SMCU: Developing leaders, creating impact globally

What do empty boxes, blind folds, tape, and working executives have in common? Under normal circumstances, absolutely nothing. But within the SMCU doctorate class, these are common tools to critically evaluate theories, develop skills and initiate the process of creating culturally applicable theories to Ghana. Figure 1 shows what learning looks like as doctorate students master logistics, communication and strategic design/implementation. 

Globalisation challenges business education with an ever-changing pace. SMCU’s global world-renowned faculty offers unique educational experiences enabling Ghanaians to excel in their professions through a combination of residency courses, online distance learning, as well as a rigorous mentored and guided dissertation research process. 

Residency

On the first day of residency class, we were challenged to create a tardy policy that pushed us to think like leaders.  The amount of critical thinking on values of traditional theories is filled with team-based activities that made learning fun, while developing leadership skills. Western theories are never merely accepted and regurgitated. Instead, we learned to develop our own unique perspectives.   

The diversity of cultures added another dimension to learning.  Through constant engagement in team-based activities, friendships were formed. According to Dr Akolaa, CEO of Agya Appiah Bitters/Executive Director of Khols and Hols Insurance Brokers, “Several physical doctoral residency programmes organised by the school provided opportunity to meet and network with students from other countries to share ideas and network.”  Dr Mrs Safo-Duodu, a Managing Partner and a life/career coach with Leaders and Mentors International (LMI), found a similar experience, “One of the highlights ...was the residency I attended in Vienna which brought together students from America, Kenya and parts of Europe to do presentations and network together.”

Coursework

Many public institutions use lectures as the primary education medium; SMCU’s online distance learning challenges beyond lectures.  According to Dr Gideon Amenyedor, Executive Vice-Chairman of Vanguard Assurance Company Limited, “The journey through the course was not easy....I had to work overnight for three months to complete the first subject…This required a lot of hard work and dedication on my part”. Staying up late for studies is commonly shared with many of our classmates who are working executives and managers.  

Dr Mrs Safo-Duodu also had many late evenings. “It was very challenging combining my role then as Head of Corporate Affairs in Barclays Bank with my academic work. I often stayed up late.....in the evenings in the office to keep up with my assignments and also used my weekends to complete my readings and research.”  

One of the most challenging aspects of this programme is the amount of rigour it requires, starting with quantitative research. Learning how to write at the doctorate level is required and there is no formal training for scholarly writing here in Ghana. The ability to work at our own pace makes it possible to finish coursework around two years. 

Dissertations

The most difficult part of the doctorate programme is the dissertation. The standard of scholarly research and writing is demanding. We were expected to research current literature of hundreds of journal articles and textbooks; however, SMCU provided us with some of the most talented and caring faculty mentors. Our mentors provided detailed feedback that defied our thinking on many topics, and for some of us, it was a humbling experience.  

For Dr Amenyedor, “The dissertation phase was the most difficult and demanding... It took me close to three months to just complete the proposal... because of high standards of work required by the university.” 

Similarly, Dr Okoe Amartey started the dissertation and soon realised additional studies were needed, extending his completion by two years.  “Feedback on my proposal from the supervisors indicated to me that I needed to update my knowledge and skills on research… The international faculty and supervisors paid attention to the minutest detail regarding my thesis.” 

Outcomes

Through the SMCU programme, we developed into powerful leaders within our industry here in Ghana. Figure 3 portrays a practice developing unique skills for interviews as scholarly researchers. Such rigour and scrutiny triggered strong emotions in all of us. Eventually, we all found it helped us develop as scholars who could publish in some of the top-rated journals in the world.  

For Dr Amenyedor, who spent four years and three months to complete the programme, the journey enabled him to provide transformative consultancy services for clients as an Executive vice-chairman. For Dr Akolaa, the doctorate journey took five years and 11 months to complete. He now finds himself as CEO of Agya Appiah Bitters while also finding himself as “one of the most sought-after speakers in marketing today.” 

Regarding, Dr Mrs Safo-Duodu, the four years and seven months journey led her to be a managing partner in a management consultancy with speciality in consulting, business transformational planning, training development and mentoring. Dr Okoe Amartey’s hard work over five years and three months has enabled him to publish 16 scholarly articles in reputable publishing houses and ranked journals including Emerald, Sage, Science direct and Taylor and Francis.”  

The list of accomplishments goes much further. For those of us who made it this far, we have one common opinion – the profound growth we’ve experienced within SMCU’s doctorate programme propelled us to much of the success we enjoy today, teaching us unique skills and preparing us to develop the needed Ghanaian business theories. SMCU’s programme helped us transform into the leaders we are today.