practical Business Knowledge
- Grow and consolidate your business, organisation and career.
- Understand key areas that are vital to success: strategy, finance, marketing, managerial judgement, negotiations and leadership.
Post-Program Development
- Draw on our faculty and the Blue Nile alumni for mentoring and consulting support.
- Benefit from Blue Nile training and networking events.
Relationships and Networks
- Experience the power of valuable relationships that continue beyond the program.
- Be part of a diverse cohort that provides opportunities for collaboration and mutual business support.
Blue Nile Program Topics Covered
Business Strategy
Finance
Marketing
Social Impact
Managerial Judgement
Negotiations
Community Leadership
Blue Nile Program Testimonials
After undertaking the program, I feel equipped to grow my business that culturally serves my community but also bring the wider Australian community on board in partnerships.
CATHERINE JONATHAN
Founder, Emerging Brand Africa
It has made me rethink the whole idea of doing it all on my own and entertain the idea of bringing in others to join my business because accountability breeds success. I appreciate and enjoyed the program.
PETER BOL
Olympic Athlete, Speaker and Entrepreneur
What drew me to the program initially was the diverse range of professionals conducting the course who are highly successful in their respective fields and the opportunity to learn from them, and most importantly, who were African Australians.
MATTHEW ADEKPONYA
Content Creator and Media Specialist
Blue Nile Program Key Facilitators
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
Brandon Lee is an Associate Professor at Melbourne Business School and is an experienced consultant, researcher and executive educator in the areas of strategy, entrepreneurship, organization theory, and innovation..
PROFESSOR
Jill Klein is a Professor of Marketing at the Melbourne Business School and is also a Professorial Fellow at the Melbourne Medical School. Jill teaches Managerial Judgement, Decision Making and Resilient Leadership on the MBA, Executive and Senior Executive MBA programs, and Specialist Certificate in Clinical Leadership.
ACADEMIC DIRECTOR (MBA PROGRAMS)
Nam Tran joined Melbourne Business School in 2011 and teaches Financial Accounting, Financial Reporting and Analysis in our Full-time MBA, Part-time MBA and Executive MBA programs. Nam previously worked as an Auditor with Deloitte.
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF MARKETING
Samuelson is an Associate Professor of Marketing at the Melbourne Business School teaches Marketing in the MBA program. Prior to joining academia, Samuelson worked in market research and brand consulting with Kantar advising clients such as Coca-Cola, Nestlé, Unilever, and Etisalat.
PROFESSOR
Anne has taught, presented, and consulted in organisations and universities across the globe. She is the Managing Director of Lytle and Associates, working with diverse organisations across negotiation, conflict management, emotional intelligence, leadership and managing people for high performance.
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
Ben is an Associate Professor in the Department of Management & Marketing, Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Melbourne. Ben researches and teaches in sustainable business and society, including corporate social responsibility, business ethics, ethical consumption and social entrepreneurship.
COMMUNITY PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Haileluel Gebre-selassie holds a Master of Public Policy and Management from the University of Melbourne and a Master of International Social Work from La Trobe University. He is the Program Manager of the African Leadership Development Program. He is a Winston Churchill Fellow and current Chair of the African Think Tank. He is a recipient of the Member of the Order of Australia and Melbourne Award.
Blue Nile Program Partnerships
Upcoming Sessions
We would like to ensure equitable access to the program and are able to provide support to those with caring responsibilities to participate in the program.
- 31 July 2025 application deadline for the September 2025 intake
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