The students of the UCT Graduate School of Business (GSB) MBA class 2022 have accomplished a remarkable milestone – the hand-in of their theses! On 8th December, family and friends gathered in celebration to congratulate everyone on this momentous achievement. Here’s wishing them continued success with all future endeavours! See the Foundation’s message to the students.
Dear GSB MBA students,
Congratulations on handing in your MBA thesis today!
Your journey to this point has no doubt been arduous, but you have persevered. May the cathartic sound of that ringing bell serve as a joyful reminder of your character and determination. You can do anything that you put your mind to.
More importantly, relish the friendships that you have made along the way. Your integration into the alumni family begins with your classmates. I urge you to nurture these relationships, for they will be your most valuable GSB connections by far.
As Chair of the GSB Alumni Board, I’d like to officially welcome you to the alumni family of the University of Cape Town (UCT) Graduate School of Business (GSB). The greater alumni network is here for you too. Maximise the opportunity to engage with your fellow alumni by attending future GSB Alumni Events. You will be invited to these events in due course, and I look forward to seeing you there.
Now whilst being an alum of the GSB is a privilege, it is also a responsibility. To that end, I encourage you to begin supporting the GSB Foundation today. Scholarship recipients are among you and our duty to the school, as its alumni, is to help grow the reach of the Foundation.
One of the simplest ways to do this is by signing up for the Foundation’s R100-a-month quest, so please join me in taking an active role as we work together to solidify the GSB’s hard-earned position at the apex of African business schools.
Congratulations on your achievement and best of success with your next chapter.
Kosta Kontos (GSB MBA 2009/10)
Board member of the GSB Foundation and Chair of the GSB Alumni Board
The UCT GSB 2021 Alumni Reunion Weekend took place 22–24 October 2021. “Knowledge across disciplines” was the theme of the weekend and invited speakers shared how leaders are responding to global challenges with a multi-disciplined approach. Of course, staple social activities like a Brig session and the 3Peaks Challenge were also on the agenda.
See here the highlights of the Alumni Reunion Weekend 2021:
It’s been that time of year again where UCT GSB Alumni of all programmes and graduating years gathered to enjoy the annual Alumni Reunion Weekend, held virtually for the second year in a row.
This year’s theme is “Knowledge across disciplines“. The speaker line-up included:
They were discussing how we can leverage technology to meet and find new customers and how to develop and build new leadership practices to maximise the benefits.
The event ran from Friday 22nd October (16:00 – 19:00), Saturday 23rd October (12:00 – 16:00), ending on Sunday 24th October with the 3Peaks Challenge – a GSB tradition held annually for the past 42 years!
Steven van Rheede, a distinguished GSB MBA 2020 graduate and recipient of the GSB Foundation Scholarship, shares his experience pursuing an MBA during the challenging COVID-19 lockdown. In an interview with the GSB Ideas Exchange, the online platform of the UCT GSB Press Office, Steven reflects on the unexpected benefits he gained from transitioning to online learning.
As a member of the 2020 MBA class, Steven initially anticipated a break from work distractions and an opportunity for self-reflection. The program began with great enthusiasm, exceeding his expectations. However, the sudden outbreak of COVID-19 forced the program to shift entirely online, presenting unforeseen challenges which the UCT GSB effectively navigated despite initial difficulties.
While the pandemic brought about significant changes, Steven found himself with abundant time for introspection. “I had the time to figure out who I am and what I wanted to do in the world, and what kind of leader I am. So it was very much a year of meditation.” he describes the experience as a period of profound self-discovery, enabling him to delve into his identity, aspirations, and leadership style. It proved to be a transformative year of personal growth.
The GSB Foundation Board of Trustees joins the academic community of the University of Cape Town (UCT) in congratulating Dr Catherine Duggan on her appointment as Director of the UCT Graduate School of Business (UCT GSB). We extend a warm welcome and look forward to an inspiring new chapter at the school.
Dr Duggan joins the UCT GSB as Director on September 1st 2020. With a background in political science, Dr Duggan has spent more than 20 years working on the African continent. She comes with a wealth of experience of various countries of the continent, their market and business environments as well as research in business and development.
Before joining the GSB, Dr Duggan held the position of Vice Dean for Strategy and Research at the African Leadership University School of Business (ALUSB) in Rwanda, where she was a Professor of Management and Political Economy. Dr Duggan also taught at Saïd Business School, UK and Harvard Business School, USA during her career.
Dr Duggan is currently in New York and – considering the COVID regulations on international travel and local university life – we hope to greet her soon in person at our beautiful Cape Town campus.
See more:
The students of the 2019 GSB MBA classes – full-time and modular – started on campus and orientation week is in full swing. Earlier in the week, students followed the invitation of the GSB Foundation and met with Peter Wingrove, the Foundation’s Managing Director, for an informal session on the Foundation’s work and offerings.
Peter started the session with explaining the big picture, that the students are now part of the GSB Alumni network; a network that spans 5000+ graduates in more than 80 countries across the globe. It is these alumni who support the GSB Foundation, united by the vision to enable the future generations of GSB Graduates.
The students of 2019 hail from many countries, including Angola, India, Belgium, Germany, Canada and of course, South Africa. They can tap into the GSB Alumni network during the time of their studies and beyond. They can also get involved, from wherever their paths will take them. The students also asked questions relating to the Foundation, the Alumni network and managing the workload of the MBA programme. Peter, being a GSB MBA Graduate himself, was able to give advice on how students can make the most of their time and how to start growing their network.
As mentioned by Peter at the end of the session – the team of the GSB Foundation wishes all MBA students of 2019 a productive and inspiring time on campus and we look forward to engaging with you!
The incoming GSB students of the MBA Full-time 2018 and Modular 2018/19 were treated to a lively, entertaining and somewhat different introduction to the MBA programme by Raymond van Niekerk, member of the GSB Foundation’s Board of Trustees.
Raymond, having done the GSB MBA in 1996, shared his views and tips on how students can get the most out of the programme. There were funny snippets, for example how to survive the legendary Sunrise Challenge (a tradition among MBA students at the GSB). There was also well-meant advice, such as appreciating the diversity of students attending the programme – you work with people from different backgrounds, with different experiences and perspectives. Interacting in class or working together on assignments is, sooner or later, bound to challenge one’s usual approach and spark new ideas; students should leverage this to the max as there is a lot to be gained. Last but not least – connections and friendships will be forged in the year ahead that will last well beyond the programme.
On behalf of the Foundation board and team: A warm welcome to all new students on campus and we look forward to engaging with you in future!
