When Jenika Gobind took over as Wits Business School (WBS) director of MBA in June 2024, she set out to understand what students really wanted from their course, what they liked about it and what could be improved.
‘In our conversations, many students told me they had become a different person through the MBA,’ says Gobind. ‘They described a life-changing experience that had transformed the way they speak and communicate, as well as their confidence levels, their leadership skills, and their outlook on life.’
She adds that the course is founded on case study interpretation, a global study tour and modules such as the leadership quest, which all challenge the students to reflect, ask difficult questions and find a sense of purpose.
‘An MBA is not just about a student getting a certificate but about realising your potential and this new, more rounded individual that comes out at the end of the qualification,’ says Gobind. ‘Consequently, the calibre of our MBA graduates is high.’
The MBA – which stands for master of business administration and was launched by Harvard University in the early 1900s – used to be a golden ticket to instantly boost your career and earnings. Today, among increased competition from local and overseas MBA programmes in various formats, the reputation of the provider is becoming increasingly important. An MBA from a prestigious, internationally accredited SA business school remains highly valued – at a fraction of the cost of their international counterparts.
For some leadership positions, the MBA has evolved from being a differentiator into a ‘hygiene factor’, according to Jako Volschenk, head of MBA at Stellenbosch Business School. If you don’t have an MBA, you’re not even in the running for those positions, he told Daily Maverick. Yet, it also helps to be motivated by more than prestige and earning potential, because candidates need grit and genuine commitment to earn the famously tough MBA degree.
‘A recurring theme among MBA alumni at Henley Business School Africa is that many start the programme focused on acquiring hard skills in finance, strategy and operations,’ says Barry van Zyl, who co-ordinates the school’s new Global MBA programme (launched in 2024). ‘However, by the midpoint, their focus shifts from a purely transactional outcome to personal transformation. Our personal development module is particularly impactful, raising self-awareness, curiosity and the ability to reflect critically – the art of better questions versus being fed information.’
Interestingly, Van Zyl’s own entry into the MBA world was unconventional. After 30 years of touring globally as a musician with Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Annie Lennox and Die Antwoord, among others, he ‘felt an itch’ for something more. ‘I’ve always believed in following fear to create positive change. The MBA was one of those moments for me,’ he says. ‘After an anxious start, I excelled, discovering unexpected strengths in finance and strategy.’ Van Zyl completed his MBA degree at Henley while touring as a drummer for Johnny Clegg and now teaches as adjunct MBA faculty.
His quirky career change ‘from the business of rhythm to the rhythm of business’ confirms what Owen Skae, director of Rhodes Business School, says. ‘An MBA is most valuable to individuals at an inflection point in their careers – whether transitioning into senior leadership, shifting industries or expanding their strategic thinking.
‘We focus on values-driven professionals who align with our mission of principled leadership and sustainable business practices. Our MBA is designed for those who want to lead with integrity, navigate paradox – via integrative thinking – and create sustainable and lasting, impact. In short, to achieve transformative value creation through integrative thinking, acting and being,’ says Skae.
A Forbes article – on why the MBA is more relevant than ever – notes that virtually all MBA programmes in the world aspire to help their students become better leaders. ‘No other graduate degree programme does that. And for good reason – it’s hard. But it’s important.The single-scarcest resource on the planet today is strong, competent leadership.’
That’s why the purpose of today’s MBA extends well beyond gaining advanced business knowledge. Paul Poisat, acting director of the Nelson Mandela University Business School in Gqeberha, believes ‘preparation for uncertainty is key, especially for business leaders in South Africa who must navigate rapid changes in the future of work, alongside local and global challenges’.
Poisat points to the school’s ExecuScape research, which shows that the leadership landscape of the future will be defined by ‘technological disruption, geopolitical shifts and evolving workforce dynamics, where business leaders must develop the agility to navigate uncertainty’.
‘The rapid evolution of AI, automation and digital transformation is reshaping industries, requiring executives to adopt forward-thinking strategies. South African leaders must balance these global shifts with local challenges such as economic inequality, unemployment and regulatory complexity,’ he says
‘Success lies in cultivating strategic foresight, resilience and ethical leadership to adapt to emerging realities while fostering sustainable growth.’
Many of SA’s current business leaders have earned MBAs from prestigious local schools such as the GSB and WBS, the latter having graduated the highest number of MBAs in Africa over the past 50 years.
‘The appetite for an MBA remains strong,’ says Gobind. ‘WBS saw excellent numbers in the January 2025 intake, surpassing the previous year’s targets, with 215 candidates from more than 1 500 applications.’
To stay relevant, the curriculum is currently being refreshed into ‘a brand-new revitalised qualification’ in 2026. ‘In addition to our global study tours, we are expanding our exchange programme where students can be credited for a module at an international university and return to WBS to complete their MBA qualification,’ says Gobind.
‘We are the only South African member of the Partnership in International Management [PIM], which connects over 60 of the world’s top business schools. To leverage this partnership, we’d like all our exchange destinations to be those hand-picked PIM institutions, for example Cologne [Germany] and Warwick [UK], with schools in Mexico, Brazil and Thailand still under discussion.’
She says SA’s emerging market challenges combined with this focused global exposure is meant to enrich the students’ learning experience and broaden their perspectives.
Globally, MBA programmes focus on equipping leaders to succeed in highly competitive, interconnected markets, and SA’s newest MBA is aiming to bridge this global purpose with local realities, says Cobus Oosthuizen, dean of postgraduate studies at Boston City Campus. The fully online MBA was launched in 2025, with the intention to enable graduates to lead across borders while remaining deeply rooted in the African context.
‘This MBA is purpose-built for a world defined by digital transformation, disruption and complexity,’ says Oosthuizen, a former dean of Milpark Business School. ‘The Boston MBA’s curriculum incorporates innovative modules like managing disruptive technologies, and ethics and corporate governance for sustainability practice, ensuring that graduates can lead organisations into the future.’
Preparation for uncertainty is key, as the business leaders of tomorrow have to tackle the rapid evolution of the future of work in the context of SA’s daily challenges, rising geopolitical risk and technological complexity. Henley Business School’s Van Zyl makes a valid point when he says that ‘niche programmes may be risky investments, but an MBA, as a generalist course, is great preparation for opportunities that may not even exist yet’.
