Meet the MBA Class of 2022: Nomhle Gumede Majola, University of Oxford (Saïd)

Nomhle Gumede Majola             

University of Oxford, Saïd Business School

“A straight-talking South African woman that brings a calm energy to interactions.”

Hometown: Johannesburg, South Africa

Fun Fact About Yourself: I used to be a kids television presenter on national television.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of the Witwatersrand, Accounting and Finance

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Financial Manager at Izandla Property

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of Oxford Saïd’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? Saïd is the only highly-ranked international business school that has an intentional focus on the African continent through its recruitment, and programme offering. My plan post MBA has always been to return to Africa and implement my learnings into its development; so an international programme with an African focus was paramount in my decision-making.

What is the most “Oxford” thing you have done so far as a full-time MBA student? Walking past the Door to Narnia on my way to class daily. This door is believed to be CS Lewis’ inspiration for the entrance to the magical world of Narnia in his seven-part series The Chronicles of Narnia. I have been tempted on many mornings to try open it in anticipation of a snowy, magical world on the other side.

Oxford is known as a place where world collides, be it in the classroom or the dining hall. What has been the most interesting interaction you’ve had so far as an Oxford MBA student? Sitting in our common room at Queen’s College; on my one side is a Master of Physics student who happens to be 18 years old and on my other side is a Master of Classical Languages student who happens to be a Grammy-nominated artist.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Assisting to build a real estate fund in South Africa as the financial manager, while prioritizing the growth of small business service providers.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far? Immersing myself not just within the Business Schoo,l but the wider university. This is through building the relationships with members of my College as well as being part of the University Cheerleading Squad.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? None. It didn’t make sense to apply for any other international programme due to the lack of African focus.

What has been the biggest epiphany you’ve gained about yourself or the world since you started your MBA program? There’s a quote an MBA colleague introduced me to that says, “Don’t tell me the sky is the limit when there are footprints on the moon”. This experience has taught me that the solutions landscape for the world’s key problems is much more vast than I could’ve imagined and the implementation of those solutions is absolutely possible with the level of talented young people globally. All we need is the opportunity to show the world what we can do.

DON’T MISS: MEET OXFORD SAÏD’S MBA CLASS OF 2022

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