In the Pursuit of Excellence: Why I Got Into Namibia Business School
I've been involved with startups since my teenage years. On several occasions, I have been commended on my "entrepreneurial" spirit. Why did I decide to still go to Business School then?
If you have read my article on The Road(s) I Didn’t Take, you will recall that I started helping my parents run their little grocery store back in 2008/ 2009, at 11/ 12 years old to be exact.
I then co-founded Successcodeblog.com in 2015, Kuenda Digital in 2017, went to work for Ebikes4Africa in 2020, built Contentribe, and just before we launched, I left to join JABU in March that year - where I am until today.
All of this happened through high school, and then through the Namibia University of Science and Technology Faculty of Engineering, where I graduated in Electronic Engineering.
After working as an Electronic Engineering intern and then an IT and Photovoltaics Technician at Ebikes4Africa, despite being surrounded by an amazing team and really loving what we stood for, I noticed that I didn’t feel the same spark I had felt when I was working on the business side of companies.
I then went on to explore fully this entrepreneurial talent people always told me about...
Two years have passed, and early this year I received admissions from the top two business schools in Namibia: the Namibia Business School (at the University of Namibia), and Harold Pupkewitz Graduate School of Business (at Namibia University of Science and Technology), for a Postgraduate in Business Administration and in Management respectively.
Why Namibia Business School?
The Namibia Business School (NBS) has been offering business programs since 2000 and has established itself as the leading full-fledged and most traditional business school in the country. Additionally, the Namibia University of Science and Technology is already my alma mater - I wanted something different.
Why Did I Choose to Study Business at All?
During the application process, my initial goal was to apply for a Master of Business Administration (MBA). However, after a thoughtful conversation with a close friend - who holds an MBA himself from a reputable school in the United States of America, I was convinced that for an MBA, as important as the school chosen was the place I would be studying. So I decided to further my studies through a Postgraduation for now.
When it comes to pursuing an education in business, it can be summarized as my own pursuit of excellence motivated by:
Understanding Business Theory
I have gotten too comfortable making intuitive business decisions and learning by trial and error.
As I mature professionally, I feel an intrinsic need to create a theoretical foundation that enables me to understand and build a data-driven framework for practical decision-making.
In a nutshell, business theory refers to a set of concepts, principles, and frameworks that provide a structured understanding of various aspects of a business. It includes ideas from various disciplines such as economics, management, marketing, accounting, finance, and strategy.
Building Cross-functional Business Skills
I would like to strengthen my skillset and close some gaps in areas I have not exposed myself enough such as research, strategy, accounting, finance, and human resources.
Strengthen My Network
There is an immeasurable opportunity to build extremely valuable relationships with Professors and other fellow students.
I knew everyone would come from different industries and backgrounds with rich insights and perspectives, which I could leverage as mentors and a soundboard while adding value in the different areas I might be needed.
Increased Credibility
I have been extremely lucky so far. I always had people that took me by hand and gave me the opportunities and exposure that I needed to develop very important business skills and deliver results.
Now I would like to bring something more tangible to the table, than simply having an entrepreneurial talent.
How It is Going
I am halfway through the first semester and despite the challenges of keeping up with a demanding career and my studies, I have been extracting a lot of value from it.
One of the skills I am the proudest to have been working on is around finding, analyzing, and interpreting business case studies. A culture I did not have before.
After my Postgraduate, I will take a break and then pursue the MBA. Most probably specialized in Leadership or Finance - aligned with how I envision my career in the future.
Reference(s):
F. Drucker, Peter. (1994, September–October). The Theory of the Business. Harvard Business Review. www.hbr.org/1994/09/the-theory-of-the-business