A career entrepreneur who started her first venture selling sweets at school when she was just 14, and assisting in her mother’s spaza shop in Khayelitsha, Henley MBA graduate Mamela Luthuli has always been driven by the desire to make a positive difference. South Africa, she says, needs people who can add value, and she wants to be one of those people.
It is one of the reasons she signed up to do an MBA.
Mamela, who is the founder and CEO of TakeNoteIT, one of only a few black, female-led cybersecurity firms in South Africa, is a well-known and respected business leader. Over almost two decades, she’d steered her own IT company to success, before she sensed a gap in her understanding – a need for the theoretical and academic foundations of business that could validate and sharpen her practical experience. She wanted more than just success; she wanted to understand the ‘why’ behind it all so that she could add more value to her business and the people around her.
With two daughters under five, Mamela faced a unique challenge. She needed an MBA programme that would not only deepen her business acumen but also allow her to remain a present and engaged mother. Many impressive schools beckoned, but Henley Business School Africa stood out. ‘Its flexible structure offered the best of both worlds: in-person classes for a true campus experience, alongside the adaptability I needed for my family life. Henley Africa was the perfect fit,’ says Mamela.
As her MBA journey unfolded, Mamela encountered surprises that would shape her both professionally and personally. The personal development programme, she says, really caught her off guard. She vividly remembers an exercise that asked her to write about herself – where she was at that moment – and then a year later, she was asked to reflect on that. ‘The process was unexpectedly profound, sparking introspection and growth that extended far beyond academic achievement,’ she says.
In the classroom, every lesson seemed to echo in her business. The case studies and frameworks she studied weren’t abstract theories – they became the blueprint for transforming her company. Strategic models streamlined her operations, and even the daunting world of finance became accessible. Mamela learned to analyse balance sheets and ratios, skills that once seemed out of reach but now empowered her daily decision-making.
Leadership, too, took on new dimensions. ‘I recall spirited debates with classmates about whether leaders are born or made. I had always seen myself as a natural leader, but the Henley MBA taught me that true leadership demands continuous development.’
Mamela embraced the idea of lifelong learning, challenging herself to grow every day. Her approach to negotiation transformed as well, where once she led with emotion and impulse, she now acted with strategy and composure, leaving her emotions at the door.
The growth didn’t end at graduation either. The connections Mamela made during her MBA proved invaluable. Though she hadn’t been especially close to some classmates during their studies, she later reconnected with two women from her group and a powerful sisterhood was born. ‘Our bond deepened after graduation, blossoming into lifelong friendships and professional alliances that have enriched all of our lives and careers.’
Looking back, Mamela’s MBA was more than a degree – it was a catalyst for transformation that validated her experience, expanded her skills, and, most importantly, set her on a path of perpetual growth as a leader, a business owner, and a mother.
The Quick Q&A
What is your passion in business and in life?
I love humankind. I love people and having a positive impact on everything I touch is important to me. I want to be instrumental in building the leaders of tomorrow, which is why I started a cybersecurity centre of excellence at my company. It enables me to mentor young people straight out of school, college or university, giving them the skills required to work within an industry that is crying out for skilled workers.
What is the one thing you would like to change about yourself?
I trust too easily, and I am guilty of having been too naïve at times in business, which has cost me a lot of money. I tend to make the mistake of thinking others are as honourable as I am, which is, sadly, not the case.
What is the best book you have read?
Karma: A Yogi's Guide to Crafting Your Destiny, by spiritual master Sadhguru, had a profound effect on me. It discusses karma as a vehicle for transformation and self-empowerment, and how to effect positive change in our lives and the lives of others.
What advice would you give your 20-year-old self?
I would tell her to love deeply, regardless of whether or not it is reciprocated. I would tell her to always do her best without considering what is in it for her, because then she will have no regrets.