Entrepreneur and author Sean Keough explains the need for a different financial model in developing markets

This is an episode which I really hope you stick with. As you’ll have seen from some of the other episodes, I find that often the “unsexy” aspects of doing business in East Africa are the most interesting and important. Financial modelling is not necessarily top of most people’s lists to think about, however, in this episode, Sean Keough puts forward a pretty compelling argument why you should. Sean has worked in Ethiopia for many years and has been building up businesses in the country which haven’t previously existed. He began with advising other companies on their growth and found that it was difficult to forecast what the impact would be of different business decisions. Entrepreneurs knew the ins and outs of their business, but couldn’t run through scenarios of how external factors affect their business, and as such were running blind, and also not having the rigour to attract foreign investment. Long story short, Sean has now written a book which takes entrepreneurs through how to model their business. It’s available on Amazon by searching for the somewhat cryptic title of “Financial Modelling in Developing Countries”. You’ll also find a link in the podcast description: Financial Modelling for Developing Countries The interview also allows us to speak more about the nuance of doing business in Ethiopia, one which is fundamentally different to others in East Africa owing to its closed economy legacy. There are tons of insights here around the different dimensions of working in Ethiopia, as well as the life aspect of running a business in the region. For more episodes from Ethiopia search for Ride Hailing and Takeaways in the archives, but now, it’s my great pleasure to introduce Sean Keough. READ MORE AT:https://theeastafricabusinesspodcast.com/2018/09/27/financial-modelling-entrepreneur-and-author-sean-keough-explains-its-importance-in-developing-countries/