Prodigy
Posted on 30 September 2024 by UCT GSB Press Office
Learning & Development

UCT GSB Welcomes Prodigy Finance's Blended Finance Programme

Prodigy Finance has launched a groundbreaking Blended Finance programme aimed at providing African students with greater access to international education. This initiative aligns with the UCT Graduate School of Business's mission to empower Africa’s future leaders, offering an innovative financing solution that breaks down financial barriers and fosters diverse, globally minded leadership across the continent.


In a major leap forward for postgraduate education in Africa, Prodigy Finance has announced the launch of a $30 million Blended Finance Programme, aimed at providing greater access to international education for African students. 

This innovative financial model has been created in collaboration with Standard Bank and Allan & Gill Gray Philanthropies, and is designed to support the next generation of African leaders, particularly those who might otherwise struggle to secure funding for their studies.

The programme’s unique structure allows for a highly efficient deployment of funds. For every $1 of capital provided by the philanthropies, $4 of student loans can be made available through the partnership with Standard Bank. This means that a much larger pool of students will benefit compared to traditional scholarship schemes. Additionally, the funds are designed to be self-replenishing, as proceeds from student loan repayments are reinvested to provide future loans. 

The result is a sustainable financial model with the potential for broad social impact while ensuring financial returns for the bank.

“Prodigy Finance offers an innovative loan platform tailored for international postgraduate students at top graduate schools like UCT GSB,” says Prodigy’s University Relations Specialist, Jacqui Smith. “With no need for a cosigner or collateral, our loans* cover both tuition and living expenses, providing the financial support you need. Plus, no payments are required until six months after graduation, and there are no prepayment penalties, giving you the flexibility to focus on your studies and future success.”

Aligning with the UCT GSB's commitment to impact and education

The UCT GSB is excited about this new initiative. It as an important step forward in supporting talented and deserving individuals in Africa. Prodigy Finance’s programme directly aligns with the GSB’s mission to nurture a new generation of globally-minded leaders.

“We are incredibly excited to see this innovative financing solution take shape,“ says Nondumiso April Somazembe, Head of the Career Leadership Centre at the GSB. “We believe in creating opportunities for deserving and ambitious people, no matter their financial background or constraints. Prodigy’s Blended Finance programme opens doors for students who aspire to make a difference in their communities and beyond, and it echoes our commitment to fostering diverse leadership across the globe.”

She added that the GSB’s Career Leadership Centre works tirelessly to ensure that talented students reach their full potential. 

Bridging Africa’s educational and employment gaps

Africa faces several pressing challenges, including a youth unemployment rate of nearly 60%. Moreover, projections from HolonIQ suggest that three-quarters of the world’s new graduates will come from Africa and Asia by 2050. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) also highlights that addressing the digital skills gap in Africa could increase the continent’s GDP by up to 5%. Education, therefore, is more crucial than ever for Africa’s socio-economic development.

Prodigy Finance’s Blended Finance programme offers a critical solution for African students who wish to pursue postgraduate degrees at international institutions like the UCT GSB. By removing financial barriers, this initiative enables students to develop the skills and expertise needed to contribute meaningfully to their countries' economies and drive growth across the continent.

Cameron Stevens, CEO of Prodigy Finance, further underlined the importance of the programme for the continent: “We aim to unlock Africa’s untapped potential. This initiative will transform countless students’ educational and professional trajectories, fostering a new generation of leaders on the continent.”

Expanding opportunities for women in leadership

One of the Blended Finance Programme’s key objectives is to address gender disparities in access to education, particularly at the postgraduate level. By increasing the number of women pursuing advanced degrees, Prodigy Finance hopes to contribute to a more inclusive workforce and a rise in female leadership across various industries. 

The UCT GSB, as a leader in promoting gender diversity and inclusion, is particularly excited about this focus. At the GSB, empowering women in leadership positions is central to the institution’s educational ethos, and the Blended Finance programme is poised to create new pathways for aspiring female leaders.

A shared vision for the future

Looking ahead, Prodigy Finance plans to expand the Blended Finance programme to $200 million over the next three years, amplifying its reach and transformative potential. The UCT GSB remains committed to working with partners like Prodigy Finance to ensure that the brightest minds from Africa can access the resources they need to succeed on the global stage. 

“The GSB is excited about the potential of Prodigy’s new programme to shape the next generation of African changemakers,” says the GSB’s Director, Dr Catherine Duggan. “This shows how innovation in financial structuring and the power of philanthropy can work together to create long-term, sustainable solutions that empower students to learn, to lead, and to make an impact on the world — no matter where they come from or their financial constraints.”

“The best advice for students is: first check your eligibility, apply early and provide accurate information in your application, and definitely utilise the Prodigy Support via chatting with a mentor and using the study centre,” says Jacqui Smith.

As UCT GSB and Prodigy Finance continue to foster and develop postgraduate education, the future looks brighter for the continent's future leaders.

To apply for the Prodigy Finance Blended Finance Programme, click here.

*Loan and promotion offers are subject to our eligibility, funding, and credit assessment criteria. Loan amounts are subject to the cost of attendance limits set by schools. Representative APR 13.35% variable. APR includes interest + mandatory fees (All-inclusive rate of borrowing). Prodigy Finance Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom.


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Our world needs empathetic intervention - not heroes

As the world battles big systemic challenges, it’s clear that no single person has the answer. Instead, companies, organisations and individuals need to look at processes informed by many different perspectives to point the way forward.

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Posted on 11 November 2020 by Ncedisa Nkonyeni
hybrid virtual classrooms - media
Learning & Development

No going back: COVID-19 has galvanised business schools to embrace new possibilities in online and hybrid teaching

Amid the global pandemic, business schools everywhere have had to practise what they preach — adapt to changing environments, and imagine a world where, truly, it is no longer ‘business as usual’

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Posted on 10 November 2020 by Rayner Canning
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Learning & Development

Big ambitions to drive financial inclusion in Africa

UCT GSB alumna Fadzai Chitiyo-Kunaka has just started a new position with the National Treasury as a short-term consultant for The World Bank — while also coming to grips with motherhood following the birth of her firstborn, a baby daughter, only four months ago.

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Posted on 2 November 2020 by UCT GSB Press Office
ADVANCING YOUR CAREER - MEDIA
Learning & Development

Advancing your career in the gig economy

What if lifelong employment never existed? What if the only work available to everyone in every industry was short-term contract work? How would you have approached your career in that world? These are important questions to ask because this is the world we are moving towards.

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Posted on 30 October 2020 by Azvir Rampursad
UCT_GSB_FT_Ranking_2020_MEDIA
Learning & Development

UCT the only Financial Times ranked MBA school in Africa

The University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business (UCT GSB) is the only business school in Africa to feature in the prestigious Financial Times Rankings for its ground-breaking Executive MBA programme.

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Posted on 26 October 2020 by UCT GSB Press Office
mental health dr - media
Learning & Development

The grass isn’t always greener in the home office

Working from home has been a blessing for some but brought new demands and strains for others — including a rise in mental health issues. Now, as millions of people start to trickle back to more formal workplaces, is an opportune time for employees to take ownership of their happiness at work.

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Posted on 17 October 2020 by Babar Dharani
Alumni Reunion Weekend 2020 - Media
Learning & Development

Thuli Madonsela and Vusi Thembekwayo to join UCT GSB annual Alumni Reunion weekend

In keeping with the times, the UCT Graduate School of Business’ 2020 Alumni Reunion weekend will be hosted online and will explore how connecting the world digitally during the COVID-19 pandemic has affected us as business leaders - and as people.

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Posted on 16 October 2020 by UCT GSB Press Office
Cape Talk
Learning & Development

Executive Coaching: Creating lasting and meaningful personal development

Craig O’Flaherty, Director of the Centre for Coaching at the UCT Graduate School of Business, spoke to Kieno Kammies about how coaching can help us overcome challenges and barriers, whether they've been created by others or by ourselves.

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Posted on 12 October 2020 by UCT GSB Press Office
NEW LEADERSHIP ROLES - media
Learning & Development

UCT GSB announces new leadership roles

The UCT GSB has introduced two new roles to bolster the school’s management structures, whilst streamlining its research and academic activities.

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Posted on 30 September 2020 by UCT GSB Press Office
HOW OFTEN SHOULD COMPANY CULTURE BE REVIEWED?
Learning & Development

How often should company culture be reviewed and can it be changed?

We asked Prof Rija, Azvir Rampursad and Bradley Nitsckie for their views on how often company culture should be reviewed and whether it's possible to change a culture that has been instilled over an extended period of time.

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Posted on 28 September 2020 by UCT GSB Press Office
INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION - mEDIA
Learning & Development

International recognition for Bertha Centre (UCT GSB) researchers

The Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship is developing a new teaching case method - incorporating multiple perspectives for the complex issues of our time - which they have been invited to present at the North American Case Research Association (NACRA) 2020 Conference.

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Posted on 28 September 2020 by UCT GSB Press Office
Accelerate Cape Town PR - Media
Learning & Development

UCT GSB partners with Accelerate Cape Town to host Future of Work series

The University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business (UCT GSB) has teamed up with Accelerate Cape Town to explore pressing questions on the future of work in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Posted on 21 September 2020 by UCT GSB Press Office
 Women in Business conference review - Media
Learning & Development

Rise. Reset. Reimagine. Recreate.

This year’s Women in Business Conference celebrated women who aren’t just breaking proverbial glass ceilings but are also empowering others in their wake. UCT GSB MBA alumna, Shivani Ghai, shares her experience of the virtual conference.

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Posted on 16 September 2020 by Shivani Ghai
UCT GSB TEACHING CASE STUDY ON MEDICAL - Media
Learning & Development

UCT GSB teaching case study on medical technology company, Biotronik, wins top international award

Researchers from the UCT GSB have once again taken top honours in a prestigious international case writing competition, for a new teaching case on the challenges of remaining competitive and profitable without compromising on quality in the SA cardiac device industry.

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Posted on 14 September 2020 by UCT GSB Press Office
Cheryyl - MEDIA
Learning & Development

Gender diversity in SA has a long way to go

Award-winning chartered accountant and UCT GSB EMBA alumna, Cheryl-Jane Kujenga is vocal about transformation and gender diversity in the workplace - and why we need more women at the top.

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Posted on 27 August 2020 by UCT GSB Press Office
Media- Icon - Death of Mentorship
Learning & Development

The dearth of mentorship is a major fault line in SA education

UCT GSB PGDip alumnus, Bianca Rousseau, had a few more bumps in the road than most when trying to earn herself a professional qualification; but when she did, she came up with a formula for success that is founded on the principle of mentorship.

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Posted on 27 August 2020 by UCT GSB Press Office
IE_Media_19Aug2020_Catherine_announcement
Learning & Development

New director wants UCT GSB to ‘seize the opportunity to lead in Africa’

Dr Catherine Duggan, formerly the vice dean for strategy and research at the African Leadership University (ALU) in Rwanda and member of faculty at Harvard Business School, has been appointed as the new director of the UCT GSB.

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Posted on 12 August 2020 by UCT GSB Press Office
Cape Talk
Learning & Development

UCT GSB's new programme prepares students to lead internationally

Dr Beverly Shrand, spoke with Cape Talk about the UCT GSB's new programme, the CEMS Master of Management specialising in International Management (MIM).

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Posted on 10 August 2020 by UCT GSB Press Office
Women in business conference - media
Learning & Development

Women in Business conference set to break new ground in 2020

For the first time in its 21-year history, the UCT GSB's popular annual Women in Business conference, focused on addressing inclusion, access, and equality in the workplace, will take place online.

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Posted on 29 July 2020 by UCT GSB Press Office
cape talk banner with watermark
Learning & Development

Addressing the urgent need for upskilling due to COVID-19

Rayner Canning, Business Development Director at the UCT GSB, talks to Cape Talk's Kieno Kammies about the need to upskill the workforce post-COVID-19.

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Posted on 28 July 2020 by UCT GSB Press Office
EMBA Quacquarelli Symonds - Media
Learning & Development

UCT GSB Executive MBA ranked in global top 50 for 2nd year in row

The UCT GSB has sealed its reputation as one of Africa’s top business schools with the news that its Executive MBA has moved up to 45th in the world on the prestigious 2020 QS ranking of Executive MBAs.

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Posted on 6 July 2020 by UCT GSB Press Office
PR Solange Rosa appointment - MEDIA
Learning & Development

Dr Solange Rosa to lead the Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship

New director cites community across boundaries, a fairer world, communal inspired action, access to opportunities, radical collaboration, kindness, social justice, and aligned interests as key to forging a fresh vision for the next decade.

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Posted on 2 July 2020 by UCT GSB Press Office
UCT GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS RECOGNISED MEDIA
Learning & Development

International quality stamp puts UCT GSB in top 5% of business schools worldwide

The University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business (UCT GSB) has been reaccredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), one of only 5% of business schools worldwide to achieve this prestigious mark of quality

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Posted on 2 July 2020 by UCT GSB Press Office
cape talk banner with watermark
Learning & Development

The future of management education: what students say

Shivani Ghai, MBA candidate at the UCT GSB, spoke to Jeremy van Wyk about responsible management education and what students want from management education today.

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Posted on 22 June 2020 by UCT GSB Press Office
Drone image - media
Learning & Development

The future of work: implications for management education

Does management education need to change to equip graduates for the future of work?

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Posted on 11 June 2020 by Kurt April
Working from - Media
Learning & Development

How to get ahead while working from home

Just because you’re working from home these days doesn’t mean your career needs to stagnate. There are many things you can do to stay productive and make the most of these extraordinary times.

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Posted on 26 May 2020 by Azvir Rampursad
UCT GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS - Media
Learning & Development

UCT Graduate School of Business is number one in South Africa

Latest ranking of customised programmes from the Financial Times shows the University Cape Town Graduate School of Business is leading in South Africa.

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Posted on 11 May 2020 by UCT GSB Press Office
Press Office
Learning & Development

Programme to connect future SA leaders to global conversation in a post COVID-19 world

The CEMS global network of 32 existing academic members (leading business schools), 70 corporate partners (multinational companies) and seven social partners (NGOs), is dedicated to educating and preparing future generations of international business leaders, through the top ranked CEMS Master in International Management (MIM).

This one-year Master’s programme, opened registrations on 1 May 2020, for its first intake in South Africa in September 2021, prepares young leaders to contribute to a more open, sustainable and inclusive world.

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Posted on 7 May 2020 by UCT GSB Press Office
Knowing the difference between - Media
Learning & Development

Knowing the difference between managing and leading - Robin Kuriakose (MBA)

Knowing the difference between managing and leading

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Posted on 7 May 2020 by UCT GSB Press Office
Cape Talk logo - Media
Learning & Development

How to master the art of the virtual meeting

Love or loathe them, virtual meetings have become a mainstay of the working day for many of us. Lauren Davis shared some tips on virtual meeting best practices with Kieno Kammies on Cape Talk.

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Posted on 6 May 2020 by UCT GSB Press Office
Multilingual classrooms boost - Media
Learning & Development

Multilingual classrooms boost learning

Just 23% of South Africans identify English or Afrikaans as their home language and yet 100% of children are expected to navigate their school years in these languages exclusively.

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Posted on 18 March 2020 by UCT GSB Press Office
diversity
Learning & Development

How to foster diverse and competitive teams

How can today’s forward-looking companies get better at attracting and retaining talent from broader socio-economic backgrounds?

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Posted on 11 March 2020 by UCT GSB Press Office
Cape Talk logo - Media
Learning & Development

Q&A with Dr Babar Dharani on the secret to happy employees

Whether it’s chasing higher pay or finding a working environment to suit your personality type, what is it that keeps people happy at work?

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Posted on 11 March 2020 by Babar Dharani
FNFM
Learning & Development

Better financial literacy could boost South Africa’s flagging prospects

Financial literacy is low among South Africans, and the country is paying the price in many ways, says UCT GSB professor, Mark Graham. But with even a bit of basic training the world of finance can be deciphered and embraced.

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Posted on 5 March 2020 by Mark Graham
Press Office
Learning & Development

MBA team wins security analysis live pitch competition

A UCT GSB team of MBAs exhibited world-class nerves and experience, edging out teams from Singapore, China and Brazil to take first place in a virtual competition hosted by Yale School of Management.

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Posted on 3 March 2020 by UCT GSB Press Office
susan de wit - vet
Learning & Development

From vet to visionary financial thinker - Susan de Witt (MBA)

MBA alumna Dr Susan de Witt is making a name for herself in an innovative area of impact investing, which has the radical potential of raising much-needed finance while also driving social and environmental benefits in Africa.

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Posted on 17 February 2020 by UCT GSB Press Office
A tribute to Bob Boland
Learning & Development

A tribute to Bob Boland (Founding Director of the UCT GSB from 1966-1972)

Dr Robert (‘Bob’) Boland was the ultimate role-model for lifelong learning, described by MBA graduates from the late 1960s as "a multiplier of talent who made a real difference to the lives of so many people."

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Posted on 17 February 2020 by UCT GSB Press Office
IE_Media_Chris hand
Learning & Development

Leveraging education and entrepreneurship to solve SA’s challenges

Recently named as a 2020 Influential Leader by the AACSB, Chris Hosken believes there is a “ton of meaningful work to be done” in South Africa — and he is determined to give entrepreneurs the support they need to do it.

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Posted on 17 February 2020 by UCT GSB Press Office
Africas First Win Media
Learning & Development

Four reasons why MBAs love international case competitions

International competitions have become a core feature of many top business school programmes. And students are lining up to take part — not just because there is prize money to be won — but because the experience provides the perfect complement to what they learn in the classroom.

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Posted on 28 January 2020 by Johannes Schueler
IE-Media-AzvirRampursad-0120
Learning & Development

Q&A with Azvir Rampursad: How to make yourself more employable

With unemployment at an all-time high in South Africa, even graduates are struggling to find jobs. Talent Strategy & Leadership Development specialst, Azvir Rampursad, says employers are looking for very specific skill-sets in new hires.

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Posted on 16 January 2020 by Azvir Rampursad
molsen second
Learning & Development

Africa's first win at top international business school competition

The UCT Graduate School of Business in Cape Town has garnered another international accolade in becoming the first African business school to win the 39th annual John Molson MBA International Case Competition, often referred to as “MBA Olympics”

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Posted on 16 January 2020 by UCT GSB Press Office
New Years Resolutions Media
Learning & Development

Five New Year’s resolutions that will boost your career in 2020

A new decade is about to arrive amidst economic turmoil and political challenges, industry changes and uncertainties - globally as well as in South Africa. Set yourself up for success in 2020 with these five resolutions.

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Posted on 2 January 2020 by Kumeshnee West
Where some see problems he sees - Media
Learning & Development

Where some see problems, he sees solutions - Jitendra Mishra (MBA)

UCT GSB MBA alumnus, Jitendra Mishra, believes there is a bright future for mining in Africa. Despite challenges in the sector, he thinks more advanced technologies and processes will revitalise the industry.

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Posted on 13 December 2019 by UCT GSB Press Office
UCT GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS RECOGNISED MEDIA
Learning & Development

UCT GSB recognised as a global leader in ethical business education

The UCT Graduate School of Business (GSB) is the only business school in Africa to feature in the 2019 Corporate Knights Better World MBA Ranking.

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Posted on 11 November 2019 by UCT GSB Press Office
Wealth and Happiness Media
Learning & Development

3 things to consider if you want to achieve both wealth and happiness

We’re often told that to pursue our dreams we may have to sacrifice wealth, but research is showing that the opposite is true.

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Posted on 15 October 2019 by Babar Dharani
 Debunking 4 common entrepreneurial Media
Learning & Development

GSB case study wins top international award

Researchers from the UCT Graduate School of Business (GSB) have taken top honours in a prestigious international case writing competition, for their teaching case on the marketing challenges and opportunities SMEs encounter when taking their product global.

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Posted on 19 September 2019 by UCT GSB Press Office
 Widening access to financial services - media
Learning & Development

Widening access to financial services

UCT GSB MBA alumna, Philisiwe Precious Nduli, named as one of the Top 200 Young South Africans by the Mail & Guardian in 2018, is passionate about widening access to financial services — and ensuring that those services make the world a better place.

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Posted on 8 August 2019 by UCT GSB Press Office
Media - Positioning women as catalysts
Learning & Development

Positioning women as catalysts for innovation in Africa - Gloria Muhoro (MPhil)

Positioning women as catalysts for innovation in Africa

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Posted on 28 June 2019 by UCT GSB Press Office
Media - High-tech and old-school
Learning & Development

High-tech and old-school: a winning combination for success - Chad Bartlett (PGDip)

Chad Bartlett, Director of Partnerships at tech company, Grove, describes his time at the UCT GSB, where he completed a PGDip, as a life-changing experience.

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Posted on 20 June 2019 by UCT GSB Press Office
When a love of numbers becomes - Media
Learning & Development

When a love of numbers becomes a passion for doing good

WHEN A LOVE OF NUMBERS BECOMES A PASSION FOR DOING GOOD

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Posted on 13 June 2019 by UCT GSB Press Office
THE 5 ATTRIBUTES OF SUCCESSFUL WOMEN LEADERS
Learning & Development

The 5 attributes of successful women leaders

Whether they are CEOs, scientists, entrepreneurs or venture capitalists, successful women often share a few key characteristics that are worth taking note of - and the good news is that these are skills any woman can develop, they believe.

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Posted on 17 April 2019 by Jenny Boxall
Media -Playing the long game
Learning & Development

Playing the long game - Stanley Vorsatz (MBA)

It was while doing his MBA that Stanley Vorsatz began to understand his strengths and weaknesses more clearly, a lesson worth the cost of admission itself. Now he’s putting that learning to good use in his own company.

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Posted on 25 March 2019 by UCT GSB Press Office
Managers will need Media
Learning & Development

Managers will need a new mindset to lead in a technology-driven world

The 4th Industrial Revolution offers businesses new opportunities for growth and inclusivity - but it will be critical to invest in the essential capabilities of, especially, managers to cash in on this dividend

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Posted on 7 March 2019 by Mzoxolo Gulwa
african_businesswoman - Media
Learning & Development

An angel for African businesswomen - Lelemba Phiri (MCom)

She has been a television presenter, a university lecturer, a public sector and corporate key executive as well as an author and recipient of prestigious awards like the Zambian Woman of the Year Award in 2015, but it is with her gender-lens angel investment fund, that Lelemba Phiri believes she can make the biggest impact on the continent she loves.

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Posted on 21 February 2019 by UCT GSB Press Office
Media - A boring job? Maybe to some...
Learning & Development

A boring job? Maybe to some - Nellis Beyers (MBA)

Dr Nellis Beyers, Medical Services Manager for the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, is bringing business thinking to bear on healthcare systems, making sure that more lives are saved and more lifechanging operations can be performed on children in need.

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Posted on 18 February 2019 by UCT GSB Press Office
Bradley fortune
Learning & Development

On being nimble and expanding your worldview: Q&A with Fortune Gamanya (EMBA)

Whether you’re an organisation facing down the Goliath of the 4th Industrial Revolution, a woman in the workplace or an MBA student embarking on a new trajectory, you need to be lean and agile and ready to engage, unapologetically, on your own terms, says the founder of Luminary Advisory & Consulting and EMBA alumna, Fortune Gamanya

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Posted on 1 August 2018 by UCT GSB Press Office
Phatizwe Malinga profile media
Learning & Development

Q&A with Phathizwe Malinga (EMBA) on the Internet of Things

A digital future has the potential to improve the quality of life for all South Africans but requires that companies transform their business models to take advantage of it, says UCT GSB EMBA alumnus Phathizwe Malinga.

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Posted on 2 July 2018 by UCT GSB Press Office
Saving us from plastic soup - Richard Hardiman med
Learning & Development

Saving us from plastic soup - Richard Hardiman (MBA)

Self-proclaimed “accidental environmentalist” and GSB alumnus Richard Hardiman has built a drone, based on a science fiction character, that can clean the ocean. His tech start-up, Ranmarine, produces the WasteShark - the only thing standing between us and the garbage that is turning our oceans into plastic soup.

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Posted on 3 April 2018 by UCT GSB Press Office
Deon James - Media
Learning & Development

When energy meets application: transforming the electricity market - Deon James (Modular MBA)

UCT GSB alumnus Deon James has been a force for change in the energy industry for more than twenty years. He describes his career trajectory since graduating from the part-time MBA programme in 1990.

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Posted on 22 February 2018 by UCT GSB Press Office