vol. XVI no. 2

				Rother Mashamba's quest for an MBA took him out of Africa to Atlanta, then home again. At a time when most of his friends were deciding to abandon rural life in South Africa, Rother Mashamba decided to remain. He had left for a short time to attend a university, the first person in his family to do so. However, after completion of his degree, he passed up a job offer in Johannesburg to return home. Home was a remote area in the Northern Province, the poorest of the country's regions, where his parents were villagers. He was drawn by the strong pull of family. "I felt I needed to be closer to my parents," he said. "I felt I needed to be closer to home." The idea of taking part in the development of the area appealed to him, too. Mashamba turned his attention to improving local education, starting a summer school for high school students, free of charge. For eight years, he taught in a college that trained teachers. In his most recent appointment, he served as acting head of the accounting department at the University of Venda, which serves some eight million people in the Venda region. It was there that Mashamba first heard of the Robinson College of Business and Georgia State. In the late 1990s, he met Associate Dean H. Fenwick Huss and Professor Cherian Thachenkary, who were traveling in South Africa on a scouting mission to establish connections between the Robinson College and African universities. Subsequently, Mashamba participated in a faculty exchange between the schools, spending two weeks in Atlanta in which he was introduced to Robinson's programs and classes. Mashamba was one of three individuals from the University of Venda who expressed interest in an invitation by Huss to enroll in the MBA program in Atlanta. His studies were supported by a USAID grant. "I volunteered to sit for the GMAT when I didn't even know what the GMAT was," Mashamba said. "It didn't work out." Although he failed on his first attempt, Huss encouraged Mashamba, who persevered. He studied guides and tutorials, familiarizing himself with the test. On his next try, he mastered the exam and cleared one hurdle for enrollment. However, a tougher obstacle remained. The decision to leave his family and home was very difficult. Up until two days before he was scheduled to travel to America, Mashamba was still wavering about his choice. He would be leaving grandparents who were sickly, three children aged 8, 12 and 18, and a wife who would have to manage on her own. A last-hour conversation with the director of the University of Venda tipped the balance in favor of pursuing the opportunity. In January 2002, Mashamba set out on the 600-kilometer drive to the airport, a journey that would take him much further than he had been before. Culture shock and a plan Soon, he found himself in a culture and country dramatically different from his own. Homesick, living in a hotel, trying to navigate a fast-paced society, far from friends, he felt unsure of himself and self-conscious about his British-tinged accent. Although he grew up speaking English, he found himself puzzled by Americans' usage of certain words. If he was going to survive, Mashamba knew he needed a strategy. He developed a plan to prepare early. As soon as instructors distributed syllabi, he would get to work. He tried to prepare more than the other students, sometimes reading assignments three times to make sure he understood them. He also learned to pace himself. "I found that if you put in the effort, 80 percent of the time you'll make it," he said. Mashamba's strategy paid off. Although he took a heavy load of up to five classes a semester, he passed difficult courses without a problem, and some semesters he even made straight A's. He also forged friendships with fellow students. As he learned about Americans' commitment to a strong work ethic, he gave his friends a brush with an African perspective. "People here don't have a good idea of what Africa is like," he said. "We have many of the same goals as Americans and many of the same opportunities, but we still take time for holy days, time for community." Mashamba made several presentations about his country to secondary school students in Atlanta as well as to companies interested in establishing business connections in Africa. Just days before commencement in May 2003, Mashamba looked no different in a baseball cap and blue jeans than other Robinson students. With an easygoing manner and a broad smile, he was happy to talk about his journey that culminated with a MBA. His experience, in his own words, "was not just about attending classes and making grades but about networking. I made connections that will follow me in the future." Mashamba received offers of employment here, but he chose once again to return home. He wanted to repay the institution that sent him with loyalty. "Life is not all about money," he said. "I'm happy to be part of the developing area." Mashamba returned to South Africa with new knowledge from his MBA training and with the old knowledge of his people reinforced. Family is even more important to him now. He is back on duty as a dad, getting his children to school each day and helping his oldest daughter, who is interested in science and technology, in her university studies. At work, he is honest about the challenges that face him in shaping a comprehensive university and doing his part to contribute to an economically prosperous society in South Africa. He remembers a time when first degrees were prized in his country. However, now with a 30 percent unemployment rate and few new job openings, some university graduates are not getting jobs. He hopes that sharing his knowledge in international business will help Venda strengthen its foundations and train students who are competitive. Based on his own experience, Mashamba will encourage students to pursue internships and training abroad. Venda means homeland, and once again, Mashamba's focus is on his homeland. But his attention now is informed by knowledge he's gathered and connections he's made out of Africa and across the ocean. Top

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