Lebogang Poonyane — Management Consulting Head Instructor

Lebogang Poonyane — Management Consulting Head Instructor

  • Doctor of Business Administration (2019 candidate), Gordon Institute of Business Science
  • 15+ years industry experience
  • Currently Chief Executive Officer of Global Capital Empowerment (Pty) Ltd.

Lebogang Poonyane is an entrepreneur and investor with extensive experience working in management consulting, strategy, and private equity in Africa, Europe, and the US. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Economics, Business Finance, and Marketing from the University of Witwatersrand and an Honours  Bachelor of Commerce degree in Finance from the University of South Africa. After winning a business plan “pitch” competition, Mr. Poonyane was awarded a full scholarship by the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) to complete an MBA in Entrepreneurship. He is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Business Administration degree at GIBS, focusing on the impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on unemployment on the African continent and what can be done about it. 

Mr. Poonyane’s management consulting career began at McKinsey & Company’s Johannesburg office, where he worked on private equity and strategy-related projects across the African continent. His responsibilities as a Senior Associate included recruiting potential management consultants and leading various internal training programs, including Quants, Interviewer, and Coaching training.

In 2016 Mr. Poonyane co-founded the Global Capital Empowerment Fund with the mission of providing services to mid-sized businesses that need strategic direction, funding, and enhanced access to markets. He currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Global Capital Empowerment (Pty) Ltd., as well as a Director for Bluesky Investment Holdings (Pty) Ltd.

In a recent interview , Mr. Poonyane spoke about his predictions regarding the future of management consulting: 

“As with most industries, the fourth industrial revolution will require that Management Consultants adapt to various environments and situations rapidly, because their clients will be faced with changes (brought about by the fourth industrial revolution) that most will not be ready or equipped for. Therefore, good consultants will need to learn how to learn and problem solve much faster in situations that are new and unfamiliar to their clients and the firms that employ them.”

Q&A with Lebogang:

What are you working on now?

I am building a Private Equity fund focused on mid-sized businesses that need strategic direction, funding, and enhanced access to markets. I am also currently working on building the strategy for a FinTech business, whose focus is to expand access to banking type services for underserved BOP customers across the African continent.

What do you enjoy most about the Management Consulting industry?

1. Solving complex problems for clients and serving others.
2. Continuous and rapid personal development.
3. Exposure to varied industries and sectors.

Why did you decide to get involved with teaching and how do you continue to keep things fresh?

I love teaching. I loved being a Management Consultant, especially the problem-solving element of it. I also believe that the most noble act that one can do for society is to educate others. So I decided to combine my love for problem-solving and teaching with what I believe to be the most noble of human endeavors.

What are you most looking forward to about Career Semester this fall?

I am looking forward to meeting, learning from, and working with people from various backgrounds.

How do you see the Management Consulting industry changing in the next year to five years? What skills will consultants need to have?

As with most industries, the fourth industrial revolution will require that Management Consultants adapt to various environments and situations rapidly, because their clients will be faced with changes (brought about by the fourth industrial revolution) that most will not be ready or equipped for. Therefore, good consultants will need to learn how to learn and problem solve much faster in situations that are new and unfamiliar to their clients and the firms that employ them.

What skills will Career Semester students have after graduating from your class?

I hope that students will have developed a solid consulting toolkit and the confidence to tackle any business problem that may be presented to them.

What’s one piece of advice that you have for the Career Semester class of 2020?

Stay super curious and tenacious. This will be a thrilling ride.

What would students be surprised to learn about you?

I used to be a club DJ and am a huge 90’s Hip Hop fan. I am an adventurer and love mountains, running, skydiving and even bungee jumping. I’m also training for my first Iron Man in November 2019, and am very afraid.

What are your ‘desert island’ books or movies?

Movies – Bad Boys 1 and 2. I’m really looking forward to 3. And getting into Marvel.
Books – I try to read broadly, but mostly enjoy books on Philosophy, African literature and strategy (told in story form). Currently reading (a) Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Laif Babin and (b) Becoming by Michelle Obama.

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