The University of the Free State (UFS) Business School officially commenced its academic cycle with its flagship virtual student engagement and orientation experience, “Be Worth More 2026”. Gathering nearly 80 postgraduate students including ambitious professionals embarking on their MBA, PGDip, and BML studies via Microsoft Teams, the programme set a transformative tone centred on fostering a deep sense of belonging, active participation, and long-term societal impact.

Opening the session, Acting Director Professor MacDonald Kanyangale welcomed the cohort alongside a dynamic lineup of speakers, setting a collaborative tone that blended academic rigor with practical readiness. At the heart of the orientation was a compelling keynote address delivered by Adjunct Professor Christo van der Rheede, titled “Responsible and Enterprising Leadership and Purpose”.

Translating Academic Rigor into Real-World Execution

Kicking off his address, Christo van der Rheede drew from his extensive career trajectory spanning education, public policy, and high-level executive leadership roles such as Chief Executive Director of Agri SA to address the pivotal transition from academia into corporate environments. A central message of his presentation emphasized The Transition Challenge: while knowledge and theoretical frameworks are abundantly accessible in postgraduate studies, true value is unlocked only when insight is successfully converted into real-world execution.

For incoming MBA students, the core challenge lies in applying advanced academic models, economic frameworks, and strategic tools directly to market-leading corporate and entrepreneurial execution.

Navigating South Africa’s Socio-Economic Complexities

Christo van der Rheede’s presentation grounded leadership theory within the realities of South Africa’s complex socio-economic landscape. Highlighting the country’s dual economic realities contrasting formal municipal and corporate economies with communal and informal cash economies he stressed that modern leaders must grapple with structural challenges, infrastructure transitions, and regulatory shifts.

Key strategic areas explored included:

•  Purpose-Led Leadership: Aligning people, organizational strategy, culture, and performance to drive sustainable long-term value.
• Responsible Leadership: Championing ethics, accountability, stakeholder value, and constitutional principles of redress and equality.
• Enterprising Leadership: Fostering innovation, adaptability, opportunity recognition, and disciplined execution amid economic headwinds. 

High Performance Sustained, Not Sacrificed

Recognizing the intense pressures faced by working professionals undertaking demanding postgraduate degrees, the keynote dedicated critical attention to burnout prevention and energy management. In high-performance environments characterized by relentless demands, constant connectivity, and high-stakes decisions, leaders often fall into the trap of overcommitment and low recovery. This perspective was further reinforced during student success segments featuring alumni insights and wellbeing frameworks from experts like Francois Naude from the UFS Health and Wellness Centre.

Christo van der Rheede underscored a vital leadership maxim: high performance is a marathon, not a sprint. Sustainable performance practices require leaders to:

• Clarify their core purpose and priorities.
• Focus intentionally on impact rather than mere output.
• Build strong support networks and psychological safety.
• Protect personal energy through deliberate rest, recovery, and boundary-setting.

A Foundation for Lifelong Impact

The orientation session moved far beyond traditional information delivery, incorporating peer learning panels with top academic achievers, academic administration guidelines, and interactive reflection tools like the “Be Worth More” word cloud and commitment pledges. By integrating institutional support structures with visionary leadership discourse, the UFS Business School equipped its new cohort with the mindset required for postgraduate success.

As Christo van der Rheede concluded, true impact occurs when knowledge, purpose, and disciplined execution converge. For the nearly 80 students logged into the session, the message was clear: lead with purpose, perform with balance, and build a sustainable future.