Professor Helena Barnard – University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute of Business Science

This week on Womanity-Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to Professor Helena Barnard who heads up the doctoral programme at the University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute of Business Science. We consider the importance of building world class research institutions in Africa specifically, as opposed to out-of-continent countries, that focus on understanding business and management in Africa. Business management is a social science and therefore is influenced and shaped by societies with variable cultural contexts. We consider some of the business research projects that have been undertaken by scholars in the continent, for example in Zimbabwe understanding the DNA of firms that thrive in spite of turbulent conditions, and in Kenya the challenges experienced by entrepreneurs returning from the diaspora. We highlight the empowering effects of education in the hands of women to develop and advance. In terms of reducing inequality Prof. Barnard reflects on the role of men to support and enable women. Tune in for more…