From WBS Classroom to Senior Executive Leadership: Alumni Perspective

Facilitator – Prof Mills Soko - Professor of International Business and Strategy and  
Director of Development and Partnerships

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Professor Logan Rangasamy, Interim Head of School, Wits Business School

Prof Logan Rangasamy is Interim Head and Director of Wits Business School previously Academic Director, has worked on economic policy issues and developments for over 30 years. 

Prof Logan Rangasamy is Interim Head and Director of Wits Business School previously Academic Director, has worked on economic policy issues and developments for over 30 years. During this period, his involvement has been in the capacity of economic advisor at the European Union and senior positions at international institutions and at the South African Reserve bank. His work has covered policy issues related to national (South Africa), regional (Common monetary area, Southern African Development Community, Africa) and multilateral (G20, IMF, OECD etc) interests. Logan has participated in discussions at both technical and high-level meetings with senior policymakers (ministers, central bank governors, presidencies of governments, international investors, rating agencies etc).

 He has led country and technical teams at the G20, IMF, AU, SADC, and CMA forums. He has held oversight responsibility for South Africa’s participation at the working groups at the BRICS, G20, IMF, OECD and BRICS. He led South Africa’s technical team in the BRICS Contingency Reserve Arrangement discussions which resulted in the establishment of a US$100billion facility for BRICS countries. He has chaired the SARB’s technical team in interactions with the IMF, G20 and other continental bodies in Africa. He has articulated African interests at international fora (G20, BRICS and OECD) and has been involved in the Africa Peer Review Mechanism evaluating macroeconomic performance of African countries.  

Rangasamy has published many articles in peer reviewed journals on policy issues. He assumed the role of Academic Director at Wits Business School on 1 January 2021 where his focus is on establishing “WBS as the leading African Business School firmly embedded among the best business schools internationally”.

Professor Jones Odei-Mensah, Academic Director, Wits Business School

Jones has a solid track record in capacity building and continuous professional development gained through his positions as Director of Training at the African Review of Economics and Finance (AREF) Consult. 

He has been a consultant to several major institutions, including the African Export-Import Bank (AFREXIMBANK), the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET), African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), KPMG, among others.

Academic Director and Discipline Lead: Management 

Courses and Disciplines taught at WBS: 

Economics for Business; Finance and Investment Decisions; Applied Financial Econometrics; Time Series Analysis. Jones Mensah also teaches on Executive Education programmes including MAP, IEDP, ISLDP, EDP.

Other Teaching Experience: 

Jones spearheaded the running of workshops on advanced econometric techniques, such as Copula Models, Wavelets, Regime Switching Models, Panel Data Analysis, etc. across various institutions in Ghana, including Kumasi Technical University, Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies, and the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).

Research Interests: 

Intersection of finance and macroeconomics; in particular, financial market interdependence and systemic risk; investment, market performance and asset diversification; economic growth and policy stabilisation. 

Leoni Grobler, Executive Education Director and Acting Operations Director

Leoni Grobler is the Executive Education Director and Acting Operations Director at Wits Business School. She has worked in the private higher education sector for 27 years. She has worked extensively in the executive education environment and is able to engage meaningfully with key stakeholders when conceptualising developmental interventions.

Leoni’s entrepreneurial background allows her to problem-solve and find practical business solutions for clients from various business environments. Her understanding of complex workplace systems, business strategy, sales and marketing, people dynamics, stakeholder management, and key business risks has been invaluable when engaging with executive education clients.

Leoni holds an MBA from MANCOSA and is a Certified Associate of the Institute of Bankers in South Africa CAIB (SA). She is also a constituent Assessor and Moderator for ETDP SETA, Service SETA, THETA, PSETA and SA Board of People Practices (SABPP), and is registered as an HR Practitioner and Skills Development Facilitator with SABPP.

PANEL DISCUSSION 

From WBS Classroom to Senior Executive Leadership: Alumni Perspective

Mpho McNamee, Group Chief of Corporate Affairs Telkom

Mpho Lethoko McNamee is the Group Chief of Corporate Affairs at Telkom Limited, bringing over 20 years of experience in corporate affairs, public policy, and strategic communications across the telecommunications, financial services, healthcare, professional services, and industrial sectors. 

She has built a career shaping corporate positioning at the intersection of business, society, and regulation.

A recognised voice on digital transformation and the role of business in societal progress, Mpho’s work focuses on the convergence of connectivity, data, and artificial intelligence as drivers of inclusive economic growth. At Telkom, she plays a key role in positioning digital infrastructure as a foundational enabler of South Africa’s and Africa’s AI future.

Her thought leadership bridges academia and practice, including a GIBS (Gordon Institute of Business Science) co-authored white paper on corporate governance and leadership and a University of Johannesburg academic journal publication on stakeholder engagement and shared value creation.

Mpho holds an MBA from GIBS, a Certificate of Management from Harvard Business School, and is currently a candidate at the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership. Her contributions have been recognised through awards from the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) and the Trialogue Social Impact Awards. 

In addition to her executive role, she has served as a Non-Executive Director of Openserve since 2024 and was appointed to the Board of the National Business Initiative (NBI) in 2026, where she supports efforts to mobilise business leadership for inclusive growth and sustainable development.

Mpho is a passionate advocate for diversity, inclusion, and the advancement of women in communications and technology. Her work reflects a deep commitment to responsible leadership and leveraging innovation to deliver meaningful, long-term impact.

Junaid Munshi, Group Executive: Distribution, Eskom

Junaid Munshi is the Group Executive: Distribution at Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd, responsible for leading one of South Africa’s most critical business divisions at a pivotal time in the country’s energy transition and economic growth journey. 

A highly accomplished business leader with more than 30 years of executive experience, Junaid has built an impressive career spanning from engineering, telecommunications, technology, customer experience, commercial strategy, and business transformation across South Africa and several African markets. His expertise lies in driving sustainable growth, leading large-scale operations, developing customer-centric business models, and building high-performing teams that deliver measurable results.  

Prior to joining Eskom, Junaid served as Chief Commercial Officer of Cable & Wireless Seychelles, where he was responsible for the organisation’s commercial strategy, revenue growth, customer experience, sales, marketing, and field operations. Throughout his career, he has held senior leadership positions within prominent organisations including Vodacom Group, Cell C, Maziv Group, and SA Digital Villages, consistently delivering innovation-led growth and operational excellence.

Recognised for his purpose-driven leadership style, Junaid is passionate about leveraging technology, digital transformation, and innovation to improve customer outcomes and create long-term value. His ability to lead complex organisations through periods of change has earned him a reputation as a strategic thinker and transformative executive.  

At Eskom, he is focused on modernising and strengthening the Distribution business, enhancing customer service, accelerating innovation, and positioning the organisation to compete effectively in South Africa’s evolving and increasingly liberalised energy landscape. His appointment reflects Eskom’s commitment to attracting world-class leadership capable of driving sustainable growth, operational excellence, and customer-centric transformation.

Academic qualifications 
Junaid holds a Bachelor of Science in Electronic Engineering from the University of Cape Town, a Graduate Diploma in Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Wits Business School. 

Wits Alumni
As a proud Wits Business School alumnus, Junaid continues to embody the institution’s commitment to principled leadership, innovation, and meaningful impact, contributing to the advancement of South Africa’s energy future and economic development. 

Dr Karen Johnson, GM: Head of Strategic Programmes and Wellness, Discovery Vitality 

Karen Johnson is the Head of the Strategic Programme and Wellness division in Vitality South Africa. 

The team is responsible for the co-creation,  implementation and engagement of Vitality products and innovations that promote healthier living amongst Vitality members. Karen serves on the Executive Committee of Discovery Vitality and has been with the company since 1997.

Karen Johnson has a clinical background as a Registered Nurse with post graduate qualifications in psychiatry, midwifery and ICU.  She also holds an MBA and PhD from Wits Business School, an MPhil in Management Coaching from Stellenbosch Business School, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Research Supervision from the University of Johannesburg.

With more than 25 years of experience in health and wellness industry, her interests include the use of behavioural economics for health promotion and  to encourage healthier lifestyles. She is passionate about developing people and mentoring future leaders. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, travelling, reading and running.

Chiedza Chagutah, Head of Programmes, Soul City Institute

Chiedza Chagutah is a senior executive and development leader with more than 15 years of experience leading strategy, programme delivery, governance, and institutional partnerships across Southern Africa. 

As Head of Programmes at the Soul City Institute, she provides executive oversight of a multi-million-rand portfolio spanning public health, gender equality, youth development, and systems strengthening, while working closely with government, donors, and regional partners to drive strategic impact. Her leadership experience includes organisational strategy, grantmaking, policy engagement, resource mobilisation, and building high-performing multidisciplinary teams. 

Chiedza also brings extensive governance experience, serving as Chairperson of the Advisory Board of Izwi Domestic Workers Alliance, a Board Member of Nurunu Women’s Network, and on several grantmaking and advisory committees focused on gender justice, philanthropy, and social impact. 

She holds a Master’s degree in African Philanthropy from the Wits Business School, where her research examined the funding landscape for rural women-led community-based organisations, and is passionate about ethical leadership, feminist governance, and strengthening institutions that advance social justice.

FACILITATOR

Professor Mills Soko, Professor of International Business and Strategy and  Director of Development and Partnerships at Wits Business School

Prof Mills Soko teaches International Business and Strategy at Wits Business School, and is a former Director of UCT Graduate School of Business.

He holds a BSoc Sci degree from the University of Cape Town, an MA in International Studies from the University of Stellenbosch, as well as an MA and a Doctorate in International Political Economy from the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom.

His doctoral thesis examined the political economy of trade policy reform in post-apartheid South Africa. 

He was previously employed by the Institute for Democracy in South Africa as a researcher on parliamentary affairs, monitoring and preparing reports on the work of parliamentary committees in South Africa's first democratic national legislature.

He also worked as researcher to the Select Committee on Trade and Industry, Foreign Affairs, and Public Enterprises in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP). This was followed by his appointment as Head of Policy and Legislation in the NCOP, where he oversaw and coordinated the work of committee researchers.

Professor Soko is a member of the editorial boards of Global Governance, Journal of Common Market Studies and AfricaGrowth Agenda. He is a research associate of the South African Institute of International Affairs as well as the Institute of Global Dialogue. He has served as a member of the Evian Group’s Council of Global Thought Leaders and the Department of Trade and Industry’s Trade Reference Group.

He is a member of the advisory board of Namibia Business School, and has previously chaired the board of Inyathelo (The South African Institute of Advancement). He also formerly chaired a working group on education and employment under the auspices of the Africa-Germany Partnership, an initiative of the former President of the Federal Republic of Germany Horst Köhler. And he was a member of the Warwick Commission on The Future of the Multilateral Trading System.

Professor Soko’s research interests include: international business and strategy; trade and investment; economic
diplomacy; emerging markets; regional integration with specific reference to Southern Africa; entrepreneurship; and business-government relations in South Africa.