Embarking on the GIBS MBA
THE MBA degree, formerly regarded as the equivalent of an honours degree, is now regarded as a Professional Masters in South Africa.
GIBS Dean, Professor Nicola Kleyn says interactions with MBA students suggest that there are three main drivers behind a decision to pursue an MBA: career acceleration, career migration and career switching.
“Managing in today’s complex and ever-changing business environment demands constant investment to ensure that your knowledge, skills and capabilities enable you to advance your career.
“Your decision to pursue an MBA is one of the most lifechanging steps that you can take for your personal and career growth.”
GIBS is an internationally-accredited business school based in Johannesburg. Its MBA journey, she adds, is designed to broaden a graduate’s business, country and world view. It also enables the development of skills and business acumen needed to assume a general management role in a division or an entire organisation.
“Students motivated by career acceleration are looking to fast track their ascent up the corporate ladder. Migrators know they would like to shift their careers but need an MBA to help them decide where they want to go. Career switchers use theirs to make a dramatic shift. They are often individuals who have decided to start their own business, or professionals such as engineers who want to shift their focus to general management,” she elaborates.
The MBA accommodates these three streams. It provides students with both an immediate competitive edge in the short-term application of relevant knowledge, while also focusing on enabling them to build long-term strategic value for their career.
Klein assures that the curriculum is tailored to provide an understanding of how to run a business in the context of a dynamic market.
“With growth and innovation shifting to the dynamic, but complex, markets of the east and the south, fresh challenges and opportunities arise for individuals, businesses and governments that seek to enhance their competitive performance and run better organisations.”
She says research among GIBS alumni and their employers indicates that the value extends far beyond the technical knowledge and skills that students gain about general management.
“They report increased levels of confidence to operate across all areas of their businesses, enhanced critical thinking and decision-making skills, higher levels of self-insight and productivity, and improved interpersonal skills.
“Our alumni frequently state that they also acquired a heightened understanding of the complexities of the business environment and the need to manage demands from multiple stakeholders ethically and responsibly.
“Choosing an MBA is as much about researching and choosing the most suitable school to meet your needs as it is about the school accepting your application.”