In a first for the African continent, Henley Business School, an international business school with campuses in Africa, Europe and the UK, has officially welcomed a South African cohort on its prestigious and top-ranked Global MBA programme.
Comprising a diverse range of senior-level professionals, including a mining engineer, a chief pilot, a head of data analytics for a healthcare group, a quality management executive, and a veteran business broadcaster, the South African cohort is in London this week, joining students from the UK and European cohorts on Henley Business School’s Greenlands Campus on the banks of the River Thames as the 2024/25 programme gets underway.
Ranked 8th in the world in the QS Global Trade Rankings and in the top 10% for Career Outcomes in the 2024 QS Executive MBA rankings, the Henley Global MBA is a premier offering with a hand-picked senior, multinational cohort and planned study immersions in five strategic global locations.
‘The Henley Global Executive MBA is an exclusive transnational experience even by global standards,’ says Jon Foster-Pedley, dean and director of Henley Business School Africa. ‘Focusing on senior leaders, the Global MBA was up to now only available for registration in the UK or Europe. Now African candidates can access the degree via Henley’s Joburg campus at a competitive, rand-based price point. This makes it a game-changer for Africans looking to distinguish themselves on the global business scene.’
The Global Executive MBA offers high-level learning and international insights to set up candidates' global C-suite careers and is geared towards fostering an interdisciplinary and culturally fluid approach and focus. ‘This is non-negotiable in the global world of business today,’ says Foster-Pedley.
He adds that the five international study blocks (two in the UK, one in Scandinavia, one in North America, and one in Cape Town, South Africa) provide students with a wide array of contexts and experiences to build their understanding of how business works around the world. Students are exposed to Nordic innovation, the rich history of the United Kingdom and North American financial and tech markets, as well as emerging market contexts in Cape Town where they work with local NGOs on reputational and risk issues.
‘Additionally, because candidates come from exceptionally varied backgrounds, not only geographically but in terms of their fields of expertise and experience, the degree opens the door to a diverse, high-performance peer group rich in knowledge and networks. This is something that is hard to put a price on.’
Speaking at a special reception on Henley’s Joburg campus last week, Global MBA candidates from the South African cohort expressed anticipation – and apprehension – about the journey ahead.
Brian Sitongo, a strategy professional in the financial services industry, said he’s particularly looking forward to the global immersions and to networking with a global group of professionals. ‘I’m looking forward to learning a lot and being pushed outside of my comfort zone. That’s always a good thing!’
Sharon Kekana, a construction entrepreneur and consultant in aviation and aerospace management systems also highlighted the potential for global networking and the prospect of building long-lasting and effective global networks with other entrepreneurs as a major drawcard of the programme.
Announcing his decision to become part of the first South African cohort of Henley’s Global MBA, Bruce Whitfield, former presenter of The Money Show, wrote on LinkedIn: ‘I’m bursting with excitement …. This is going to require my dusting off some long-forgotten study skills. I hope my classmates will be understanding as I rewire and reprogramme my brain!’
The Global MBA is heavily weighted towards senior impact skills with individualised and personal senior leadership coaching, comments Barry Van Zyl, Global MBA programme lead in South Africa.
‘Most candidates are already successful, they know what they are doing. Many have founded and built successful ventures or run large divisions in corporate or government. Others are pioneers in their field. This programme offers everyone, regardless of where they come from, an opportunity to step beyond their existing frameworks, hone their capabilities, build their influence, and deepen their understanding of cultural and socio-political complexity,’ he says.
‘This is just one of the reasons that the degree consistently performs strongly in the global rankings of MBAs. The 2023 Financial Times ranking rates the degree in the top 5 in the UK and Top 40 in the world, while the QS Global Ranking highlights that it is in the top 10% in the world for Career Progress.’
The Global MBA complements Henley’s Flexible MBA option which has been offered to African students for more than 30 years. The Flexible MBA, which is the same degree but structured over 30 months, allows busy professionals the option to pause their studies when life demands. In-person classes are held on Henley’s Johannesburg campus led by Henley’s international faculty. Students also have the option of adding one international study visit to their course.
Henley's Executive MBA is awarded in both the United Kingdom and South Africa.
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