Siba Mtongana is more than just a well-known chef with achievements. Her background, perseverance, and hard work have led to her being a case study for the esteemed Harvard Business School.
In their 24-page study published in 2020, Professor Boris Groysberg and his colleagues, Susan Seligson, Katherine Connolly Baden, and Robin Abrahams, looked into among other things, how Mtongana adjusted her growth and innovation strategy in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak.
Mtongana is more than delighted that the research, almost three years later, has appeared on one of South Africa’s top financial magazines. Despite the publishing being a significant accomplishment in and of itself, Mtongana posted to her Instagram:
“Mama I made it☺️ …From Mdantsane to Harvard… Good morning! My Harvard Business School Case Study which was researched, written and published by the top university itself as a pioneering chef in Africa, has made it on South Africa’s top and prestigious business magazine, the @thefinancialmail.”
The judge of “The South African Bake Off” continued by stating that while being honoured at home was equally great, getting picked for the research was a “surreal” career milestone.
“Shoo! I would say it’s one of my biggest career highlights to grab the attention of the most sort after, prestigious and world-renowned university, Harvard. Spent a good two years researching about my life, upbringing, career and entrepreneur journey, and the case study was published and first lectured to their MBA students in November 2020, and is now part of Harvard Business School academic literature.”
“Be that as it may, it was surreal! …and now profiled back home by the Financialmail. 🙌🏽❤️🇿🇦🌍. First chef in Africa to become a Harvard Business School case study. Thank you to Adele Shevel and Financialmail for the amazing feature… PS God works in mysterious ways, He will single you out, elevate you and make you thrive in spaces out of your own industry! Imisebenzi ye zandla Zakhe! 🙏🏽.”
