For the past 25 years GIBS has been imprinted by its curious, innovative, and perceptive faculty. These are individuals who continue to lead from the front when it comes to shaping business in South Africa, Africa and the world.
Among this number are the likes of Dr. Hayley Pearson — a GIBS MBA alumna and executive director of faculty. Twenty-five-year GIBS veteran Professor Albert Wöcke, head of the GIBS Case Study Hub and lead faculty of the MPhil in International Business. Abdullah Verachia, head of faculty for strategy, sustainability and digital at GIBS – who took home GIBS Excellence in Teaching Awards for executive education and academic programmes in 2019, 2020 and 2021. Not to forget the man who has received the GIBS Excellence in Teaching award on 15 occasions: Professor Adrian Saville, founding director of the GIBS Centre for African Management & Markets.
This level of academic excellence also extends beyond the classroom to the world of research, where GIBS faculty members continue to add to the global body of knowledge – but with a special African twist.
Professor Caren Scheepers
In November 2024, Scheepers’ prodigious research output was recognised with a C2 rating from the National Research Foundation (NRF). The ranking is reserved for established researchers with a sustained record of producing quality work.
Reflecting on 17 years at GIBS, Scheepers says, “GIBS offers great opportunities to live my purpose of being useful. The quality of students ensures we have meaningful conversations and our students have influence in their companies and in society. So to influence them, there is a great return on investment.”
Scheepers believes its “convener capital” strategically positions GIBS to bring business, government, and civil society together for meaningful dialogue.
Professor Charlene Lew
Lew has been part of the GIBS faculty for more than two decades, during which time she has been “shaped by phenomenal people, programmes and events”.
In 2025, GIBS’s director of internationalisation attained the rank of full professor and in 2024 received a C2 NRF rating. Outside the classroom, her firm PsyQuenza is based on her teaching around leading change and draws on the GIBS elective Behavioural Science for Business Impact.
Reflecting on these different hats, Lew notes, “The beauty of an academic role is the synergistic momentum one gains between teaching, research, and business impact. While preparing for compelling engagement with inquisitive MBAs, one gains new ideas for one’s business as well. Working closely with a firm to redesign their organisation’s strategy, structure, and processes gives wonderful examples for the classroom.”
Currently, Lew is continuing her work on fairness and ethical decision-making. “I think this is particularly important in our unequal society,” she says. “I hope to unveil some of the misconceptions of how people regard what is fair in the aim of driving more ethical and pro-social behaviour in South Africa.”
Professor Marianne Matthee
Matthee defines her eight years at GIBS as being “incredibly fulfilling”. Until recently, as GIBS’s director of research (2021-2024), Matthee led the charge in enhancing the quality and output of research at GIBS.
On a personal level she says, “GIBS fosters a dynamic learning environment, which has allowed me to pursue high-impact research and engage in policy-related consulting projects. Academically, GIBS has given me a platform to expand my research focus while collaborating with international bodies like the WTO and UN Trade and Development.”
Matthee’s macroeconomic and trade research is Africa-focused but truly global in reach, and centres on understanding the complex links between economic opportunities, international trade, and gender dynamics. She is currently working on a literature review focused on African women digital entrepreneurs for a policy document. “This project allows me to connect my passion for inclusive economic growth with tangible, real-world applications.”
Dr. Ubochioma Udo Osuigwe
Senior lecturer Osuigwe has found in GIBS a space that is “designed to engender a sense of belonging for employees from diverse backgrounds”. Osuigwe, who was previously involved on the administrative side at GIBS, transitioned to become a full-time lecturer and researcher in 2022 after completing a PhD in entrepreneurship at the University of Pretoria (UP). “As a researcher and a faculty member, I am living my dream,” he says.
Osuigwe’s research and teaching work are heavily business orientated, with a specific focus on entrepreneurship. “My research in the space of entrepreneurship takes into consideration the funding and financing challenges faced by a majority of entrepreneurs in Africa by focusing on alternative approaches,” he explains. “My academic work provides opportunities to bring the outcome of these research endeavours to life in the classroom.”
Currently, Osuigwe is making the most of the various international research collaboration opportunities available to him. “One is exploring cultural entrepreneurial practices in Africa, while another is focused on understanding the use of AI in plugging the knowledge gaps related to entrepreneurial idea generation, conceptualisation and venture development.”
Taking tea with … Associate Professor Gavin Price
A prime example of a faculty member who brings a wealth of knowledge and insights from the corporate world into the classroom is Associate Professor Gavin Price, an admitted attorney with experience in the banking and finance industry, as well as property development, retail, and the automotive sector. Price, who has been with GIBS for 17 years, holds six degrees including a DBA from UP (GIBS).
Price notes that GIBS is his 24th employer – and definitely the best fit. He came to GIBS after his wife spotted an advert in the Sunday Times. At the time he was lecturing part time at Allenby Campus, including teaching tax. The first subject he taught at GIBS was statistics. Today, Price is lead faculty for leadership on the MBA, and also teaches ethics, which is one of his particular fields of interest alongside influence, persuasion, and decision making.
As “a master of all trades” with experience ranging from negotiating leases for Montecasino to selling cars, GIBS enabled Price to feed his “curiosity for knowledge”.
In a rare interview, Price says, “The fact of the matter is I love what I do. When you find your home and what you are destined to do, you settle in.” He likens GIBS to the old American sitcom Cheers, “where everyone knows your name. When I walk through the campus, people are greeting me all the time. It’s very fulfilling.”
While lecturing is “not a nine-to-five job”, Price derives tremendous satisfaction from his teaching role. “The research is sometimes a means to an end,” he says, noting that a top teacher needs to understand how to communicate the knowledge, but they also need the knowledge in the first place to identify gaps and, in turn, contribute to the broader field. As a researcher, he adds, “you are standing on the shoulders of those who have gone before you, and that’s pretty profound in its own way”.
Bytes and bits with … Associate Professor Manoj Chiba
In 2024, Associate Professor Manoj Chiba took on the role of GIBS MBA director. In addition to lecturing on a range of cutting-edge subjects from predictive analysis and digitisation to artificial intelligence (AI), Chiba brings to the classroom deep technical expertise across various sectors.
Reflecting on this variety, he says, “The current strategic direction of the school really excites me – humane, climate, digital – all aspects which make the world a better place for individuals, organisations, industries, and countries to thrive and grow.”
This direction also aligns with Chiba’s personal philosophy to always “impact individuals and their lives in a positive manner”. It was an approach instilled in him by his father. “He always said you can’t take your knowledge to the grave, so share it. You can’t take your money to the grave, so share it. It was this sharing philosophy that drives me achieve my personal ambitions – to change the world in a small way that I can.”
Fortunately, as member of a faculty that is encouraged to be close to business, Chiba can make his imprint across both business and academia. As a “naturally curious individual”, Chiba is inspired by “almost anything data, technology, and numbers related – so GIBS is a great platform for me to be able to openly explore and get deep into these worlds, without the need to be constrained”.
One current focus is around business model innovation and how organisational structure and emerging technologies – such as AI and big data – affect this. On the business side, Chiba recently partnered with Abdullah Verachia, and together they are undertaking meaningful work with various clients.
Getting to know … Associate Professor Motshedisi (Tshidi) Mathibe
GIBS’s head of marketing, management and entrepreneurship joined the GIBS faculty in 2019 as a post-doctoral fellow. She rapidly moved up the ranks. This achievement, she believes, is “testament to the supportive and dynamic environment at GIBS”. In addition to the opportunities and resources at her disposal, she singles out the guidance received from Professor Caren Scheepers and Professor Anthony Wilson-Prangley.
From providing access to funding to collaborative projects to get her teeth into, Mathibe was given the chance to pursue her research interests and produce high-quality work that she has presented at conferences both at home and abroad. “These experiences have not only expanded my knowledge but also connected me with leading experts in my field, such as Professor Mark Saunders (University of Birmingham, UK) and Professor Willie Chinyamurindi (University of Fort Hare).”
Mathibe actively seeks to bridge the gap between theory and practice by addressing real-world challenges and questions. Her mentorship work through the United Nations South African Global Compact also enables her “to extend my impact beyond the classroom and into the global arena, influencing future leaders who can drive positive change in their communities and industries”.
For Mathibe, who is currently working on an NRF-funded study exploring the impact of Covid-19 on women entrepreneurs in the informal sector, GIBS’s future looks bright. “The institution’s proactive stance on incorporating new technologies into the curriculum ensures that students are always learning the most up-to-date and relevant skills, making them well-prepared for future challenges and opportunities in their careers.”
Key takeaways
- GIBS faculty remain close to business, providing a bridge between the academic and corporate worlds.
- Faculty members value the humane-yet-technologically relevant outlook of the business school.
- Academics see GIBS as a “home” and a “safe space” in which to embrace their inner curiosity.
