About
Name: Jason Sewanyana
Nationality: South African/American
Programme: Cambridge EMBA 2025
Current role: Senior Legal Adviser/Senior Corporate Counsel, Old Mutual Alternative Investments
Industry sector: Financial services, Law
What is your professional and educational background?
I am an attorney. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in law and psychology, an LLB (law) degree from Rhodes University, a masters degree in commercial law from the University of Cape Town and an insolvency law diploma from the University of Pretoria.
What is the most exciting thing about your work?
The positive ESG impact the funds make through their focus on renewable energy, returning dignity to people in poor communities through building low-cost housing and providing access to quality education at a lower cost. The socio-economic situation in South Africa, as well as its history, render these aspects as paramount.
What attracted you to Cambridge Judge Business School and the Executive MBA?
The Cambridge Executive MBA seems more holistic, with a greater focus on leadership and so-called softer skills as opposed to purely the bottom line. Its ethos of empathetic leadership with humility resonate with me. The Cambridge Executive MBA programme also has a large focus on ESG, and in light of the geopolitical situation in the world at the moment, this is fundamental part of leadership which is lacking. Of course, Cambridge’s long history, long list of students who have had a positive impact of the world, as well as its sheer beauty, also drew me to it.
What are you hoping to get out of the Executive MBA?
I would like to be equipped with the tools that can help me to make a larger scale positive impact in my community through business, foundations and sport. I believe that my personal development through the Executive MBA journey, as well as the technical business skills and leadership skills gained through the process, will help me to not only be better equipped, but also better placed to make this positive impact that I seek.
What are your long-term career ambitions?
I would like to move in a more leadership role within my current institution, and potentially transition into entrepreneurship in due course, whilst also contributing in the humanitarian space (foundations, charities) and the sporting space (specifically Paralympic sport, where I am currently involved as coach for para-athletics).