Meet Andrea and Vishad Ramnund, who both graduated with postgraduate diplomas in General Management from the University of Pretoria’s (UP) Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) in 2019 and completed their MBAs in 2020.

The couple walked their school, higher education and career journey together, having completed their schooling and undergraduate studies in Pietermaritzburg, before moving to Durban to complete their articles and become chartered accountants. After qualifying, they made the move to Johannesburg to pursue careers in banking and have since occupied various leadership positions in finance.

When they signed up for their MBAs a few years later, Andrea and Vishad had been married for five years, and the plan was to give their full attention to their studies before starting a family. Andrea says that even though completing their MBAs together was challenging, it was the best decision they could have made. “Despite having to spend long hours away from home and sacrifice many weekends, we understood exactly what the other person was going through and were able to support each other better,” says Andrea. “We were fully committed to our studies, but always made time to take breaks together, even if it was to have dinner together on campus.”

Vishad echoes her sentiments, saying that having someone to confide in became even more important during the COVID-19 pandemic, which made it difficult to interact with other students in the class. “Overall, our study journey equipped us to understand as individuals where our different strengths lie, which made us stronger together.”

Vishad says studying at GIBS gave them an immersive learning experience that equipped them not just with sound management theory but practical business know-how. “GIBS provides the best case studies, takes students out to observe business in action and brings in successful business leaders to share their experiences. This multi-layered approach is entrenched in practical projects and realistic business simulations. These applied learning experiences allowed us to learn quickly, in a safe-to-fail environment.”

For Andrea, who is passionate about seeing more woman in leadership, GIBS provided the perfect platform to learn from leading educators and to network with high-achieving students. “They say the proof is in the pudding, and it is clear from the high-profile roles played by various GIBS alumni that the learning experience is of a remarkably high standard.”

She adds that the MBA enables one to grow as an individual and to develop further as a leader. “This has been a personal journey, one where you need to be open to change, even if that means unlearning bad habits. Your outlook is broadened as you learn about the business environment, as well as key strategies to succeed in business and life. A key lesson throughout the programme is how to approach problem-solving in a scientific manner, without which, we would not be able to add tangible value to business and society effectively.

“Furthermore, my husband and I feel more confident after being equipped with a complete set of tools and a new way to approach problem-solving. However, it is also important to understand that while the MBA introduces you to a broad range of topics and tools, it is up to you to truly master the areas you feel most passionate about.” 

The couple both agree that learning is a lifelong journey and that it is important for alumni to stay in touch with their University to keep up to date with the latest developments, to support their alma mater by furthering their studies, contribute to research and provide guidance to up-and-coming graduates. They add that graduates must ensure that they embody the highest ethical values and principles, so that they represent their alma mater and their business institutions well.  

Vishad notes that it has been an honour to have studied at UP. “We would both like to thank UP, GIBS and our MBA class for contributing to our life-changing journey. We are confident that the MBA class of 2020 will use the relationships we have fostered and the knowledge we have gained to help alleviate some of the social ills faced in our communities, and contribute towards economic development in South Africa.”