“ Africa is going through a transition in which the people are learning that they can hold their leaders accountable for their actions and their results. I believe that as this happens, Africa will see rapid development with millions lifted out of poverty.”
#MeetTheStudents is a series where we profile our students from all over Africa who are #DoingHardThings to drive the continent forward. This #MeetTheStudent interview features Matthew Grollnek ‘18 who shares highlights from his professional journey since beginning the ALUSB MBA, and the impact the programme has made to date.
1. What has surprised you about the ALUSB MBA to date?
I’ve been surprised by how close I got to my fellow students even though we are located all over the continent. Since we really explore the depths of our worldviews and inner values, we end up talking about issues deeply important to us as individuals. This creates strong bonds among us.
2. Tell us about your the professional transition and how ALUSB MBA played a role in this transition?
I have lived in Zambia for the last decade. I was highly invested in the community and had strong networks there. Being there for so long, however, my perspective became insular and I was not challenging myself to think on a pan-African scale. After two intensives (week-long, in-person MBA sessions) at ALU School of Business, and analyzing the Lions on the Move report with Acha Leke in which we compared economic activity throughout the continent, I realized that there were opportunities to create impact across Africa. At that point, I started searching for roles that would allow me to gain a continental perspective and learn about regions I knew much less about. I am now working as a management consultant and working on capital raises for companies across the continent.
3. What does the future of Africa look like through your eyes? What role will you play in it?
Africa is going through a transition in which the people are learning that they can hold their leaders accountable for their actions and their results. I believe that as this happens, Africa will see rapid development with millions lifted out of poverty. The role I will play will be to put others in the position to be leaders and affect massive change. I plan to achieve this by enabling them to build large, impactful companies, get the education that they need, and putting in place structures that will enable efficient delivery of services. The biggest challenge Africa will face, however, will be battling inequality. This is an issue that we all must tackle throughout Africa’s rapid ascension.
