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.

Charles Stols, Engineering Manager at MegChem, Cape Town, South African Republic

04.2019

This course was valuable – especially for dealing with international partners.

This is not limited to an international investor who may want to invest in our company but also for me looking to invest in another country…. Completing this course also showed me that there are a number of logical steps to undertake in doing business internationally … which makes it all less daunting.

Through completing this assignment, I realized that attracting investors from abroad may not seem so far-fetched.

International Business Law

Kelvin Mukuku, Metallurgical Manager at Eastplats, Brits, South African Republic

04.2019

This assignment successfully integrated concepts of nature of international business, cultural aspects in business and the international business law in such a way that gave me a broader understanding and appreciation of international business.

My company also benefited through an introspection of the current form and how to successfully convince a potential investor into the business, especially given the drive and expansion that has been targeted for this year in order to increase profitability.

International Business Law

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

03.2019

Even though I was involved over many years as a senior employee in many institutions with the facilitation of learning and development of various individuals on the job, I never received formal advice on how best to execute it.

Working on this assignment, I have discovered many personal and professional gaps that need to be closed if I am to be successful in assisting others in achieving their career aspirations. This particular course clarified elements I personally struggled with as a business leader in our company and its leading business coach and counsellor.

Almost all everything made an impact to my learning and created immense value to my body of knowledge.

Learning and Employee Development

Noreen Muchena, Company Secretary and Legal Advisor at Microcred Zimbabwe (Private) Limited, Harare, Zimbabwe

03.2019

I think all along it has always been engraved at the back of my mind that different countries and/or markets obviously have different cultures. However, this assignment and the valuable text, made me realise the impact of the culture differences on the business, which impact I had never imagined to be this great. My company is on an expansion drive into Africa. This assignment made us realise where we went wrong.

As legal advisor, I am now confident to sit on the negotiation table. I understand how my behaviour as an individual may make or break the deal for the company in whichever culture, I am in.

The assignment also opened my eyes to potential barriers that I may face as result of my age and gender.

Cross-cultural Management

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

03.2019

Educational programs attended before this Global MBA course and reading management books already got me to understand the need for personal skills development to assist in the achievement of business organisational development. All as result, I enrolled for this MBA program as I understood that I need to improve my personal management skills.

I am amazed about IBR’s approach to learning that makes the subject matters so easy to understand, interesting and practical to apply in our business right away. Again, like many times before, this course “Developing Management Skills” lead me to share outcomes of my assignment with my colleagues.

We are committed to integrate my recommendations as policy matters in our evolving business.

Development of Management Skills

Charles Stols, Engineering Manager at MegChem, Cape Town, South African Republic

03.2019

This assignment was of true value for me. I was not aware of that fact that misunderstanding and miscommunication in international business can be traced back to cross-cultural issues.

It truly shed some light on my past experience – i.e. short-comings – in negotiating internationally and led me to adapt my style of communication. It came as a revelation that I don’t need to change as an individual but rather appreciate the difference and respect the other party’s culture.

Cross-cultural Management

Kelvin Mukuku, Metallurgical Manager at Eastplats, Brits, South African Republic

03.2019

With this assignment, I learnt the value of understanding people or companies in the country in which you are doing business. This knowledge will better prepare me for any issues that may arise during negotiations. I also learnt that my mannerism, as normal as they might be to me, might offend the people one is doing business with.

This has better prepared me for future negations and other conflicts that may arise in doing business.

Cross-cultural Management

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

02.2019

I have realized that I as a line manager I need to enforce the appraisal system in my section of responsibility. I see the need to be more involved in building up the correct culture and have already started by having agreed performance contracts with my subordinates.

In addition to enhance the appraisal system and also to be proactive, I now run personal interview meetings with them and as a team we have noticed incredible improvements with regards to being much more effective and increasing quality.

Appraisal and Performance of HR

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

02.2019

Writing the assignment for this course taught me a lesson that I never thought was valuable – human behavior.

That human behavior is the foundation of organizational behavior. As a manger if I master and understand that people are different, they have different personalities and they behave differently in different situations that it can become easy to influence their behavior in achieving organizational goals.

Management is not as challenging as it seems, people have needs, and once I understand the basic needs of each individual I manage, I can be able to motivate them by rewarding them with their deepest need.

Appraisal and Performance of HR

Rufaro Muzamhindo, Sales Manager at Rainbow Tourism Group, Harare, Zimbabwe

01.2019

This course has created great value for me as I have realised that in order to achieve the overall objectives of the company there is a great need to be clear with regards to communication objectives to your clients.

The assignment will also create tremendous value for the organisation as there had been no clear target audience as well as no communication objectives. Advertising was also more reactionary rather than planned. The assignment will help management to achieve its overall strategic objectives through planned communication that achieves results and ensures high occupancies with satisfied customers.

Marketing Decisions and Managing Activities

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

01.2019

This course gave me the most valuable experience regarding communication with subordinates, family and friends.

My approach had always been that of not building any relationships in workplaces at all because everyone knew why they came to work. However, my view has taken a total 360-degree change, and I am learning to be more congruent even in personal relationships.

Learning and Employee Development

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

01.2019

Carrying out this assignment I got to take a “chill pill“ and reflect on myself as a manager and how my subordinates view me; what effect and influence I have on them. I already see the areas I have to improve on to ensure that supportive communication is nurtured and developed in all my relationships.

Learning and Employee Development

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

01.2019

Human resources management is an aspect of this programme that I was clueless on before.

Now, I believe I will add value to my employer as I can take on some of the recommendations and run with the implementation myself so as to manage the costs associated with the project. In addition, I can also assist the HR officer with the project as I now have an appreciation of what needs to be in place to synchronise the business strategies of our company to the HR strategies.

Recruitment, Selection and Placement of HR

Lerato Mphelo, Strategic Programme Manager at Absa Group, Johannesburg, South African Republic

01.2019

For someone like me who has not been exposed to any research material before, I found the course easy to follow and understand. This will not only prepare me for my thesis, but it will be a useful tool to conduct marketing research at my workplace and my little startup company now and in the future.

Marketing Research

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

01.2019

I think I shall add more value to our organisation as I shall no longer continue to sit back and wait for some third parties to come and train my staff so that they are better equipped to contribute in swaying the organisation towards meeting the strategic objectives.

I shall do so myself, as much as is within my sphere of influence, by first of all applying what I have learnt so far and consistently making sure that I learn more on how to promote a learning culture for my staff. This is key for my employer as currently, this culture of learning and developing existing staff does not exist yet; there is no budget to hire new staff anyway.

Learning and Employee Development

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

01.2019

An enlightening course for a person such as myself who is not a marketer, but it brings about the need to ensure that trivial looking aspects of the business such as communication can be detrimental to the whole if not dealt with properly. Yes, as an engineer I can ensure that the production is done well but it’s all a waste if I do not have a market for the products I make.

More engineers need to know about IBR’s marketing approach.

Marketing Decisions and Managing Activities

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

12.2018

It was indeed an enlightening module and the content of this assignment will be shared at both board and Exco level for a concerted commitment in making the recommendations herein a business reality in the near future.

The writer is grateful for this learning and look forward to further Human Resources Management modules.

Recruitment, Selection and Placement of HR

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

12.2018

As a member of the firm’s first marketing committee that will start operating in January, this assignment has helped me to start formulating the firm’s marketing plan and marketing activities that the marketing committee will be pursuing.

Since the marketing committee will be on a 6-month trial basis, we will have to hit the ground running as we will have no time to waste. This assignment has therefore given us a head-start in terms of the activities we will be undertaking and to be able to justify such activities and communications as essential tools to help the firm fulfil its strategic objectives. As a proponent of the marketing committee, the success of such committee is quite personal, and this assignment has given me the tools and confidence that will go a long way towards a successful trial run.

Marketing Decisions and Managing Activities

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

12.2018

I must admit that this marketing module has thus far been the most challenging for me and it is because, traditionally, local law firms have not paid much attention to marketing due to restrictions on advertising. So, this has been quite unchartered territory for me. However, what this course has made me realize is that most law firms (including ours) have fallen into the trap of confusing advertising and marketing – which are two different concepts, albeit related. What is most frowned upon in our legislation is loud solicitous advertising and touting marketing activities such as broadcasting to the public that a law firm is the best or cheapest or fastest as this is considered conduct that is unprofessional and unworthy of the noble profession.

This course has made me pore over the industry marketing and advertising guidelines and I have realized that there is nothing therein that bars law firms fr om conducting ethical market research wh ere necessary because at the end of the day, law firms are businesses that need to make informed strategic decisions in order to thrive.

In a nutshell, the value creation has been to change my mindset towards marketing and to make me (and the firm) realize that there is more that can be creatively done under marketing even within what we perceive to be restrictive industry regulations.

Marketing Research

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

12.2018

This assignment has opened my eyes to the endless business opportunities. The market research proposal is for my new company and this has created value in that I now have a go to document when I want to pitch my ideas to potential investors.

Marketing Research