Recently named MBA Director of the Year, Assoc Prof Caitlin Ferreira shares her perspective on what sets the UCT GSB MBA apart. She reflects on leading innovation within the Modular MBA, embedding sustainability and impact, and why African leadership capabilities are increasingly relevant globally.

Mantombi Makhubele (MK): Congratulations on being named MBA Director of the Year. What went through your mind when you heard your name announced?

Caitlin Ferreira (CF): As expected, I initially felt very shocked. The shortlisted candidates represented a group of individuals that are all doing incredibly important work on MBA programmes around the world. It was an honour to just be shortlisted and of course a great privilege to be named as the winner. More than that, I remain incredibly proud that African initiatives are being recognised on a global stage.

MK: What do you think sets the UCT GSB MBA apart on the global stage?

CF: When I work with international students, I often start class by describing South Africa as complex, and as we delve into what this means, we discuss South Africa as a place where complexity represents the lived experiences of many individuals. Whether we are actively aware of it or not, we have become accustomed to making decisions in the face of uncertainty on a daily basis. We have navigated structural inequality, economic volatility, policy shifts, infrastructure constraints, and resource scarcity long before these became topics that dominated boardrooms around the world. And that environment breeds a particular kind of leader.

In 2026, the global environment is shaped by increasing uncertainty. We’ve seen leaders across the globe navigating a host of changes relating to geopolitical instability, climate risk, technological disruption and social fragmentation. What has long defined leadership in an African context, the ability to act decisively in the face of uncertainty, has now become a critical competence. At the UCT GSB, we intentionally build this context into the MBA programme. This, I believe, is what truly sets our MBA apart.

MK: You’ve led significant innovation in the Modular MBA programme. What has been your biggest focus as Programme Director?

CF: Our MBA programme aims to teach students to work towards the future that we need, not maintain the status quo – and the future that we need is one that’s more inclusive and sustainable where leaders are willing to question assumptions. For that reason, sustainability in its broadest sense, has been my greatest focus as Programme Director. We challenge MBA candidates to consider the broader implications of business decisions - how to ensure long-term financial sustainability while recognising the impact of business on society and the environment. We have significantly enhanced the focus on sustainability, embedding environmental and social concerns rather than treating them as peripheral topics.

Alongside this, we speak often about impact on the MBA programme, and for a single person, the concept of impact can be quite daunting. Launching the Responsible Citizenship module, gives students the opportunity to develop their personal impact aligned with their passion and purpose. We could have never anticipated how transformative this module would be for so many students, where many have created tangible, lasting change in their communities - and that is no small feat.

MK: This award recognises leadership. How would you describe your leadership style?

CF: Some of the best leaders that I’ve had the opportunity to work with have been output-focused, which allows their teams to work in a way that best suits them, while not being afraid to roll up their sleeves and get stuck in. These have been leaders that led by example and embodied the values that they expected of their team. These are some of the traits that I try to embody as a leader.

I have the privilege of working with a phenomenal team who are willing to reimagine what a contemporary MBA should be. Because of this, I find that my role is often to help create the conditions in which creativity and productivity can flourish – allowing my team to do what they do best.

MK: What excites you most about the future of MBA education – especially from an African context?

CF: What excites me the most is that MBA education around the world is being forced to evolve – and with it comes great opportunity for the world to learn from Africa. We’re seeing that qualities that have long defined leadership in an African context are increasingly globally relevant.

For a long time, African institutions relied on content – including case studies – from beyond the continent. But in many cases, these don’t fully reflect the complexity of operating in African markets. I am particularly excited that African institutions are now shaping global MBA conversations. We are developing our own case studies of African firms that reflect the reality of emerging markets, we are building research agendas grounded in our unique challenges and opportunities and forging partnerships across the continent.

We know that we need leaders who can navigate complexity and build inclusive businesses and I’m excited that I get the opportunity to help shape these future leaders - it’s an incredible honour and one that I am very grateful for.