Swapping Colorado for Cape Town

How did American Alexa Mehos end up studying an MBA in South Africa?

It is perhaps not the most obvious route to take. But Alexa’s decision to swap Colorado for Cape Town was an entirely logical one in the context of her life and career to that point. As part of her work at an international grantmaking organization, she already had plenty of exposure to developing nations. This informed her decision to study at the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business (UCT-GSB) – but ultimately, it was borne out of a desire to break out of her comfort zone. 

“It’s actually my fourth time studying in Africa, so I did a few all around the continent,” she tells MBAGRADSCHOOLS. “Obviously UCT has an amazing reputation and I was really looking for a diverse MBA experience, and the furthest I could get from an American MBA.” (01:00)

Alexa also believed that studying in Africa could give her insights that her home country simply could not. As someone with a background in social and environmental justice, she was looking for a study location that could give her genuine insights into the developing world. South Africa fit the bill.

“I really wanted the developing world context for business,” she says. “My background is in environmental and social justice, so I was kind of looking for the opposite perspective of how to do business – to put it nicely!” (01:20)

The “notorious” module on the UCT GSB MBA

Every MBA program shares certain characteristics. They all cover the main business fundamentals like marketing, accounting, and management. Most MBA programs will offer a set of electives or specializations where you can study a niche area such as entrepreneurship, data analytics, or AI. Most programs are also likely to include some form of international exposure or travel within the curriculum.

But very few programs, if any, offer a module like the leadership one at UCT GSB. It is not a traditional classroom-taught module. Instead, it is a lengthy period of self-reflection that allows you to get to the heart of who you are. To truly understand what leadership means, you must first understand yourself.

“The structure of the MBA is really interesting and not what I expected at all,” says Alexa. “The first quarter was very focused on the individual and leadership. It includes a notorious leadership course where you have to write a 70-page paper. It’s a total self-exploration starting from your childhood, analyzing how you got to where you are today, and why you’re doing an MBA. From there, hopefully, you really come to understand yourself in a deep way.” (02:29)

Studying an MBA in South Africa vs. the United States

As someone from the United States – the leading MBA destination in the world – you might have expected Alexa to find a program in her home country. However, Alexa chose to study an MBA in a region that isn’t one of the traditional global hotspots for higher education. She explained some of the differences between studying an MBA in South Africa and the United States.

“A huge part of an MBA is learning from your peers,” she says. “In the MBA there’s a ton of group work, and I really value the diverse perspectives that my classmates have brought from all over Africa and Europe. I think even at the best institutions in the States you couldn’t get such a rich experience.” (01:33)

“Also, I think in terms of business there’s an entrepreneurial mindset there that I’ve never seen in the USA. There’s a kind of resourcefulness and willingness to try different approaches that I‘ve gained from my MBA program, both personally and from observing some of my classmates,” she adds. (02:03)

Alexa’s determination to leave her comfort zone and take on new challenges has made her experience all the more rewarding. Much of that has come from working with her classmates, who have brought a wider set of perspectives to the classroom than she might have experienced had she stayed in America.

The intangible benefits of an MBA

Having such a wide set of perspectives in the classroom has benefited Alexa in more ways than one. She believes the opportunity to not only meet people from all over the world, but work closely with them on group projects, makes an MBA experience a totally unique one.

“I would recommend anybody do an MBA just to learn about yourself. It’ll push you – and if you’re not willing to dig into your reactions and how you interact with different people in different environments, then you’re going to struggle. I just think it’s normally impossible to have that kind of opportunity,” she explains. (00:23)

However, one of Alexa’s main takeaways from the program is not a tangible one, such as a mastery of marketing or a few new names in her contact book. She says that being able to take on all the challenges of a one-year program, and coming through it on the other side, means she now feels better equipped to take on any challenge in life. If you’ve done an MBA, then you can do anything.

“Because of the MBA, I think people would most say that my confidence has increased,” she shares. “An MBA is an incredible accomplishment – especially a one-year MBA – when you look at the workload and the number of things we’ve been able to accomplish in a short period of time. That gave me a major boost to my confidence and it has really changed me.” (05:29)

Having an MBA brings with it a number of tangible benefits: the qualification, of course, plus a potential boost to your salary and an expanded network of business contacts. But, perhaps more important are the intangible benefits of an MBA. According to Alexa, the biggest benefits are the ones that you can’t put a price on.

“I think the intangible benefits I’ve gained from the program are completely priceless. Financially, an MBA in South Africa is around half the price of an MBA in the USA, so that’s huge. But I don’t think you can put a price on having a year-long international experience,” she says. “I think the kind of personal development it gives you is unparalleled – not to mention the international connections you gain too. It has been incredible.” (06:18)

Do you want to learn more about the MBA experience from MBA students and alumni themselves? Reach out to our MBA Ambassadors!