Testimonials

Leon Whyte, CSO/Co-Founder at SMC Ltd, Maidenhead, Germany

04.2021

I think the reason why I really enjoyed working on this course is due to the potential value that it will bring to my employer. This was the first course where I actually involved key members of my company from the concept stage. Approximately half of the organisation provided their input into the course and in addition to this, this course has sparked a train a thought and initiatives which has created a buzz within the organisation.

Off the back of this course outcome, the CEO has personally created an organisation wide strategy meeting during the first week of April 2021 to discuss this product, this course outcome and to create initiatives which will hopefully lead to its implementation.

In general, I feel that my thinking and writing skills have become a lot more analytical and strategic in nature which is all in all moulding me to becoming a better director and leader.

Marketing Research

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

04.2021

On a personal level I would like to pass this information on to the farmers as they are also business people so that each and every farmer may be able to do cba planning and monitoring for their own farming businesses and this will not only have a huge impact on Boka Tobacco Floors but also on the country as the farmers can apply this knowledge not only to tobacco farming but to other crops that they farm as well which will lead to a better productivity for Zimbabwe as Agriculture is the backbone of our economy.

Financial Planning

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

04.2021

This course has opened my understanding as to the critical role of IT and Digital Technology to the improvement of the company’s performance and competitiveness. LMC has always looked at IT as supports of emails and company network only. The role of IT is broader and quite significant if properly utilised. The company has come up with many short terms and long-term strategies but have never looked at how we are failing to compete in the modern world due to our manual system. IT is very important if LMC wants to be competitive in the modern-day world.

Managing IT and strategy

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

04.2021

I have always had an idea as to why our appraisal process was not helping much in terms of managing performance and promoting development. This assignment has helped me to granulise this and understand fully that there is no deliberate success without alignment of performance of staff holistically and the performance of the organisation. The two are synonymous and therefore, the value this has created for me and our company is that I shall push to ensure that we start immediately on beefing up our appraisal process.

Previously I was not too clear on where to start but now, I am very confident as to the basic steps to take to getting us to have a sound performance management system for our company.

Appraisal and Performance of HR

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

03.2021

4.0. industrial revolution, plus Covid-19 has allowed me to research on possible digital options available that will keep Ishecon in business for the coming decade. These are simple tools that management is willing to try out, and when it works it will potentially retain our market position as a business in this industry.

Personally, this course has opened my eyes to new possibilities, the training program that I will carry out will use AR technology. It has always been fascinating for me and I am sure it will be for the generation Z of professionals that I will be training.

Innovation and Digital Technology

Miranda Khumalo, PARTNER at Atherstone and Cook, HARARE, Zimbabwe

03.2021

The assignment has afforded me an opportunity to do some introspection on some of the cross border transactions I have worked on with my partners. At the time of the transactions, my partners and I would have just brushed the issues aside. However, this assignment gives us opportunity to consider those cross cultural differences which could have been deal breakers and how best we can manage those.

Cross-cultural Management

Alfred Mabika, Finance and Business Development Director at LAFE INDUSTRIAL GROUP, Harare, Zimbabwe

03.2021

The principles of management in full were a very critical value addition and something fundamentally valuable to my career as a manager and entrepreneur. Further the assertion that management is a profession of achieving results then brought revival and fresh impetus to my approach more as an entrepreneur especially on the issue of focus and always looking at the bigger picture contributing to the whole and focussed more on results than input.

Principles of Effective Management

Leon Whyte, CSO/Co-Founder at SMC Ltd, Maidenhead, Germany

03.2021

As I am a sales specialist and marketing activities are very closely aligned to sales activities. I assumed that this course would be very easy for me to complete, hence my justifications to leaving it until the end.

However, this course really challenged my thinking and forced me to think on a strategic level and outside of the box. I had never heard of Lateral Marketing, prior to commencing with this course, however I thoroughly enjoyed working through it and expanding my knowledge and skills within this area.

Strategic Marketing

Japhet Zoraunye, Research And Development Engineer at Stamicarbon, Waalre, North Brabant, Netherlands

03.2021

The course and the research was valuable to me in that I was able to get awareness of the several global trends that affect the fertilizer and agricultural industry. I learnt a lot of new things especially with regards to analysis of external factors that affect business. The PESTEL framework was new to me and I was able to gain insight on how this tool can help in identifying threats and opportunities to any business. I am looking forward to using this tool to analyses other business sectors besides the fertilizer sector.

I am convinced that this research and its recommendations if implemented at ZFC will be able to result in a transformed business that is able to face the challenges of tomorrow and be a market leader in fertilizers in the region with high customer satisfaction.

The Nature of International Business

Cosmas Zvikaramba, Market and Operational Risk Manager at ZB Financial Holdings, Harare, Zimbabwe

03.2021

This course gave me an opportunity to analyse things from a global perspective and also to view the Group in the global arena. Coming from a developing world country and coupled with being in the financial services industry, during this course the most outstanding global trends were on the ecological environment and technology environment.

How serious is the issue of climate change and how fintechs are transforming the banking industry. I learnt new things on climate change, how it is a threat to the environment, as well as how international banks have responded to growth of fintechs. After going through such a course, one’s mind will be inclined to solve individual or work related problems with a Global mind-set and not only the local environment.

The Nature of International Business

Vincent Bosha, Sales Executive at Rainbow Tourism Group, Harare, Zimbabwe

03.2021

This course has been particularly challenging however, it has allowed me to look at strategy in a holistic view. Technology presents a world of endless opportunities but not every technology is right for the business.

I have learnt how to evaluate appropriate technology and ensure that it is working towards fulfilling the organizations strategic objectives. This has been a very good learning experience.

Managing IT and strategy

Brian Chizodza, Senior SAP Business Solution Consultant at Baraka Technology Group, Johannesburg, South African Republic

03.2021

Studying this course was a blessing in disguise. The topic actually touches on issues that are affecting our SAP Consulting Industry at the moment. This assignment enabled me to look at the issues in a more pragmatic manner.

I feel the urge to present this topic to the Partners based on the guidelines set on this assignment as it will vividly express the need for a change in strategy since we are an IT company, we need to set an example and follow what the industry demands of us for survival.

IT and Customer Relations

Victor Pea, Chief Executive Officer at Namibia Fish Consumption Promotion Trust, Walvis Bay, Namibia

02.2021

This course has provided an opportunity for me to take time to consider how digital technology may assist the Trust to reach, engage and retain customers in the most cost-effective and direct way. This further build on the knowledge and awareness created by the course Competitiveness and IT which will assist me in setting performance targets for the marketing and IT division in our quest to digitalise most of the operations around marketing and communication. This course and module on IT would enable me to provide guidance from an enlighten stand point, and trust that it will be of great help as we embark upon the journey to strengthen technological capability of the Trust.

The study material will come in handy as we have discussions around IT infrastructure and other platforms and solutions that the Trust can employ and capitalize on in order be responsive to customer concerns and retain its customers.

IT and Customer Relations

Leon Whyte, CSO/Co-Founder at SMC Ltd, Maidenhead, Germany

02.2021

The biggest learning curve for me was the adaption of my thinking to not only focus on present day products and solutions and understand the value that they can bring to organizations today but to also evaluate organizations and the market in general to foresee what future products and solutions could be available on the market and understand how these could affect the future profit potential of businesses.

On the whole, I believe that this evolution in my thinking will be extremely valuable to my customers and will empower me to take my organization to new heights that I never fathomed.

Innovation and Digital Technology

Dr Priscilla Madzinga-Kusena, Communication for Development Specialist at UNICEF, Abuja, Nigeria

02.2021

What a course! This course provided a great start to this Global MBA program. As I read through the chapters provided as reference material, I identified opportunities which the company can tap into. Most interesting was the Chapter on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Porter’s Theory of Competitive Advantage (the diamond). There were some business initiatives that I had put on hold, because I was not fully aware of the opportunities and value in synergizing efforts with other international organizations.

While I gained theoretical knowledge, I resuscitated those discussions again. Merging theory and practice provides huge gains.

The Nature of International Business

Pride Gwaze, Group Financial Manager at Vunani Limited, Johannesburg, South African Republic

12.2020

I didn't know what to expect going into the Masters thesis residential. I was terrified to be honest, but Prof Watkins was brilliant.

He presented the course very well. The slides were clear and easy to follow. He gave everyone constructive feedback. I liked that he had practical examples to the theory, which helped me understand better. I enjoyed every single one of the modules. Thanks Prof and the team.

Academic Research Intensive

Charles Stols, Project and Engineering Manager at Moov Fuel, Cape Town, South African Republic

12.2020

I enjoyed the residential, At first I though it was going to be intimidating, but Prof Watkins really put me at ease and the way he presented the residential. Prof Watkins has definitely more patience than anyone I have met. Prof Watkins has the ability to explain the work such that is easy to understand and it will make life easier to do the master thesis. Again not just work presented but life lessons was shared. Thank you Prof Watkins and IBR.

Academic Research Intensive

Damian Egumbo, Chief Executive Officer at Ongwediva Town Council, Ongwediva, Namibia

12.2020

The Master's Thessis Residential was a hit and an experience that was second to none. My gratitude and appreciation goes out to IBR for creating such a wonderful platform and Prof. Watkins for his insightful presentations and guidedance.

Academic Research Intensive

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

12.2020

Prof Watkins really is a guru in Research. I have never been put so much at ease even before i really start my dissertation. I now know which direction to take and that gives me confidence. It has definitely made it easier to face the challenge ahead.

Academic Research Intensive

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

12.2020

I wish I had had Prof Watkins and his detailed Dissertation/Thesis Research Guide for my undergrad and first postgrad. He laid it out in simple terms that a novice researcher can understand and map the way forward. What seemed daunting undertaking at first for this Masters Dissertation due to the rigorous IBR demands has now become a methodical process with a clearly outlined map on how to complete it.

I feel more confident to tackle the remainder of the dissertation with the first chapter submitted by the end of the residential, second chapter outline already done and questionnaire with the Prof's input reviewed and ready to dispatch. Best of all, Prof Watkins includes templates for the remainder of the Chapters - complete with a pre-set table of contents. This residential couldnt have gone better than hoped.

Academic Research Intensive