It is not every day that one gets to learn a life lesson on a climb to the 'Roof of Africa', but on 21 October 2012 it will become a reality for a Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) MBA student, Bonolo Sekhukhune, when she takes part in the Rotterdam School of Management (RSM) MBA Kilimanjaro Leadership Project.

The project uses the climb up Mt Kilimanjaro as a classroom and an allegory for business, taking 15 MBA women students on a leadership journey through the ever-changing terrain of today's business environment. Participants are expected to lead and guide each other pushing past physical and mental barriers, much like in the corporate world, as they trek toward the mountain's summit. Standing at a majestic 5 859 meters, Mt Kilimanjaro will symbolically mirror the challenges they will face in the corporate world.

The climbers will be led by Rebecca Stevens, the first British woman to climb the "Seven Summits" - Mount Everest and the highest mountain on every continent. She will use her lecture series "The Seven Summits of Success", which uses striking climbing metaphors, to illustrate lessons for success in the business world. The book highlights, among other things, the importance of interdependence, teamwork and positive thinking as key ingredients to success.

The RSM MBA Kilimanjaro Leadership Project is a women-only special elective designed to enhance leadership and networking capabilities for women MBA participants. The project forms part of the Women Empowering Women Leadership Elective at RSM that was initiated in 2011 and is aimed at addressing the specific challenges that women face when they climb the corporate ladder.

Shireen Chengadu, executive director: academic programmes at GIBS, said: "As a leading business school in Africa, we give our students the competitive advantage by aligning ourselves with great initiatives that are not only academic but experiential as well. The RSM MBA Kilimanjaro Leadership Project is a great project as it teaches women life lessons in a very transformative way."

Sekhukhune, who was overjoyed at the prospect of the climb, said: "This is a dream come true for me; conquering Kilimanjaro has always been on my wish list. I still cannot believe that I have been selected as the only South African MBA student for the elective. I would like to learn as much as I can, regardless of how gruelling the climb is going to be."

Participants will be able to share their experience on a dedicated blog www.rsm.nl/kili.