Rouan Kruger: Take a chance, figure it out later

I’m 18 months into my MBA – and one philosophy has helped me through it thus far. It’s something Richard Branson says: if somebody gives you an opportunity, take it – and figure it out later.

Jumping into the programme has been no mean feat, but it’s worth it. Adjusting to studying again is challenging! What I’m learning and how I’m learning is so different to when I did my pharmacy degree. But the personal rewards outstrip any setbacks. I’m more confident, I think more deeply, and my understanding of situations is far more intricate. What I love about what I’ve learned so far is that I can apply it throughout my life: in my work, in my relationships, and even in the podcast – the Thrive Factor – that I started three years ago.

It boils down to this: the MBA is ultimately enhancing my purpose. It’s that simple: it’s making me better at what I want to do – which has always been to help people. I suppose that has a lot to do with the fact that I grew up in a family of doctors, medical practitioners. It was always fated for me to head into the medical field.

I’ve been very lucky that my career as a pharmacist has taken me all over the world. I know – maybe that’s surprising! But through my work I’ve lived and worked in the UK and the US. It’s been great, but it’s had its hiccups: moving around the way I have has meant I’ve had to requalify in three different countries. Three sets of board exams – imagine!

When I was living in the UK, the idea of doing an MBA was planted in my mind. I lived near the beautiful Greenlands campus of Henley Business School, and I’d pass it on my way to work. When the time came for me to start checking out MBA programmes online, none seemed to fit my needs quite right. I wanted – I needed – flexibility. It put a smile on my face when I ended up at Henley here in Johannesburg! Isn’t it funny how it all worked out?

People might say that an MBA is not valuable anymore – I have to disagree. It still has prestige, but the main thing is the broad understanding it gives you of the business world. I mean, you learn about international business, systems thinking, financial strategy. They’re critical skills to have if you’re aiming for the C-suite, and they’re an unshakeable bedrock if you’re looking to be an entrepreneur.

It’s not something you hear often, but I like to say that the MBA is perfect if you have no idea what you want to do. If you’re midcareer and keen to change up a bit (just as I am – I’d love to head into consulting and thought leadership), then it’s perfect.

The range of skills you learn just give you so much momentum in life. And when you have momentum, you can lift off and reach new levels at work and in the world. I can feel it happening to me. Sure, I’m halfway through and in the eye of the storm right now – don’t I know it – but I’m well aware that this is changing the fabric of who I am. It’s making me stronger, more empathetic, more focused. I can feel myself improving in real time.

It’s just the cherry on top that you get to go through this with other people. I’m part of a magnificent cohort. We’re building personal relationships that might someday become professional relationships. Who knows? Whether or not we get a destination out of the programme isn’t the main thing – the point is, we get direction. With that, we can do anything.