鈥Business Coaching Program
Report
Partnership between University of 大象视频(UM) and University of the Western Cape Small Business Clinic (UWC SBC)
Partners
Lisle Svenson
Professor & Coordinator of the Small Business Clinic, University of Western Cape
Abraham Oliver
Professor & Board member of the Small Business Clinic, University of Western Cape
Dr. Jocelyn Evans
Associate Dean and the Henry W. Bloch Endowed Professor of Finance, University of 大象视频Kansas City
Marvin Carolina Jr.
Assistant Teaching Professor, University of 大象视频Kansas City
Babongile Bidla
Research Assistant & Student, University of the Western Cape
Project: Business Coach Program 2025
Award: UMSAEP Award
Award Duration: July 2025 - January 2026
Host: University of the Western Cape (UWC) Small Business Clinic
Facilitators/Trainers:
- Dr. Jocelyn Evans, Associate Dean and the Henry W. Bloch Endowed Professor of Finance, University of 大象视频Kansas City
- Marvin Carolina Jr., Assistant Teaching Professor, University of 大象视频Kansas City
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Initial Report: 13 August 2025
Aim of report: The aim of the report is to document the progress made so far in the Business Coach Program since the launch that took place in July 2025 at the UWC Small Business Clinic, Cape Town, South Africa.
Summary
In July 2025, Marvin Carolina Jr. and Dr. Jocelyn Evans launched the Business Coaching Program in Cape Town, South Africa, in collaboration with the University of the Western Cape (UWC) and its Small Business Clinic. Designed for students, aspiring entrepreneurs, and small business owners, the program addresses key barriers such as limited access to capital, insufficient business knowledge, and lack of mentorship. Its goal is to equip participants with practical skills, strategic thinking, and resilience needed for sustainable business growth.
The program began with in-person sessions in July 2025, covering orientation, financial training, and sales and marketing. Initially enrolling eight participants, attendance grew organically to 17 through strong word-of-mouth, reflecting the immediate impact and value of the training. Future sessions will continue online through December 2025.
Beyond the core coaching, Marvin Carolina Jr. delivered guest lectures to undergraduate entrepreneurship classes at UWC, reaching a broader audience and reinforcing the program鈥檚 mission. These sessions emphasized entrepreneurial ecosystems, board structures, and the power of networking. Preliminary outcomes show strong student engagement, with participants applying learned skills at the UWC Expo, refining business strategies, and seeking additional mentorship outside of scheduled sessions. Both facilitators engaged beyond the classroom, providing hands-on feedback and fostering community connections.
The program鈥檚 flexibility has been a defining strength鈥攁dapting from training business coaches to supporting active entrepreneurs already running ventures. Early indicators suggest significant progress
in enhancing entrepreneurial confidence, business acumen, and practical application, though formal data collection and evaluation remain ongoing. By combining academic, practical, and community-based approaches, the Business Coaching Program lays important groundwork for strengthening entrepreneurial capacity in Cape Town, aligning with UWC鈥檚 commitment to supporting small business growth and economic resilience.
大象视频 the Program
In July 2025, Marvin Carolina Jr. and Dr. Jocelyn Evans traveled to Cape Town, South Africa to implement the Business Coaching program with the aim of serving students, aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners at UWC and in Cape Town and surrounding areas. Many of these individuals face barriers such as lack of access to capital, limited business knowledge, and inadequate mentorship opportunities.
The Business Coaching Program is a hands-on training program targeted at aspiring entrepreneurs, students and small business owners to help them with the skills and knowledge to navigate personal and economic challenges they face as business owners. Expert guidance equips them with strategies to thrive under these pressures, ensuring sustainable business growth and balance. This program promises to provide young entrepreneurs, students, and small business owners in Cape Town with a holistic support that fosters resilience, strategic thinking, and balanced life-management, crucial for sustainable success.
The foundational work for the Business Coaching Program commenced with comprehensive desktop research, providing a robust needs assessment that directly informs the program's design and intervention strategies. This serves as a significant contribution to understanding the specific context of entrepreneurship in South Africa and justifying the necessity of targeted support programs. Additionally, the program leveraged the long-standing relationship between University of 大象视频and the University of the Western Cape.
鈥Participant Identification and Selection
The program initiated a partnership with the University of the Western Cape (UWC) Small Business Clinic to identify and select student entrepreneurs and small business owners in the area for participation. Initially, 8 student entrepreneurs signed up for the program. During the in-person orientation on the first day, 5 students were present. However, the program experienced organic growth, with attendance increasing to 17 students on day two (finance training) and 10 students on the third day (sales & marketing). This growth was a direct result of positive word-of-mouth regarding the quality of training provided by Dr. Evans and Marvin Carolina Jr..
Methodology / Process Followed
The Business Coaching Program 2025 employed a multi-faceted approach for participant selection and program delivery, demonstrating flexibility to meet the evolving needs of the target audience. The Small Business Clinic at UWC put out a call for applications to their network of small business owners in Cape Town as well as encouraged students at UWC to apply for the program. This process drew applications from student entrepreneurs as well as small business owners in Cape Town.
The program started with an in-person launch at the end of July 2025. The program was originally planned to commence in May 2025 virtually, but a strategic decision was made to postpone the start until Dr. Evans and Marvin Carolina Jr. were physically in Cape Town for greater impact.
Program Structure and Schedule
The initial in-person sessions were structured as follows, held at the Small Business Clinic:
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Thursday, July 24th: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM; Welcome/Orientation facilitated by Marvin Carolina Jr. and Dr Jocelyn Evans.
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Tuesday, July 29th: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM; Accounting and Financial Training facilitated by Dr. Jocelyn Evans.
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Thursday, July 31st: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM; Sales and Marketing Training facilitated by Marvin Carolina Jr.
Future Delivery: Following these initial in-person sessions, all subsequent program sessions will be conducted online, continuing until December 2025.
Marvin Carolina, Jr. and Dr. Jocelyn Evans with young entrepreneurs, Lisle Svenson, UWC Small Business Clinic Coordinator in Cape Town.
Marvin Carolina, Jr. and Dr Jocelyn Evans with young entrepreneurs, Lisle Svenson, UWC Small Business Clinic Coordinator in Cape Town.
鈥Marvin Carolina, Jr and Michelle Carolina talking to Yonela Mogwaza about her product.
Marvin Carolina, Jr providing sales and marketing training to Business Coaching Program Participants.
Dr. Jocelyn Evans conducting finance and accounting training to Business Coaching Participants.
Business Coaching Program Orientation at the UWC Small Business Clinic
Additional Program Activities
Images from UWC Entrepreneurship Expo 31 July 2025
On the 31st of July, Dr. Jocelyn Evans and Prof Marvin Carolina assisted the Business Coaching Program students prepare for the UWC Entrepreneurship Expo. Dr. Evans and Prof Carolina Jr. were actively present at the UWC Expo, advising entrepreneurs directly on practical business aspects.
Dr. Jocelyn Evans and Sinothando Nontshokweni, Business Coaching Program participant & Student Entrepreneur at UWC selling her perfumes at the UWC Entrepreneurship Expo interacting with a customer.
Yonela Mogwaza, Business Coaching Program participant and UWC student entrepreneur at the UWC Entrepreneurship Expo selling her crochet products.
Business Coaching Program participants and other UWC students exploring other stalls at the UWC Entrepreneurship Expo 31 July 2025
Marvin Carolina, Jr with Sinothando Nontshokweni, Student Entrepreneur at UWC selling her perfumes at the UWC Entrepreneurship Expo 31 July 2025
Reflections - Partners / Collaborators
Reflection from Dr. Jocelyn Evans
Reflection Report: Summer 2025 鈥 Cape Town, South Africa University of Missouri鈥揔ansas City
UMKC Accounting & Financial Business Coaching Program Program Duration: May鈥揇ecember 2025
In-Person Sessions: July 21 鈥 August 4, 2025 Zoom Meetings: August鈥揇ecember (Monthly)
My recent trip to Cape Town as part of the ongoing UMKC-UWC partnership marked a meaningful step forward in advancing the Accounting & Financial Business Coaching Program. The in-person sessions at the UWC Small Business Clinic focused on helping students develop and understand core financial statements鈥攑articularly income statements and balance sheets鈥攆or both personal and business contexts. This dual focus proved essential, as many first-time entrepreneurs struggle with cash flow due to commingling personal and business funds.
To support applied learning, I created a business template modeled on a pseudo hair salon. Students then built their own income statements using a blank version of the template. Many students were unfamiliar with financial statement creation, so instruction centered heavily on foundational accounting. Advanced topics such as balance sheets, pro forma statements, cash flow analysis, and financial ratios are planned for deeper coverage during the 2026 summer session. Notably, several students pursued one-on-one help outside class, demonstrating strong engagement and a desire to improve financial acumen.
During the Entrepreneurship Expo, I emphasized the importance of aligning sales and marketing strategies with financial goals. Students learned how to document sales by product/service and how this data feeds into financial reporting. While some were hesitant to sell, the Expo served as a valuable
real-world lab for applying classroom concepts. I also met with four faculty members from UWC鈥檚 Finance Department, who expressed strong interest in supporting the program's growth. They offered to collaborate on designing a research framework to evaluate the program鈥檚 impact, which will be critical for future funding and scale-up. Challenges included limited student access to functional laptops for spreadsheet development, and compressed class times that constrained the depth of instruction. These issues underscore the need for extended session durations and tech support in future iterations.
Vision Forward (2026 and Beyond)
The program鈥檚 future will focus on equipping students with deeper financial competencies, including budgeting, tax planning, cost optimization, and multiyear forecasting. We also plan to introduce training on patent protection and accessing capital through loans, grants, and investors. A key instructional goal is to teach students how to use financial ratios to evaluate efficiency, productivity, and scalability. Zoom sessions will continue to reinforce these skills monthly with real-time coaching and student-led financial presentations.
Program Impact and Recommendations
This first cohort made significant strides in understanding the link between accounting and entrepreneurial success. As a result, they are better positioned to coach others, improving the region鈥檚 entrepreneurial ecosystem. For future sessions, I recommend increasing classroom hours, ensuring reliable student access to laptops, incorporating more case-based instruction, and formalizing the research component in partnership with UWC Finance faculty.
Introduction and Context
The Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (EMS) at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) is committed to fostering inclusive economic development by cultivating entrepreneurial talent and supporting small business growth across Cape Town and its surrounding communities. In a national context of persistently high unemployment鈥攅stimated at 32.9% in early 2025, with youth unemployment even higher鈥攖here is an urgent need for practical, skills-based interventions that equip graduates for
self-employment and business leadership. The Expo was an experiential learning opportunity for students to record the sale of each product or service, estimate the different costs, and estimate the profitability.
Some students decided to not offer their product or service because of lack of interest or an inability to charge a high enough price. We discussed in class the need to align your target market with price sensitivity. Overall the program was very successful. Entrepreneurship is a powerful tool for addressing joblessness and inequality, but many South African startups fail to achieve sustainability due to weak financial management and limited business acumen. A critical skills gap exists in the areas of accounting, financial literacy, and basic business planning鈥攅specially among first-time entrepreneurs from underserved communities.
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Identified Need
During the 2025 teaching exchange at UWC鈥檚 Business Innovation Center, visiting UMKC faculty Dr. Marvin Carolina and Dr. Jocelyn Evans observed a concerning trend: while UWC students are highly
motivated to start businesses, they often lack foundational knowledge in accounting and financial management. Among the 2025 cohort, only one out of 25 students was able to prepare a basic income statement or balance sheet. Many reported using business revenues for personal expenses, reflecting a widespread misunderstanding of the distinction between personal and business finances.
This mirrors a broader trend among South African startups, where negative cash flow, inadequate financial planning, and weak business sustainability are common. Without the ability to track financial performance or plan effectively, many businesses falter in their early stages.
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Proposed Intervention: Accounting & Financial Business Coaching Program
To address this gap, UWC EMS proposes the launch of a structured Accounting & Financial Business Coaching Program as part of the UMSAEP partnership. This initiative will provide practical, context-specific coaching in core areas such as:
- Basic accounting principles
- Budgeting and financial forecasting
- Cash flow management
- Business vs. personal finance separation
- Preparation of financial statements
- Financial decision-making for startups
Reflections - Participants
鈥淚 had the pleasure of attending the business clinic sessions with Prof Marvin and Dr Evans last month, and I must say it was a truly enriching experience. The insights they shared opened my mind to new perspectives and strategies in the start up business world. Their expertise and teaching style made complex concepts accessible and engaging.
I'm particularly grateful for the personalized guidance they provided. During their stay, they helped me rethink my business growth strategy, and their support was invaluable.
Their kindness extended beyond the classroom, as they even made orders from my business, which gave me the motivation to keep pushing forward. Their actions had a tangible impact on my business, and I'm now exploring new items to add to my offerings.
I'd like to express my gratitude to both professors for their dedication, passion for teaching, and genuine interest in my business's success. Their enthusiasm is contagious, and I'm looking forward to continuing our learning journey together. I'm looking forward to the upcoming virtual meetings.鈥 - Yonela Magwaza, Business Coaching Program participant and UWC student entrepreneur
Preliminary Outcomes and Observations
Based on the initial in-person sessions of the Business Coaching Program, several positive indicators and active engagement from participants have been observed, demonstrating early traction towards the program's objectives of enhancing entrepreneurial skills and confidence.
Positive Student Engagement and Initiative: There has been a positive response from the student entrepreneurs, with some even proactively consulting with the facilitators outside of the set sessions. This indicates a high level of engagement and a perceived value of the coaching and training provided.
Practical Application and Strategy Refinement: Participating students demonstrated the application of their newly acquired knowledge by exhibiting at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) Expo. A direct impact of the coaching was evident as students refined their business strategies based on feedback received from Dr. Evans and Marvin Carolina Jr.. This feedback specifically covered practical aspects such as how to note their transactions, how to sell their products and even thinking about how to display.
Facilitator Engagement Beyond Sessions: Dr. Evans and Marvin Carolina Jr. were actively present at the UWC Expo, advising entrepreneurs directly on practical business aspects. This also provided them with a valuable opportunity to interact with other student entrepreneurs and small business owners within the broader community, potentially informing future program developments and outreach.
It is important to underscore that these are preliminary observations, as formal data collection for comprehensive evaluation is yet to be completed. These early qualitative insights, however, suggest a positive reception of the program's adapted content and a tangible impact on the participants' practical business skills and confidence.
Content Adaptation: While the original goal was to train students to be business coaches, the content was flexibly adapted to also accommodate student entrepreneurs who are currently running their businesses and seeking growth strategies. The majority of attendees were indeed student entrepreneurs.
Thank You
Special thanks to everyone who has made this program possible.
Rodney J. Uphoff
Elwood L. Thomas 大象视频Endowed Professor of Law at University of Missouri
Michelle Esau
Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at University of Western Cape
Lisle Svenson
Professor & Coordinator of the Small Business Clinic, University of Western Cape
Abraham Oliver
Professor & Board member of the Small Business Clinic, University of Western Cape
Dr. Jocelyn Evans
Associate Dean and the Henry W. Bloch Endowed Professor of Finance, University of 大象视频Kansas City
Marvin Carolina Jr.
Assistant Teaching Professor, University of 大象视频Kansas City
Ashlynn Solomons
Administrative Assistant, Small Business Clinic, University of Western Cape BABONGILE BIDLA, Research Assistant & Student, University of the Western Cape
Refematla Khoapa
Owner of Reflex Photography & Student, University of the Western Cape
UWC Students & Small Business Owners in Cape Town
Thank you for your interest and participation in this program.
Reviewed 2025-12-04