Global MBA Testimonials

The process of creating value through work-integrated learning is extraordinary. It shifts the primary learning experience from the confines of academic institutions to the actual workplaces of our students. This transformation leads to an unparalleled sense of purpose, as it transitions skills training from theoretical teaching to the invaluable experience gained on the job.

Additionally, work-integration redirects the traditional focus of study from analysis to practical implementation. It is the act of implementation that has the power to bring about real change in the world. This new approach enables students to realize their potential in effecting positive changes within their work environments.

We invite you to explore the remarkable feedback from some of our students who have been willing to openly share their experiences of creating genuine value in their workplaces.

Henry Hoveka, Managing Director at Multi-Wealth Management (Pty) Ltd, Windhoek, Namibia

09.2018

The value created by this module was extensive, more specifically through the analysis of the marketing planning processes, theoretical tools and frameworks.

We applied the learning outcome again in our company. The build-up of the marketing planning process framework coupled with lateral marketing results were mind blowing. I just could never have gotten through to the ultimate solutions I derived if it was not the Global MBA that introduced us to tools for creating new ideas.

Thank you very much IBR, I am grateful for the learning I gather with each module I undertake and can’t wait to consolidate all this into my business at the end of the Global MBA learning experience.

Strategic Marketing

Ndomupeyi Chikonye, Projects Manager at Zesa Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, Harare, Zimbabwe

09.2018

In carrying out this assignment, I have been exposed to an area of business that in the past has been left to my counterparts in the legal and financial departments.

I have found it very useful in that now I am conversant with issues about business forms and requisite taxation to be able to offer potential investors a comprehensive proposal. This came at the right time as during the course of doing this assignment, I was confronted with an offer by an investor for my company to collaborate with them in one of their business outside the country. This has made it quite easy for me to assess the potential ways of participating in this offer.

International Business Law

Chido Boka, Managing Director at Boka Floors Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe

09.2018

This assignment brought to light so many dimensions to me.

I learnt about the different business forms that exist both in my country and internationally. I also learnt about taxation and how it affects multinational companies. I believe this has added value to our company as well because every business proposal I write from now onwards will have more detail and will focus on all the practical issues that the investor needs to think about.

International Business Law

Tashinga Chimuti, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Medical Aid Society of Central Africa (MASCA), Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

09.2018

This was one of the most involving assignments since I started this MBA programme.

I feel I applied what I learnt more in this assignment. The value this experience has created for me is that I am now confident to participate in the negotiations with discovery that are expected to happen in the next four months. I feel better equipped now to participate in investment strategy discussions not only with my employer but also with other businesspeople.

International Business Law

Jessica Moore, Organisational Effectiveness Manager at Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC), Windhoek, Namibia

09.2018

It was extremely interesting for me to find out how a portion of our supply chain works in MTC and how complex it sometimes is and all the things that go on the background that we are not always aware of. It definitely added value to me in expanding my environment and knowledge of the business but also, I think I added some value with some of my ideas whether or not they will be implemented.

Supply Chain Management

Sharon Bwanya, Chief Operating Officer at Nurture Invest, Harare, Zimbabwe

08.2018

The greatest personal use of this course for me has been in the area of a personal business venture that I decided to launch. In fact, the IBR Global MBA has, over the past few months, particularly after the Strategic Management module, ignited in me a desire to set up my own business venture so that I could apply the lessons I have been learning on the program in a setting where I have more or less total control and therefore not restricted by policies and practices dictated by others or through the corporate culture of my current employer.

From financial planning process of this last course, I was finally bold enough to apply these principles to something of my own and I established a branded apparel retail business aimed at selling faculty and club apparel to college students which launched on lately.

So, this course has had a tremendous personal impact and I look forward to applying more concepts learnt during this module in my own business.

Advanced Financial Planning

Sithabile Rondozai, Client Relationship Manager at CBZ, Harare, Zimbabwe

08.2018

I enjoyed studying this course very much.

I am not very well travelled. In my naivety, I had painted all foreign business cultures under the same brush and felt that they behaved in a very similar fashion. To my surprise, not two countries are ever identical, even if they have similar traits.

As an outcome of studying this course, I would like to grow my private banking client portfolio by targeting individual clients in the diplomatic community, in appreciation for different races and cultural groups. Furthermore, writing the assignment has given me the idea of proposing employees to learn speaking multiple languages, which will help us target foreign investors to the bank.

Cross-cultural Management

Ndomupeyi Chikonye, Projects Manager at Zesa Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, Harare, Zimbabwe

08.2018

This assignment has been so enriching to me as it improved my knowledge on international trends in my industry.

I have been able to learn the new trends in other areas different from my area of specialisation, such as electricity transmission, distribution and customer service. My employer will benefit, as I am now able to contribute to the corporate strategy in a better way. My assignment was a first step into this direction.

The Nature of International Business

Tokozana Dhliwayo, Finance Director at ZETDC, Harare, Zimbabwe

08.2018

The subject of Cross-Cultural Management made me realize the importance of business etiquette in our company in order to interact effectively with our business clients and suppliers.

Recently as I was preparing my assignment, I attended meetings with potential larger investors. The first meeting was with a South African Banker and a Chinese marketer and lastly a British investor. Even before the meeting I was clear what type of culture I was crossing and their focus on either the contract or the relationship.

This course turned out to be value creation on the job.

Cross-cultural Management

Chido Boka, Managing Director at Boka Floors Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe

08.2018

While studying this course, my mind was opened to the importance of cross-cultural communication.

In my previous dealings across cultural borders, there were some events that had taken place that I did not understand. Looking back, I now understand why some of my foreign colleagues behaved the way they did and why they reacted to my behavior and the behavior of my local colleagues in certain ways.

Going forward, I will plan accordingly, to make sure that my job performance will not be negatively affected by communication across cultural borders.

Cross-cultural Management

Tashinga Chimuti, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Medical Aid Society of Central Africa (MASCA), Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

08.2018

Before attempting this course, I was comfortable with limiting my interactions to only local business partners.

However now I seem to understand why there are conflicts sometimes when dealing with foreign business partners and I now understand more fully why these occur. I am also now relatively more confident than before in managing these conflicts and therefore do not think I will continue to dread international business transactions and negotiations.

Just as I prepare for interviews and meetings, I will now also prepare in advance for future international business negotiations and interactions to enable me to know what cultures to expect and enable me to handle them better.

Cross-cultural Management

Perseverance Chavunduka, Production Superintendent at Bindura Nickel Corporation, Bindura, Zimbabwe

08.2018

As am writing this, am actually using the knowledge I obtained from this course in making a family property viable.

I have engaged with the other family members and calculated TARI for the property. The result revealed or confirmed that we are in essence giving away space for free; the ideal rate we have obtained and now know. We are now in the process of correcting previous mistakes to ensure that we move forward sustainably and profitably. I realise this will not be an overnight change but am happy that the other members have bought into the idea and we are together.

I am looking forward to seeing the ramp up process up to when we are operating at the ideal levels.

Financial Planning

Tokozana Dhliwayo, Finance Director at ZETDC, Harare, Zimbabwe

08.2018

Applying the theoretical input of this course made me realize the importance of a Research and Development Department in our company to constantly identify and track global trends. At many strategic forums we discussed the issue of renewable energy, but I did not realize the extent in which the world has moved regarding this type of energy.

Writing this assignment helped me noticing this trend.

The Nature of International Business

Chido Boka, Managing Director at Boka Floors Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe

08.2018

While studying this course, my mind was opened to the world beyond our local borders.

I realized that while there are many factors that can affect the business within the local environment; there are also many factors that can affect the business from a global perspective. An eyeopener for me was researching on the WHO FCTC and realizing that in my home country, tobacco is a very important industry as it employs a large number of people. However, there are many elements in the international community who are keen to ensure that tobacco is eliminated altogether.

The Nature of International Business

Tashinga Chimuti, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Medical Aid Society of Central Africa (MASCA), Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

08.2018

The concept of globalisation was something I had an abstract understanding of as I always thought it was centred on just technological innovations and platforms so as to make the world a global village and make international business and interaction easier.

After going through this course, I now realise that there is so much more to globalisation than just technology, namely political, legal, economic, ecological and socio-cultural factors that need to be considered. I also learnt of the importance of keeping abreast with and having an understanding of global trends that affect business so as to be pro-active and not reactive to the effects. There is no way a business’s strategy can be effectively formulated without conducting a PEST analysis as a start, on the trends identified that affect the business.

The Nature of International Business

Taurai Chitsiga, Senior SAP P2P Business Consultant EMEA at EOH, Berdfordview, South African Republic

08.2018

There is a lot of value this assignment brings to every individual who has taken it. Competition for business is getting tougher every day and companies must come up with strategies to build sustainable competitive business models. Information technology has proved to be one of the tools that can be utilized to build technologically based competitive business models. Gone are the days when IT was viewed as a back-end system used to support business. These days IT is leading from the forefront.

This is my area of interest and a lot has been learnt which I will take further after completing these studies.

Managing IT and strategy

Kornelius Iiyambo, Finance Manager at Namibia Fish Consumption Promotion Trust, Walvis Bay, Namibia

08.2018

IBR’s approach to management is far different from the local one.

Working on the assignment is came as a surprise as I previously concentrated too much on my subordinate’s weaknesses when agreeing on their training schedule. Having finished the course, I understand that to make them artists of their craft I should target their strengths with more training.

I didn’t expect such practical outcomes of an academic study.

Tasks and Tools of Effective Management

Samantha Kachikira, Process safety engineer at Ishecon cc, Johannesburg, South African Republic

07.2018

Personally, as an entrepreneur I will be using the learnings fr om this course to improve profitability of my consulting business.

Indeed, it will be the business GPS to financial success. No one has the time to go through all financial statements in depth and understand in detail wh ere we made mistakes as a business. And even worse: when finally understanding mistakes, you notice that you are looking at old information that doesn’t help you making decisions today. TARI – introduced by IBR – will be my tool to financial planning and overall business management.

Knowledge of TARI combined with the ability to read and interpret financial statement has increased my management confidence levels and I no longer fear questioning the numbers to the financial director until I get satisfactory results.

Financial Planning

Henry Hoveka, Managing Director at Multi-Wealth Management (Pty) Ltd, Windhoek, Namibia

07.2018

It is encouraging to acquire management skills at the infancy stages of our company’s evolution as the learning outcome will undoubtedly add immense value to me as a lead manager and to our entire team.

The recommendations of this assignment are implemented and acted upon by all stakeholders for our combined benefit. I have always struggled to study management subjects but the way in which this course was presented made it so practical and impactful for my learning.

Tasks and Tools of Effective Management

Perseverance Chavunduka, Production Superintendent at Bindura Nickel Corporation, Bindura, Zimbabwe

07.2018

The analysis process of my employer’s financial reports helped me give meaning to the numbers. As am a technical person, this process has tied up the loop for me as I now have a better understanding of the implications of production activities to the financial position of the organisation and how these fit into the greater picture or scheme of things in the firm.

This course has been empowering for me as now I have more confidence in going through financial reports and actually make sense of the numbers and determine the various ratios. Previously, whenever I came across these reports I would quickly flip through.

Financial Accounting