I’m an analytical person, so when I was deciding on a business school, I drew up a spreadsheet, listed all the known schools and input course curricula, accolades, accreditations, cost, and what fitted my life. Then I met with an MBA facilitator who has worked with a number of the top universities in the country and after assessing my needs he suggested I look at Henley. So I attended an open day and was blown away! I loved the atmosphere and the idea of a hybrid model which fitted my needs perfectly.
Getting back into the rhythm of studying wasn’t too difficult for me because I have done a number of courses over the years. I am a bit of a lifelong learner because one of my fears is that if I move away from the world of academia completely, I will lose my edge. After matric in 2003 I did a four-year undergraduate degree in consumer science at the University of Pretoria. Since then I have done industry training, a marketing certificate and a pre-MBA course – 16 weeks of intense preparation for an MBA – at the University of Stellenbosch. Two children and a few years later and I was ready to enrol at Henley.
I’m not a fan of wasted opportunities, so I was very intentional about what I wanted to achieve with my Henley MBA. My overarching goal was to bridge some of my own personal and professional deficits and learn new societal facets. It was important to me to experience growth and further develop my business acumen. And I also set out to make good connections – be it a collaboration point, a business contact or the opportunity to turn a colleague into a friend.
I am currently the general manager of corporate for my dad’s company, Metson World, where we manufacture plant nutrition, specialising in biostimulants. I started off as a casual worker when I was still at school and then after varsity, I worked my way up through the company in various capacities. I am in charge of marketing, R&D, HR and governance, which is a huge portfolio – and one of the reasons I needed an MBA to help me be the best leader I can be in the role.
I discovered on my MBA that the notion of authentic, transformational leadership really resonates with me because it is not only about how processes are changing but also about the way in which the people who play the game are changing. While the MBA reaffirmed the classic styles of leadership, which are predominant in the agricultural industry where I work, it also exposed me to fascinating current leadership trends, bridging the gap in my knowledge.
I am still trying to figure out what type of leader I am, but now I have learned to juggle the very technical side of being a leader with the compassionate elements of leadership. The challenge I have is that while I try to be collaborative, open and transformational, an industry as old as agriculture can be quite dogmatic, and a lot of your leadership style has to be put in a box because you have to adhere to the likes of industry norms.
The Henley MBA taught me so much – I have learned to respect the wisdom of others, I discovered that being quiet can speak volumes, and that it is better to speak your mind than to go along with something you don’t believe in. My advice to others who are thinking of going back into academia, whether it be to pursue a passion, out of the sheer love of learning, or to further yourself in the business world, is to walk in with an open mind. Don’t be limited by your surroundings. Never compromise yourself, even if it hurts. And don’t be afraid to be different. Embrace it!
THE QUICK Q&A
What do you enjoy most about what you do?
I love seeing how much of a difference our products make to a farmer’s crops – seeing the same hectarage of land produce better yields. I love being out in the fields with farmers listening to them talk about their crops as though they are their children. Seeing the application of technology within the lands but also in administration.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Doing the MBA reminded me how much I love reading and I have read so many good books lately. One that stood out for me is Conscious Leadership by John Mackey. It taught me that business does not have to be cutthroat. It can also be a community where you uplift each other. Another book that stands out is Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead, which touches on managing your vulnerabilities and being an authentic leader
When you were a child what did you want to be when you grew up?
I desperately wanted to be a vet. That didn’t work out for a variety of reasons and a variety of inadequacies. Being part of botanical life cycles and solutions towards sustainable farming that include synergy with wildlife as part of my formative years is still the most rewarding part of my job. Sustainability in every business and personal aspect, for me, includes the environment, and in that wildlife, so that there is a future for generations to come.
Apart from family what is your great passion in life?
My great love has always been wildlife management, zoology, veterinary science, but more specifically wildlife veterinary science. One of the reasons I didn’t pursue it as a career – other than my grades! – is because my heart is just too big, and the difficult decisions would have broken me. So I volunteer a lot. I have been fortunate enough to have been exposed to hands-on wildlife conservation through Four Paws, Rhino tagging programs and big cat sanctuaries. I have even bottle-fed Bengal 18-month old tiger cubs. Nature replenishes my soul, while learning replenishes my mind.
What advice would you give to your 20-year-old self?
Probably to be kinder to those around her (including herself), to not be afraid to push the envelope, and that diplomacy gets you further.