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Why MBA: Said Business School, University of Oxford
Regardless of how many movies she may be in, every leading lady is best known for a specific role. For...
member story
Dr. Mosima Mabunda has proven that one woman can do it all!
Regardless of how many movies she may be in, every leading lady is best known for a specific role. For Ingrid Bergman, it was her role as the complex Ilsa in Casablanca. For Audrey Hepburn, it was her role as the endearing Eliza in My Fair Lady. But, what of those of us, non-celebrities, who similarly change roles on a daily basis? What are we best known for?
If you knew my classmate, Dr. Mosima Mabunda, you’d probably have difficulty choosing. No stranger to adversity, Mosima simultaneously juggled the responsibilities of being a parent, spouse and full-time MBA student throughout our one-year intensive program at the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School (SBS). In her free time (the little she had, that is), she even practiced as a physician at various NHS hospitals to build her clinical experience in the UK. Perpetually graceful, sincere and delicate in manner, she reminded me of those leading ladies of old Hollywood, playing multiple roles from day to day.
While seemingly disconnected, Mosima’s varied roles shared one common thread; that is, her passion to help others. It was this desire that initially fuelled her to become a doctor. And, it was this same desire that now led Mosima to pursue a full-time MBA.
While previously working as a pediatrician in rural areas of South Africa, Mosima grew upset by the squalor in which her patients – often young children of color –lived. A black South African herself, she felt an obligation to help those patients. As a result, Mosima formed what she has since called her “heart’s desire”- the Saseka Foundation; a non-profit aiming to provide care and nutrition for underprivileged children in the Bush-buck ridge municipality, one of the poorest areas in South Africa.
Through an MBA education, Mosima therefore hoped to gain the tools to sustainably grow this Foundation. As she explained of her decision to return to school, “I wanted to supplement my clinical education with proper business management training, so that I could better provide solutions to public health challenges in my home of South Africa.”
“I chose Saïd Business School (SBS), specifically, for several reasons- among which were the diverse curriculum, one-year length and the school’s connection to the renowned Skoll Centre. Not to mention Oxford’s strong, global reputation. All things considered, SBS seemed the natural choice!”
Once in SBS, Mosima wasted no time in pursuing her goals. She explored business-inspired solutions through conversations with lecturers, as well as talks offered by the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, a group which aims to advance social entrepreneurship through education, research and collaboration. Likewise, she joined various student organizations and even tried her hand at consulting for an investment firm in London over the summer.
Mosima has often said, “My decision to pursue an MBA did not come without sacrifice. As a mother, you must often face time constraints. I missed many social engagements, for example, because I wanted to be home in time to tuck my toddler into bed. Still, I gained a lot from my MBA experience, in knowledge, perspective and friendships.”
Within SBS, she especially credited the Skoll Centre with giving her the confidence to be “different;” the Women in Business group with providing her with a support network; and her classmates with offering their endless patience and humor to help her get through those rough days.
When asked if she had any advice for other parents considering an MBA, Mosima smiled, “Flexibility, support and prioritization are key. The journey is definitely trying at times; but if you stick through it, I’m sure you’ll find the experience to be as rewarding as I did.”
Since graduating from SBS a little over a month ago, Mosima has been enjoying the extra time with her family and has been continuing her work on the Saseka Foundation. In our recent conversation, she added, “The environment at Oxford, and specifically at SBS, inspired me to want to do more and to be more. Moving forward, I aim to apply the frameworks and general management perspective I gained at SBS to the growth of Saseka.”
A leading lady indeed, this physician, spouse, mother, social entrepreneur and now MBA graduate has proven time and time again that there are few roles she can’t take on. And, as every leading lady is best known for a specific role, perhaps Mosima would be best known for her role as caregiver. As she once said to me of her desire to help others, “It’s not just that I wish to do something, it’s that I have to.”
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When publishing this story the member accepted responsibility for the content according to the User Generated Content policy in our T&Cs
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member story
Dr. Mosima Mabunda has proven that one woman can do it all!
Regardless of how many movies she may be in, every leading lady is best known for a specific role. For Ingrid Bergman, it was her role as the complex Ilsa in Casablanca. For Audrey Hepburn, it was her role as the endearing Eliza in My Fair Lady. But, what of those of us, non-celebrities, who similarly change roles on a daily basis? What are we best known for?
If you knew my classmate, Dr. Mosima Mabunda, you’d probably have difficulty choosing. No stranger to adversity, Mosima simultaneously juggled the responsibilities of being a parent, spouse and full-time MBA student throughout our one-year intensive program at the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School (SBS). In her free time (the little she had, that is), she even practiced as a physician at various NHS hospitals to build her clinical experience in the UK. Perpetually graceful, sincere and delicate in manner, she reminded me of those leading ladies of old Hollywood, playing multiple roles from day to day.
While seemingly disconnected, Mosima’s varied roles shared one common thread; that is, her passion to help others. It was this desire that initially fuelled her to become a doctor. And, it was this same desire that now led Mosima to pursue a full-time MBA.
While previously working as a pediatrician in rural areas of South Africa, Mosima grew upset by the squalor in which her patients – often young children of color –lived. A black South African herself, she felt an obligation to help those patients. As a result, Mosima formed what she has since called her “heart’s desire”- the Saseka Foundation; a non-profit aiming to provide care and nutrition for underprivileged children in the Bush-buck ridge municipality, one of the poorest areas in South Africa.
While previously working as a pediatrician in rural areas of South Africa, Mosima grew upset by the squalor in which her patients – often young children of color –lived. A black South African herself, she felt an obligation to help those patients. As a result, Mosima formed what she has since called her “heart’s desire”- the Saseka Foundation; a non-profit aiming to provide care and nutrition for underprivileged children in the Bush-buck ridge municipality, one of the poorest areas in South Africa.
Through an MBA education, Mosima therefore hoped to gain the tools to sustainably grow this Foundation. As she explained of her decision to return to school, “I wanted to supplement my clinical education with proper business management training, so that I could better provide solutions to public health challenges in my home of South Africa.”
“I chose Saïd Business School (SBS), specifically, for several reasons- among which were the diverse curriculum, one-year length and the school’s connection to the renowned Skoll Centre. Not to mention Oxford’s strong, global reputation. All things considered, SBS seemed the natural choice!”
Once in SBS, Mosima wasted no time in pursuing her goals. She explored business-inspired solutions through conversations with lecturers, as well as talks offered by the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, a group which aims to advance social entrepreneurship through education, research and collaboration. Likewise, she joined various student organizations and even tried her hand at consulting for an investment firm in London over the summer.
Mosima has often said, “My decision to pursue an MBA did not come without sacrifice. As a mother, you must often face time constraints. I missed many social engagements, for example, because I wanted to be home in time to tuck my toddler into bed. Still, I gained a lot from my MBA experience, in knowledge, perspective and friendships.”
Within SBS, she especially credited the Skoll Centre with giving her the confidence to be “different;” the Women in Business group with providing her with a support network; and her classmates with offering their endless patience and humor to help her get through those rough days.
When asked if she had any advice for other parents considering an MBA, Mosima smiled, “Flexibility, support and prioritization are key. The journey is definitely trying at times; but if you stick through it, I’m sure you’ll find the experience to be as rewarding as I did.”
Since graduating from SBS a little over a month ago, Mosima has been enjoying the extra time with her family and has been continuing her work on the Saseka Foundation. In our recent conversation, she added, “The environment at Oxford, and specifically at SBS, inspired me to want to do more and to be more. Moving forward, I aim to apply the frameworks and general management perspective I gained at SBS to the growth of Saseka.”
A leading lady indeed, this physician, spouse, mother, social entrepreneur and now MBA graduate has proven time and time again that there are few roles she can’t take on. And, as every leading lady is best known for a specific role, perhaps Mosima would be best known for her role as caregiver. As she once said to me of her desire to help others, “It’s not just that I wish to do something, it’s that I have to.”
“I chose Saïd Business School (SBS), specifically, for several reasons- among which were the diverse curriculum, one-year length and the school’s connection to the renowned Skoll Centre. Not to mention Oxford’s strong, global reputation. All things considered, SBS seemed the natural choice!”
Once in SBS, Mosima wasted no time in pursuing her goals. She explored business-inspired solutions through conversations with lecturers, as well as talks offered by the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, a group which aims to advance social entrepreneurship through education, research and collaboration. Likewise, she joined various student organizations and even tried her hand at consulting for an investment firm in London over the summer.
Mosima has often said, “My decision to pursue an MBA did not come without sacrifice. As a mother, you must often face time constraints. I missed many social engagements, for example, because I wanted to be home in time to tuck my toddler into bed. Still, I gained a lot from my MBA experience, in knowledge, perspective and friendships.”
Within SBS, she especially credited the Skoll Centre with giving her the confidence to be “different;” the Women in Business group with providing her with a support network; and her classmates with offering their endless patience and humor to help her get through those rough days.
When asked if she had any advice for other parents considering an MBA, Mosima smiled, “Flexibility, support and prioritization are key. The journey is definitely trying at times; but if you stick through it, I’m sure you’ll find the experience to be as rewarding as I did.”
Since graduating from SBS a little over a month ago, Mosima has been enjoying the extra time with her family and has been continuing her work on the Saseka Foundation. In our recent conversation, she added, “The environment at Oxford, and specifically at SBS, inspired me to want to do more and to be more. Moving forward, I aim to apply the frameworks and general management perspective I gained at SBS to the growth of Saseka.”
A leading lady indeed, this physician, spouse, mother, social entrepreneur and now MBA graduate has proven time and time again that there are few roles she can’t take on. And, as every leading lady is best known for a specific role, perhaps Mosima would be best known for her role as caregiver. As she once said to me of her desire to help others, “It’s not just that I wish to do something, it’s that I have to.”
This is member-submitted content.
BusinessBecause does not take responsibility for member-submitted content.
When publishing this story the member accepted responsibility for the content according to the User Generated Content policy in our T&Cs
Post new comment
Login to post new comment or post a quick comment below (your email address will remain private):
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Jennifer Tan
@James: Yes, the Skoll Centre resides in the business school and is connected to the larger organisation, Skoll Foundation.
@Sean: Mosima does plan to stay in the UK for now, but of course, she misses home dearly!
Is the Skoll Centre part of Oxford Uni?
James Spencer