Scholarship, ecosystem and value creation demonstrated at the Graduate School of Business Leadership

The Graduate school of Business Leadership is in the process of applying for international accreditation from the Business Graduates Association (BGA), an international accreditation body. The dimensions by which the BGA measures a business school’s impact were in full evidence at the study school through scholarship: the intellectual knowledge that was offered to PGD students; ecosystem; the partnerships with other institutions and companies from industry; and value creation: the measurable value SBL created for itself and its primary stakeholders, the students.

Students fully engaged at the SBL Postgraduate Diploma study school

From 24 to 28 February 2025, students currently enrolled for the PGD in Supply Chain Management (SCM) and the PGD in Project Management were given an opportunity to engage with leaders in the SCM and Project Management professions including representatives from regulatory bodies in these industries.

Leading the first section of the SCM event was guest speaker, Phiwengesihle Mashabane, Director at the National Treasury. Mashabane provided students with a status report on the progress in developing policy and other necessary instruments for the implementation of the Public Procurement Act by organs of state. This was followed by the second speaker, Sibongile Shongwe, a Chief Consultant for Supply Chain Management at MTIMAZ Holdings. Shongwe’s presentation, titled Supply Chain Management in practice for practitioners – What does it mean, highlighted the challenges experienced in the SCM industry and how practitioners can address them. These challenges range from external interference, non-compliance to policies and procedures, capacity issues and managing expectations.

These challenges often result in practitioners feeling side-lined, victimised, having their leadership tested and learning to take accountability in their spaces. Shongwe emphasised the importance of SCM spaces being professionalised with policies, procedures and clear guidelines. Concluding her message, Shongwe urged practitioners to continuously upskill themselves and to solidify their positions at the boardroom table as leaders and decision makers.

From left: Vilochanee Naidoo, Head of CIPS Southern Africa, Phiwengesihle Mashabane, Director, SCM Policy Norms and Standards Directorate in the Office of the Chief Procurement Officer: National Treasury, and Sibongile Shongwe, Chief Consultant for Supply Chain Management: MTIMAZ Holdings

Students also had the opportunity to be introduced to the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS), a professional body boasting a membership of approximately 200 000 across 181 countries in Africa and globally. Leading the large delegation from CIPS was  Vilochanee Naidoo, Head of CIPS Southern Africa who spoke about the professionalisation of supply chain management. As an awarding body, CIPS assesses and awards skills and competencies in the profession based on 4 Pillars of Competencies, namely infrastructure, process, performance and people development. In addition, CIPS offers members a range of benefits including continuous professional development and accreditation which affords credibility and recognition to SCM professionals. Vilochanee Naidoo closed off her talk by reminding the audience that CIPS objectives are aligned to the Royal Charter which prioritises education and public good.

The CIPS delegation, led by Frans Ramodibana, Chairperson of CIPS Gauteng Branch (third from left) and  Vilochanee Naidoo, Head of CIPS Southern Africa (fourth from left) with Ozias Ncube, SBL Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader for the PGD in Supply Chain Management

The Project Management segment of the event kicked off with a keynote address by SBL alumnus, Sinaye Mgolombane. Titled The State of Project Management in South Africa. Having studied Advanced Project Management at SBL, Mgolombane recalled Professor Daniel Rwelamila and Adrian Sparrius as being pivotal to his progression into the project management professional that he is today. A qualified environmentalist, Mgolombane used the SBL Advanced Project Management programme as a springboard, and eventually obtained his MBA. The knowledge gained enabled him to work on multiple projects across diverse industries such as transport, financial services, construction, defence, and petrochemicals across the African continent. He currently serves as the Chair of the Project Management South Africa (PMSA) board, and a Judge for the South African Project Management Office (SAPMO) Awards.

“The project management industry is beset with the ‘Accidental Project Manager Syndrome’, where people find themselves managing projects without relevant training and guidance.” Said Mgolobmane. Furthermore, He outlined how the PMSA seeks to address this unfortunate state of affairs in the project management space, targeting three key customer groups namely: project professionals, corporates and service providers. For project professionals, PMSA provides accreditation of scarce and critical project skills. They also provide project professionals with masterclasses and career mapping with the aim of advancing them in the profession. They are an awarding body that gives recognition to professionals that excel in the delivery of big projects.

Mgolombane shared insights on how belonging to a project management professional association provides a ‘home’ for project management practitioners, which can be leveraged to carve a pathway for career growth in the profession.

Sinaye Mgolombane, SBL alumnus (APM) and Chair of the board: Project Management South Africa

To capacitate corporates, PMSA offers bulk membership which gives corporates access to certain benefits, such as access to a database for vetted project professionals, masterclasses, development and publishing of industry reports and project recruitment. The support that PMSA gives to service providers includes advertising on the PMSA website, quality assurance and validation and the benefit of brand association.

The SBL is honoured to have hosted these dynamic leaders, one of them a proud SBL alumnus making an impact in their professional space and giving back to inspire SBL students who are embarking on the same study journey that he once travelled. With the BGA on-site assessment looming in April 2025, more than ever the SBL is focused on impact as the primary objective that drives all endeavours at the business school.

*Compiled by Thami Kaunda, SBL Communications Specialist, in collaboration with Ozias Ncube, Senior Lecturer: Supply Chain Management and PGDSCM Programme Leader, and Dr Sanele Nhlabatsi, Senior Lecturer: Project Management and PGDPM Programme Leader