Shégan Issari, South African, is a student in the BSL Bachelor of Business Administration class of 2013-2016. Shégan knew he wanted to study business since early on in his life – he was 13 when he walked into a business course in high school, and for the first time it felt like professors were speaking his language. He realized he had discovered something he was passionate about and loved to learn about.

Share a personal experience that made you choose to study business

I have always had a very entrepreneurial spirit and have taken initiative to create things of value, market and sell them. With that in mind, I wanted to take a step towards increasing my knowledge, and pursuing my passion and curiosity for how businesses work, develop, function, and prosper.

How would you describe your BSL experience so far?

I have not only received high-quality education in international business, but my eyes have been opened to aspects in business that are of growing significance in today’s world, such as corporate social responsibility, sustainable development, and shared value business strategy. My bachelor program has introduced me to finding new passions as well as developing my high curiosity for the role businesses play in society. The attentive attention I have received from the faculty has allowed me to grow as a student, and also as an individual. BSL has given me an excellent foundation combining soft skills, theory, and practice, which are vital for forging effective business people.
My eyes have been opened to aspects in business that are of growing significance in today’s world, such as corporate social responsibility, sustainable development, and shared value business strategy.

What are the most important values today’s leaders should have?

I believe a responsible leader should be ethical, stay accountable, act with strong integrity and honor, and most importantly have curiosity and a passion for the learning and development for themselves and others. When it comes to leadership, I don’t believe there is ever a time you can say you’ve reached an optimal point of success. There are always new relations to develop, projects to execute, objectives to hit, and boundaries to push.

I would change how we hold world leaders accountable for their actions and commitments and also ensure the right people are appointed to face the challenges we will face over the next 50 years.

If you could make one significant change to the world, what would it be?

I would change how we hold world leaders accountable for their actions and commitments and also ensure the right people are appointed to face the challenges we will face over the next 50 years. I believe there are too many problems in the world that are stemmed from weak leadership. Certain world leaders aren’t accountable for their actions, nor do they focus enough on their own learning and personal development before reaching certain positions that come with a larger responsibility to impact more lives than they’re aware of.

How do you see your professional future 5 years from now? 

In 5 years, I would see myself building a strong career within a FMCG multinational company, specifically in the field of marketing, sales, and brand management. I would also like to work with start up companies in a variety of fields with brand development, focusing on the internal culture and values belonging to the company, and then finding creative strategies to communicate and sell their products / services.

What makes studying at BSL different for you?

Firstly, the hugely diverse community is an extremely enriching experience and opens your eyes to new ways of looking at and approaching situations. Being part of such a diverse community exposed you to a very practical environment in which you can develop your emotional and social intelligence. This strong foundation contributes to building solid communication skills that are of fundamental importance to succeeding in life.

The hugely diverse community is an extremely enriching experience and opens your eyes to new ways of looking at and approaching situations.

Secondly, the smaller personalized environment at BSL provides much more attention to the individual student. The teams of professors as well as the Deans are always available for advice and really contribute to your personal development.