Social media influencer and business owner Ayanda Thabethe had some very specific non-negotiables when it came to choosing a business school. Needless to say, Henley won her over.
Ayanda Thabethe is a South African social media influencer with a staggering 2,3 million followers. She’s a model, a successful MC and a TV personality – think Top Billing, BET A-list and Celebrity Game Night. She’s also an entrepreneur with an eye firmly focused on building a future in business, which is what led her to Henley and an MBA degree.
‘Back in the day I did a marketing management degree, and an honours in marketing but when the time came to register at Henley I hadn’t studied for 11 years and, I’m not going to lie, I was a bit nervous. Now, I can scarcely believe that I am going to graduate in September,’ says Ayanda.
The idea of picking up the books again came to Ayanda when she and her sister Lungile were launching their beauty business, Quick Face, initially in collaboration with Mr Price. She was prompted by wanting the business to succeed, as well as a need to challenge herself academically once again.
‘I felt the need to build my business acumen; I wanted to meet likeminded entrepreneurs, individuals who are doing different things in their spheres. I also wanted to find out how to run a business that is sustainable, not one that is launched one day and vanishes the next.’
Ayanda gave Henley the green light because of the school’s credibility and the flexible nature of the course. ‘As an entrepreneur your time is your money, and I couldn’t have my business affairs grind to a halt because I was studying,’ she says. ‘And as mother of two little boys – aged two and one – I have responsibilities on the home front that can’t be ignored, nor can they simply be moved down on my list of priorities.’
With graduation finally on the horizon, Ayanda has no regrets about joining the Henley community, saying that she is grateful to the school for a positive and supportive experience.
‘I started my degree in 2021, so it’s taken me four years to finish. The reason being that I had both my children during this time. At no point did Henley put me under pressure to finish my course at a time when it was literally an impossibility,’ she says.
‘The entire experience has been so positive and so rewarding. At each stage of the programme, I received overwhelming support from the school. I will always be grateful to Henley for facilitating me as I grew my little family while pursuing the MBA, both of which are hugely important personal goals.’
What do you love most about what you do?
I love the freedom to choose what I want to do, the freedom that comes with owning my time, while still being able to be present for my young family.
What is your passion – in business and in life?
My passion lies in cultivating a safe, loving and supportive home life for my children. One that I dreamed of as a child. In business my passion is to grow a beauty business by women for women, that offers simple beauty solutions that fit into their lifestyles. One of my biggest passions is always to finish what I start. It’s one of the key drivers that have gotten me to where I am today.
What advice would you give your 20-year-old self?
Life is an accumulation of all our experiences. So I would tell her to explore more. To be more inquisitive. I would tell her to travel more, to immerse herself in different cultures at a time in her life where she is still unencumbered by the responsibilities of adulthood.
What advice would you give to others considering doing an MBA at Henley?
Go for it! Don’t tell yourself this is not a good time because then you’ll always have an excuse to put it off. And if you’re worried about life getting in the way while you’re studying, don’t be. This is truly a flexible MBA programme that works with your goals in mind and considers your lifestyle. If you are committed, you will make it work.
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