Stewart Cohen, co-founder and Honorary Chairman of Mr Price Group South Africa, has received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement GSB Director’s Alumni Award. Presented by GSB Director Catherine Duggan on October 21, 2023, this esteemed accolade honours alumni who have made a remarkable impact on society or dedicated their lives to a noble cause.
… it was my honour to name Stewart Cohen (GSB MBA 1969) the inaugural recipient of this award. One of the School’s most distinguished alumni, Stewart is the co-founder and Honorary Chairman of Mr Price Group South Africa, which now has more than 2,500 stores and employs more than 25,000 people. An extraordinary entrepreneur with an unshakeable belief in the power of entrepreneurship and management education, Stewart was a founding donor and long-time Chair of the GSB Foundation — in addition to establishing the Mr Price Foundation, which is focused on education and skills development for youth empowerment, and pioneering the innovative Startup School, which provides innovative, practical and flexible entrepreneurship training and is helmed and supported by GSB alumni.
Under Stewart’s leadership the GSB Foundation raised money for scholarships that have made it possible for remarkable students to join the GSB’s programmes, and both he and the Foundation have been stalwart supporters of the School. Stewart has always been incredibly generous with his time and insights — both as GSB Foundation Chair and in his personal capacity — which have contributed immensely to the GSB’s continued development. On my own behalf, as well as on behalf of the School and broader community, I can say that the GSB would not be where it is today without Stewart’s efforts. We could not ask for a better ambassador for the School or example of the power of business education, an innovative and entrepreneurial mindset and a commitment to social impact.
Stewart’s dedication and impactful work have profoundly influenced leaders in both business and non-profit organisations, as well as entrepreneurs throughout Africa. His continuous efforts over the years have not gone unnoticed.
As a founding donor and board member of the GSB Foundation, Stewart (MBA’ 69) has played a vital role in providing scholarships for deserving candidates to pursue a GSB MBA. With the foundation’s support, 28 scholars have been able to further their education, and more opportunities are on the horizon.
I strongly believe that all GSB alumni should donate or bequeath funds to the GSB Foundation – to strengthen our alma mater and support deserving students. // Stewart Cohen, December 2023
In addition to his involvement with the foundation, Stewart actively contributes to social initiatives at the GSB Bertha Centre for Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship and the Startup School. Through the Startup School, Stewart and his co-founders have empowered over 2000 entrepreneurs and businesses across Africa, offering education, development, and grants to foster sustainable businesses and vital employment opportunities.
The GSB Foundation and its supporters extend their warmest congratulations and gratitude to Stewart for his ongoing commitment and dedication.
The Annual GSB Director’s Alumni Awards were presented during the Gala Dinner of the Annual Reunion Weekend, held at the UCT GSB Breakwater Campus from October 21 to 23, 2023. The 2023 awards recipients are Mukona Khalushi (PGDip in Management Practice’ 16/17) in the category Alumni Relations and Bruce Isdale (MBA’ 14) in the category Long-Term Contributions. The Lifetime Achievement Award is a category at the discretion of the GSB Director.
Picture: Stewart Cohen and GSB Director Catherine Duggan at the MBA Bellringing event, 4 Dec 2023 at the UCT GSB Breakwater Campus
Stephen Quantrill / GSB MBA ’94, Executive Chairman of McRae Investments // I’m a huge supporter of the enrichment and stretch of the GSB experience – including the foundation the MBA provides your career and the bonds and friendships that endure. The GSB MBA is a dynamic melting pot for extending and understanding yourself better and gaining skills in teamwork and symbiosis; it is a vibrant proxy for demanding board and management environments later. The academic programme is intense and deliberately designed around teamwork, and I’d urge students to give more than they take – putting in 150% while encouraging your team’s high performance in a high-pressure environment are critical skills for success. In my experience, people that go on to do better than others also learn early that they don’t have all the skills and knowledge. So it’s about learning and understanding how other people’s contributions can improve your own success, and you can benefit theirs. As a business leader, you learn to value that people see things differently, so you adapt to listen better and make more robust decisions together.
Mukona Khalushi / GSB PGDip ’17 and member of the GSB Alumni Board, PGDip Subcommittee // I wanted the PGDip fundraising to be more effective and realised that it’s a bigger job – you need more ideas and a committed team. That’s how the idea of the alums subcommittee started. You need PGDip alums who relate to the course and the outcome of the course, who get together with others just as excited to be joining forces. I know what the PGDip did for me – it helped me see myself beyond my limit, it helped me grow as a leader, I’m more visionary now. Yeah, it’s the best thing I’ve ever done. Fundraising is about community; it gives people the opportunity to invest in others, impact other people’s lives and go beyond where they can reach. There could be someone who is going online right now, they want to study for a PGDip but don’t have the funds. Having an option of financial aid still motivates them to apply – so if there are funds available, that is an opportunity for that individual.
Reyna Singh / GSB MBA ‘18/19, Owner and Director of NG Global Energy Solutions // In 2019, I was quite fortunate in that the GSB gave me a scholarship to complete my final year of the modular MBA. This was a huge help – my business was just an idea, I was in between jobs and my first year was funded on a student loan. Since then, it’s always been at the back of my mind to return that amazing favour and give back when the opportunity arises. This year, our business luckily has the capacity to give back and we made a donation to the Foundation. What do I wish for the person benefiting from our donation? Fully embrace the programme and make the most of it. Enjoy it. Engage with others, collaborate, learn. Use the knowledge you gain to make an impact. For me, it’s all good and well that you have this knowledge and education, but what are you doing to make a difference? Make an impact with what you have learned on the programme.
Ian Kantor / GSB MBA ’69, Founder of Investec // As a business leader, it is useful to have a combination of traits. I cannot limit this to a single attribute. To begin with, character, drive and integrity. Secondly, an understanding that building a business goes beyond just the money. It is also about an awareness and a determination that is socially motivated. Thirdly, an ability to take an idea and turn it into reality, but also to figure out what ideas there could be when confronted with reality. Next, an ability to move quickly where necessary, but also to have the patience and strength to wait for things to develop, with all that that entails. Finally, interpersonal skills. To be able to listen to others and empathise in order to find a common ground with others and an ability to build collective will with counter parties both internally and externally. Running a business is top sport, and it is really tough without good health. In my opinion, these traits are universal no matter where in the world you do business.
Sandy Mattison (GSB MBA ‘97) received the 2018 GSB Director’s Alumni Award in the category “Contribution in building alumni relationships”. The award was presented at the 2018 GSB Graduation Ball, 22 June 2018 at Century City Conference Centre, by Acting UCT GSB Director Associate Professor Kosheek Sewchurran.
Sandy is passionate about the GSB MBA programme and the GSB Foundation’s work of supporting students with their studies. A GSB alumna herself, she wanted to get involved and she certainly set the bar high: Her aim was to raise R100,000 towards an MBA scholarship.
The idea of the fundraiser was sparked at the reunion of the MBA Class of ’97 in December 2017 and soon thereafter, Sandy started rallying for the cause. In co-operation with the GSB Foundation, a dedicated Class of ’97 MBA Scholarship Fund was set up. Within six months she had gathered more than twenty individual pledges from class colleagues over R5,000 each and the funds raised exceeded the amount she initially set out to achieve.
The GSB Foundation congratulates Sandy on her hard work and fully supports this wonderful recognition of her efforts by the GSB. We are deeply grateful for her initiative and extraordinary dedication. Due to Sandy’s efforts and that of her class colleagues, another student will be able to complete the GSB MBA programme with the support of the GSB alumni network.
Sandy’s class is one of several classes now raising funds for MBA scholarships at the GSB – if you would like to know more, please see the GSB Foundation’s Alumni Campaigns page. The Director’s Alumni Awards were initiated in 2007 and annually honour alumni of the GSB who have made an outstanding contribution to the alma mater.
Picture (left to right): Peter Wingrove, Sandy Mattison and Linda Fasham at GSB Graduation Ball, 22 Jun 2018 at the Century City Conference Centre
