Tag: Regent Business School

Growth rarely announces itself with fanfare. More often, it begins as a quiet restlessness and a sense that who you are at work no longer matches who you could become. As such, returning to study reshapes not only skills and knowledge, but also confidence, perspective and professional identity. Reflection, continual learning and academic rigour translate into sharper strategic thinking, bolder leadership and greater impact in the workplace.

Professional advancement is increasingly shaped by decisions around education. Qualifications signal capability, open doors and promise career progression, yet their value is often assessed too narrowly. Beyond remuneration, education carries costs and returns that unfold over time. These factors influence professional mobility, leadership access and long-term relevance.

Education reshapes family histories. For South Africa’s first-generation graduates, one degree transforms what entire households believe is possible. Postgraduate learning can create ripples across generations, communities and the nation. Drawing on my experience as both a legal practitioner and mentor to prospective students, I explore why investing in education is investing in collective progress.

Quick fixes are failing. Businesses invest in short courses and certificates. They expect transformation, yet return to the same problems months later. This cycle reveals a deeper issue. It points to a fundamental misunderstanding of what prepares leaders for complexity.

Accounting is undergoing one of the most significant shifts in its history. The accounting profession now searches for thinkers who can navigate change with agility and insight. I have spent my career at the intersection of technical precision and strategic judgement. Drawing on years of experience across global financial environments, it can be argued that the profession needs a different kind of practitioner: one who can interpret data with discernment, challenge emerging technologies and guide organisations through complexity.

As traditional career paths shift and the demands of work evolve, the skills that matter most are also changing. This article explores how entrepreneurial thinking has moved beyond the start-up sector and become a defining advantage for professionals across every industry. I draw on academic research and practical experience to explain why this mindset, centred on initiative, adaptability and problem-solving, now forms a foundation for long-term career success.

You’ve put in the hours, written the exams and now graduation is on the horizon. But when should you start applying for jobs? How early is too early? Whether you’re completing a diploma, higher certificate, degree or even a postgraduate programme like a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), timing matters.

Graduation often looks like the finish line, but for many of us, it is just the beginning. Drawing on years of mentoring graduates and working closely with industry, I challenge the idea that a qualification alone is enough. Instead, I offer a fresh perspective on turning academic achievement into career momentum, with practical insights for both recent and mature graduates who are ready to move forward with purpose.

As industries transform rapidly, the question facing every graduate is no longer “What do you know?” but “How ready are you to change?” From automation and artificial intelligence to remote work and economic shocks, the rules of employment are being rewritten. Today’s job market values adaptability, data fluency and critical thinking more than ever.

The network effect of building your own professional network early in life offers huge advantages. However, most graduates are unaware of the benefits of building connections with a large number of people working in their industry. Graduates are also unsure of how to create a significant professional network.