Participants of the Programme for Management Development (PMD) Visit GIBS Business School for their International Module

Between 21^st to 25^th August 2023, participants undertaking the Programme for Management Development (PMD), class of 2023, visited GIBS Business School (Gordon Institute of Business Science) in Johannesburg, South Africa for their international module. The executives in the Programme this year are drawn from Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

The international module is centered around the theme of working towards excellence and kicked-off with a session on corporate innovation & digital transformation and was facilitated by Nishan Pillay, the Founder and CEO of Simply Thought.

On day two, the participants delved into doing business in Africa and specifically opportunities provided in the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA) framework, foreign direct investment into the continent, institutions in Africa among others. The day ended with a session on harnessing diversity and inclusion for effective collaboration. Some of the key pointers in this session included embracing equity, engaging in multicultural situations and cultural intelligence.

As part of the experiential learning component of the Programme, on day three, the participants visited WeBuyCars, South Africa’s number one car buying service. This session was aimed at understanding how the organization is committed to operational excellence through its routines and actions. During this industry immersion, the executives identified the key pillars of operational excellence in the organization, some of the gaps in their operations and raising provided recommendations on how the company can close the gaps and improve their operational excellence.

The Programme for Management Development (PMD) focuses on equipping forward-looking managers with leadership skills that are critical for personal growth and for growing others in the organization. The 2024 intake is ongoing! Learn more about this Programme here

Article by Juliet Hinga