Celebrated Jazz musician Nomfundo Xaluva (Cape Town), talks to Chris about growing up during apartheid in South Africa, and explains the influence it had on her identity and her music.

Nomfundo Xaluva (Henley MBA Alumnus) is a multi-award winning Jazz vocalist, composer and academic and she has released 2 albums under the Universal Music Group. Nomfudo is a senior lecturer in Jazz Studies at UCT’s South African College of Music where she graduated with a Master’s Degree in Jazz Studies (Cum Laude) and later the Henley MBA in South Africa.

As an educator, she headed the Vocal Department at the prestigious Cape Academy of Performing Arts and is now the former Vice Chairman of the SAMRO Foundation Board.

Nomfundo’s research interests lie in the intersection where the art of music meets the world of business as well as the repositioning of South African Jazz in the academy. She is a member of the UCT Next Generation Professoriate programme.

Nomfundo Xaluva | LinkedIn

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In this episode Rupa Datta (London) explains the concept of a ‘portfolio’ career and lifestyle, plus an exploration into public speaking, and its deeper link to ‘finding your voice’.

Rupa Datta (Henley MBA Alumnus) identifies herself as a ‘Career Explorer’ having launched a portfolio career towards the end of her time at Henley Business School. Rupa remains committed to ongoing personal and professional development in addition to commercial roles over the last decade, setting up Portfolio People in 2014. This has included communication, oracy, and training, most recently working with the English-Speaking Union facilitating youth competitions and adult training design.

Rupa has spent a great deal of time with an organisation called Toastmasters International where she has served in various leadership roles and held the office of District Director UK South in 2022-2023.

Rupa Datta | LinkedIn

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Chris and Simon (Denmark) discuss what the meaning of Personal Development is, and the potential impact it has on those in leadership roles.

Simon Kaczmarek (Henley MBA Alumnus) is a HR specialist at Talentcast with experience in crafting and leading P&C functions that support growth and international business. His sweet spot is the intersection between business, talent, strategy and tech.
Simon is passionate about creating a workplace where teams and team members thrive, and are enabled to contribute, irrespective of their background, but conditioned on their skills and behavioural fit.

He has experience building recruitment functions, HR operations, designing talent management programs, crafting organizational and team cultures, internationalization, performance management and leadership. Simon has completed an MBA and Executive education from Harvard, Wharton and Henley Business School. Executive education from Harvard, Wharton and Henley Business School.

Simon Kaczmarek | LinkedIn

Find out more about the Henley MBA www.henley.ac.uk/study/mba

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Jeremy Hillman (Washington DC) explains the benefits of ‘Inclusive Economies’ serving everyone in society, and a delve into how his perception of success has evolved throughout his career.

Jeremy Hillman is Senior Vice President of External Engagement at the Mastercard Centre for Inclusive Growth, Mastercard’s philanthropic hub, where he is responsible for external relations and strategic partnerships.

From 2001-09 Jeremy was deeply involved in journalism with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), where he led significant editorial teams through tumultuous economic times like the 2008 global financial crisis. He also ran the newsroom of BBC World News, in addition to other leadership roles in Asia, the Middle East and Europe, providing a firm foundation for his insights into global media dynamics.

Prior to that Jeremy was Director of External Communications at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation where he worked closely with the co-chairs on media and digital content and strategies in support of its global health, development and education work.

Jeremy Hillman | LinkedIn

Find out more about the Henley MBA www.henley.ac.uk/study/mba

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In our second episode, Lisa Pearce (Johannesburg) chats to Chris about her deep appreciation for environmental science and why climate change should be included in every company’s objectives.

Lisa Pearce is CEO and co-founder of ESG IKON, and develops sustainability strategies that incorporate rigorous, environmental and social governance practices. Her work extends to global platforms including chairing significant meetings on water management and finance and contributing to international standards for sustainability.

Over two decades Lisa has established herself in navigating complex sustainability and ESG challenges.

Lisa obtained her MBA degree from Henley Business School in 2019 and then went on to secure her MSc degree in Environmental Science from the University of Cape Town, where her research explored water-related risks in the production of feedlot beef in South Africa, using the Water Footprint Analysis method.

Lisa Pearce on LinkedIn

Find out more about the Henley MBA www.henley.ac.uk/study/mba

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In our first episode of Unfinished Business, Chris Dalton is joined by Helen Tupper (London) who describes her drive to improving people's career paths, and the foundations behind ‘Squiggly Careers’.

Helen Tupper (Henley MBA Alumnus) is the co-founder and CEO of Amazing If, a company with an ambition to make careers better for everyone. Together with her business partner Sarah Ellis, she is the author of two Sunday Times bestsellers The Squiggly Career and You Coach You. Helen co- hosts of the podcast Squiggly Careers which has had 4m downloads, and her TED talk ‘The best career isn’t always a straight line’ has been watched by almost two million people. In 2023 Helen was awarded a place on EYs International Winning Women programme. Prior to Amazing If, Helen held leadership roles for Microsoft, Virgin and BP and was awarded the FT & 30% Club’s Women in Leadership MBA Scholarship.

Helen Tupper | LinkedIn

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