04 JUN 2026
Bridging science & business: Experience inspires MBA journey
Master of Business Administration (MBA) graduate Ms Simphiwe Gumede has contributed to the discourse on sustainable enterprise development through her research which positions leadership as a critical driver of small business success in Durban.
Gumede’s study titled: ‘An Investigation of Leadership Styles and their Impact on the Sustainable Growth of Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises [SMMEs] within the Durban Area’, explores how leadership approaches influence the resilience and long-term viability of SMMEs (small, medium, and micro enterprises) within a complex and evolving economic landscape.
With an academic background in science, Gumede’s transition into business leadership was shaped by her experience during her tenure as a Commercialisation Specialist at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s (UKZN) InQubate where she was exposed to the business dimension of innovation, including supporting student-owned enterprises, prompting her decision to pursue an MBA.
Reflecting on this decision, Gumede said: “My background is in science, but my role at InQubate exposed me to the business side of innovation. I saw how important it is to not only develop research but to position it strategically for impact.”
Her research, which forms a central component of her qualification, examines how leadership styles affect organisational performance and sustainability. Drawing on qualitative engagement with business owners in Durban, the research highlights an important truth: strengthening leadership capacity within small businesses is key to unlocking economic growth, job creation and broader societal transformation.
“Leadership is not just about managing operations but also about creating value and responding to change. Transformational leadership plays a significant role in enabling business to grow sustainably,” she said.
Gumede currently serves as an Intellectual Property Specialist at the University of Cape Town, where she supports the protection and commercialisation of university-based innovations. Her work is underpinned by a commitment to ensuring that research output translates into meaningful societal benefits.
The qualification has equipped her with the ability to transform from an operational mindset to a more strategic, leadership-focused approach.
Describing her MBA experience as intellectually enriching, she reflects on being challenged to think differently and to engage with disciplines outside her comfort zone. Being from a science background, areas such as accounting and finance initially presented difficulty, but became spaces of growth and confidence.
Beyond the academic and professional, Gumede’s journey reflects the lived realities of many women navigating multiple roles. During her MBA, she welcomed her second daughter, embracing motherhood while sustaining the demands of a full-time career and postgraduate study. Through structured planning, prioritisation, and a clear sense of purpose, she was able to manage the responsibilities together.
She attributes her academic success to a strong foundation in education established by her family. Raised by her grandparents, with the support of her mother, she grew up in a household where academic achievement was deeply valued, where graduation photographs proudly line the walls!
“This achievement is not only personal but shared. My family especially my husband and children have been patiently by my side every step of the way, making sacrifices to support me,” she said.
As organisations continue to navigate uncertainty and rapid change, Gumede views her qualification as highly relevant in a rapidly-changing global environment that demands adaptive and resilient leadership. Her research stands as both an academic milestone and a practical contribution to strengthening the sustainability of SMMEs in Durban and beyond.
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The Graduate School of Business and Leadership is situated on the Westville Campus of the University of KwaZulu-Natal in a natural conservancy and enjoys a sweeping view of the Springfield Business Park and the Indian Ocean. The school’s facilities are modern and offer students some of the latest teaching technologies.
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