The MBA dissertation that led to an award that is taking sustainability forward

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) matters may have come under fire in recent times, but sustainability is more vital than ever for effective corporate strategy. So says Nerissa Jalim, Henley MBA alum and recipient of the prestigious 2025 Renewal Foundation Award, which recognises MBA research that drives positive change.

‘For too long, sustainability initiatives have been treated as add-ons – separate from core business strategy and often lacking the influence needed to drive real change,’ says Nerissa. ‘But the landscape is shifting. Today, sustainability is increasingly recognised as a foundational element of corporate operations, delivering a host of advantages that extend well beyond compliance.’

A relentless drive for improvement

Nerissa’s work exemplifies the imperative to embed sustainability into the fabric of business operations. As the CFO for the Southern African region at Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions, she has successfully aligned financial leadership with ESG principles to drive greater value. And her Henley Africa MBA dissertation, which explored the evolving role of CFOs in meeting ESG requirements within South African companies, earned her the 2025 Renewal Foundation Award, highlighting the tangible benefits of integrating sustainability into business strategy.

Nerissa describes herself as a ‘student of life’– someone who is always eager to learn, grow, and seek out new ways to improve. Her interests extend beyond business to include astrology and esoteric science, but at the heart of her professional journey is a relentless drive for improvement. Whether in business or her personal life, she is constantly looking at what exists and asking how it can be made better.

This mindset has shaped her approach to leadership and her work as a CFO. The ability to reflect, question, and pursue better solutions is not just a personal philosophy – it is a professional imperative that drives her to help organisations evolve and thrive in a rapidly changing world.

An MBA dissertation that extends beyond the MBA

For Nerissa, the decision to focus her Henley Africa MBA dissertation on ESG and sustainability was a natural one because, from the outset, she knew that she wanted her research to make a meaningful impact.

‘It just so happened that the Renewal Award requirements suited the dissertation topic that I had chosen. While I was writing the dissertation, I had always intended to apply for the award, knowing that it would bring my dissertation to life. I didn’t want to do a dissertation just for the sake of getting an MBA, I wanted to take it further. I wanted to use my dissertation to make a difference, specifically in the CFO community. The fact that there was an award was the cherry on top,’ she says.

Nerissa is the second MBA student at Henley to win the Renewal Award. Rosanna Ponnen won the inaugural award last year for her dissertation, which looked at the role of purpose in employee retention. The award, which is sponsored by UK firm Renewal Associates, gives winners the equivalent of £2,500 a year’s free mentoring to take their project to the next level of impact. 

Changing course with an MBA

‘When I began my studies, I was already established in my role as a CFO, but I had started to feel stagnant. My career up to that point had been rooted in business and operational experience. However, I wanted to break out of the narrow confines of the CFO position, which often felt limiting. I realised that in order to accomplish this, I needed to develop more commercial savvy and a deeper understanding of business processes and strategy,’ she says.

This realisation informed her decision to do an MBA at Henley. But when she changed jobs mid-degree, she was presented with an entirely new set of challenges.

‘The final stretch felt like climbing a mountain with a heavy backpack, especially as I juggled writing my dissertation and adapting to a new work environment. My background was in logistics, but now I find myself working in the mining operations space – a completely different industry,’ she explains. ‘The transition meant learning the ins and outs of a brand-new sector, all while managing the demands of the MBA.’

Finding out what truly matters

Nerissa persevered and as she progressed through the programme, she challenged herself to think differently. ‘The MBA gave me the confidence and visibility to expand into a more general leadership role, rather than being confined to the finance function,’ she says.

The lessons Nerissa learned at Henley extend way beyond the confines of the boardroom. The personal development component of the programme was, she says, a golden thread woven throughout the experience. ‘As I grew within the programme, my career ambitions and personal motivations became clearer. The MBA helped me understand what truly mattered to me, both professionally and personally. It brought out qualities that my friends and family had always seen in me, but that I had never fully recognised in myself.’

She may be graduating from Henley at the end of the year, but Nerissa’s learning journey is far from over. The Renewal Foundation Award includes a stipend to support her ongoing work, allowing her to continue her research and advocacy for sustainable business practices, and she is eager to share her findings, both within her own organisation and with the broader business community.

‘I am excited to see how my research will be used by the intellectual property and research teams at Henley,’ she says. ‘My hope is that it will assist businesses, including my employers, to take sustainability forward.’