Global MBA Testimonials
Value creation through work-integrated learning is phenomenal. It transfers the main learning experience from the ivory tower to our students' workplace. This creates unprecedented meaning. It releases skills training from being taught theoretically to the most valuable experience that happens on-the-job.
Also, work-integration shifts the traditional study focus from analysis to implementation. It is implementation that changes the world. This new dispensation allows students to experience that they are able to change their worlds at work.
Enjoy screening incredible feedback about real value creation that some students agreed to share publicly.
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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
Kornelius Iiyambo, Finance Manager at Namibia Fish Consumption Promotion Trust, Walvis Bay, Namibia
06.2018 |
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I have been exposed to various management theories and research but the type of thinking and reasoning presented in this module is new to me. The value created for our organization is enormous in the sense that we applied the various management theories and principles with little success as the results have been haphazard. The value created for me personally is more than I expected. I have realized the course outcome guides me at my workplace. Also, I can apply them in all other areas of my life which is not always the case with other management tools. Most importantly, I can share the outcome also with employees at lower level as it ignore the hierarchical nature of organizations and consider all to be managers at their own work station. |
| Principles of Effective Management |
Henry Hoveka, Managing Director at Multi-Wealth Management (Pty) Ltd, Windhoek, Namibia
06.2018 |
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Being a trained technical financial services expert focusing on mainly investment consulting and technical pension benefit solutions, the management discipline was the least of my interest areas over the years. However, as I grew in my career paths over the last 20 years, the management discipline became most challenging as I have never formally received management training on the job. In writing the assignment, the build-up to the recommendation and implementation station not only impressed my logical mind flow. I was equally impressed by the fruitful ideas that I could have come up with long ago. I am grateful for this course and I am certain that the recommendations will aid us employees, shareholders and clients. |
| Principles of Effective Management |
Perseverance Chavunduka, Production Superintendent at Bindura Nickel Corporation, Bindura, Zimbabwe
06.2018 |
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This was not a particularly easy course for me. However, after I went through the materials a couple of times, I started getting the sense of it and how I can actually apply it in real life and not just theory. I can now see the essence of understanding the future profit potential for any organisation and not just for my employer. This will help me even as am working on starting something of my own. The other parameters like profit which all along I had used as a measure of business success are now fitting into the bigger picture and I now know that they on their own do not determine the sustainability of a business. |
| Strategic Management |
Kornelius Iiyambo, Finance Manager at Namibia Fish Consumption Promotion Trust, Walvis Bay, Namibia
06.2018 |
| In the preceding assignments of this module, I dealt with topics in isolation. This assignment introduced me how to think in aggregate of all issues that I have learned and to use them in order to have a full picture of issues that should be considered by an investor when making decisions. International investors always have questions that look at all issues and especially risks and rewards associated with an investment and using an integrated approach such as this create a better platform in answering these questions. |
| International Business Law |