Meet Washington Olin’s MBA Class Of 2021

Lungile Tshuma

Washington University, Olin Business School

“Ancestrally proud global thinker, born in the City of Kings and Queens, who is grateful.”

Hometown: Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

Fun Fact About Yourself: I was a judge for Zimbabwe’s best dance crew.

Undergraduate School and Major: Lindenwood University, International Relations with a minor in Geography

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: The Barry-Wehmiller Leadership Institute, Intern

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Being named the vice-captain for the Zimbabwean National Rugby Team.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Curiosity. Curiosity is rampant in my MBA classmates. We have a special cohort coming from different countries, backgrounds, fields of study, and experiences and they all are curious about the perspective of the other. It has already sparked some great conversations and discussions where we are able to learn from each other.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? The Global Perspective. The world and business are more intertwined than ever before. The diverse cultures, perspectives, and values amalgamating for a business outcome that serves people is an incredible phenomenon of our time. A full-time MBA program that chooses to embrace this shift in global business is appealing. It is important to me because having lived in Zimbabwe, Wales (UK), Durban, South Africa and now in the United States, I appreciate what various places and cultures can offer to one’s life and their significance.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I have to say, I am excited to be part of the Olin African Business Club. From what I have seen so far, there are some exceptional minds that have their continent’s progression at heart.

What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process? The most challenging question in my interview process was to speak of a time when I had shown integrity in my life professionally or personally. My answer, “For me to speak of a time when I have been an integral man would show a tad bit of vanity, not sure it is my place…. but I will do my best.”  Following that question, I did wonder whether they would think humility is a quality lacking in me!

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? My purpose led me to pursue an MBA at this point in my career. I am a globally curious individual with a zeal for creating platforms for people and organizations to express their talents and ideas without compromising their identity. I seek to do this through financial inclusion and impact investment especially in the emerging economies. The pursuit is very much still difficult because most of my identity is established in a different area of my life. I am, however, up for the exciting challenge as it will reveal the quality of the general person I am.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? None, just Washington University.

How did you determine your fit at various schools?  I knew I had to make a major decision to find the best option that would keep me close to the new support system that had invested in me, enabled me to grow in different areas of my life and would roundly equip me to impact others. With some consulting from important people in my life, I finally came to the decision of going to Washington University. The process of aligning my goals with the inputs of those who care about me as an individual is important to me in making major decisions.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? For me it was the passing away of my older sister Nozipho. At that moment, I realized that mine and everyone’s time on earth comes to an end. It evoked a fear of reaching that time without realizing and living up to my potential and giving back to the people and communities that supported me and enabled me to be where I am today. Now, I am driven to cultivate my potential by creating opportunity for others as that opportunity provided by others is what was given to me.

Where do you see yourself in ten years? Having traveled for the past ten years for discovery, curiosity, adventure, and taking on innumerable opportunities, I have found Zimbabwe will always be my home. In ten years, I see myself having a hand in empowering Zimbabweans and other Africans to take ownership of and propel their own communities with their profound perspective of progression. I see myself as a business intermediary between cultures for impact investment as well as consulting, facilitating the inevitable growth of African businesses highlighting the importance of human-centric leadership in our businesses moving forward.

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