Going back to the classroom has a big impact

Gretchen Rudolph’s (EMBA, 2022) own township upbringing ignited her passion to create opportunity for others. Now, her MBA network fuels a foundation built on breaking the cycle of poverty.

Words: Karen Woods

Above: Melina Pappa climbing Kilimanjaro for Higher Horizons Africa.

When Gretchen Rudolph and Melina Pappa signed up for an Executive MBA at RSM, they knew they would be challenged and inspired, but had no idea it would transform their lives – or encourage them to transform the lives of others.

Almost a year after leaving university, they are now spending their spare time working alongside fellow MBA graduates to establish a Foundation to help girls in South Africa achieve their potential through education. Gretchen’s contribution has already been recognised by RSM with a Positive Change Award in 2022.

Higher Horizons Africa started with a study trip to the townships of Johannesburg and Cape Town. Everyday life in these underprivileged communities was light years away from the experience of most of the postgraduates, but not for one of them. Gretchen had grown up in a township in Pretoria and knows she enjoyed a successful international banking career because of her education. Giving back to today’s youngsters became a passion when they were back in Rotterdam.

For Melina, a lawyer from Greece, the visit was a real culture shock: “Our assignment was a hands-on project: we worked with local entrepreneurs to establish innovative payment methods that aim to stimulate the township economy and make transactions there safer and secure. These places aren’t far away from the prosperous suburbs of Cape Town and Johannesburg, but they’re completely different and residents simply don’t have the opportunities we have. I was really shaken by the vivid contrast and it’s something that I’ll never forget.”

Gretchen was 10 years old when apartheid ended. Although her childhood was secure and happy, the township was a challenging place to grow up in, with the constant threat of gang violence. Few young people manage to escape their environment for a new life in the outside world.

Fortunately, her father was a schoolteacher who passionately believed in education and Gretchen attended a convent school run by Irish nuns who inspired and motivated children of colour. She went on to secure a scholarship for a biology degree at Wits University in Johannesburg, before studying accounting and business management. Recruited by ABN AMRO Bank, she was sent to its Dubai office, then to the Netherlands where she focused on the Basic Materials and New Energies sectors, using her science degree at last. After 15 years in banking, Gretchen now works for Renewi PLC, an international company that seeks to minimise waste by promoting the circular economy.

“Banking gives you the opportunity to travel the world, see different companies and get an international profile, while gaining transferable skills.” she explains. “When the Covid pandemic broke out, I thought I’d study for an MBA to meet fellow professionals from around the world and find out more about how business is done elsewhere. It was a great decision.”

Melina chose RSM for her MBA as the Netherlands is a country of different cultures and the perfect European hub for travel. Her first ambition was to become a doctor, but she ended up choosing law and economics as they would allow her to start a career in business. Melina studied law at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and then moved on to take Master degrees from Utrecht University and King’s College London. Now she combines her business-oriented approach with antitrust law and economics, as Director of Competition Policy at Liberty Global in Amsterdam.

“When Gretchen came up with the idea of a Foundation, I put my hand up right away. I definitely wanted to be part of it,” says Melina. “Higher Horizons Africa was officially registered on the day of our graduation and we now have the power of our MBA network around us who bring their skills and talents in IT, strategy and branding.”
Melina got the fundraising started with a sponsored climb of Africa’s highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro, raising €3,000 towards the cause. “This was all about testing ourselves to aim high and reach our potential,” she explains.

“We started the final ascent in the middle of the night. It was a gruelling trek in temperatures of minus 15 degrees to climb 1400 meters in six hours until we reached the top and saw the sunrise. We did it for Higher Horizons Africa!”
Higher Horizons Africa aims to support at least 10 girls by 2030 and work is well underway to get everything in place, step up fund-raising and establish relationships with schools in South Africa to identify young girls who are most likely to benefit from further and higher education. The Foundation will initially target South Africa and also aims to reach the rest of Africa.

“People ask why we have chosen to help girls in particular,” says Gretchen. “Studies have shown that if you help women to prosper, it has a tremendous impact as they can help lift the entire community.

“Many young people in South Africa aspire for a better life and it breaks my heart to see the magnitude of inequality that still exists in my country. I have always wanted to make a difference but never thought I would get to start a Foundation.

“We hope our initiative can involve future groups of MBA students at RSM who share our common goal of being a force for positive change in the world. We especially hope to reach other students who travel to South Africa to take part in the upcoming annual study trips. Our ambition is to make positive change happen, but we know it will involve a lot of work. Come and join us!”

The Higher Horizons Africa team is: