If the Johannesburg Business School doesn’t become an elite school in double-quick time, it won’t be for lack of intent by Randall Carolissen.
Under founding director Lyall White, the four-year-old school, part of the University of Johannesburg (UJ), sought to differentiate itself from established institutions by focusing on entrepreneurial development, particularly for black businesspeople.
Carolissen, who took over in March with the upgraded title of dean, says that focus is too narrow and will slow growth. He says: “I’m known as a turnaround specialist. The university wants me to rethink the school’s trajectory. It needs repurposing.”
Carolissen has a reputation for doing things his way. With a PhD in nanophysics, he was MD of the SA Bureau of Standards, a group executive at the SA Revenue Service (Sars) and administrator of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
During Carolissen’s tenure, the financial aid scheme’s leadership was accused of nepotism and maladministration – claims, he says, that stemmed from his efforts to clean up the body, which was “a complete mess” and the scene of fraud and sabotage.
He says: “The problem for the people making the accusations was that I’m not a pushover. I step on a lot of toes.”
Carolissen was seconded to the NSFAS from Sars. When his tenure ended, he was due to return to the tax body, but he says: “That’s like going back to your ex-wife.” So when the business school offer came up, he leapt at it. “I needed a fresh challenge.”
He quickly made it clear to UJ that if it wanted him to run the business school, it would be on his terms. Universities, and many vice-chancellors, don’t understand business schools, with their mixture of commercial and academic priorities, and constantly changing educational content to meet the demands of the business world they serve.
“I told the university that I was giving up five years of my life and was investing personally in the project,” he says. “I said I would not allow myself to be frustrated.”
Fortunately, he says, he and the UJ authorities — “the rectorate” — see eye-to-eye on how the school should grow. While development of SMEs will remain a focus, he wants to accelerate the school’s immersion in new technology.
“As a country, we are so far behind the fourth industrial revolution,” he says. “The new leadership we need is not being provided by business schools. The current education model is the same as when I did my MBA 20 years ago. I want this school to set the pace in digital leadership. We need to prepare leaders that can integrate disciplines. They have to be street smart.”
International accreditation is another priority for Carolissen. “That’s a big marketing tool for schools.” First up is the African Association of Business Schools (AABS), after which US and European agencies beckon. “We are debating which ones to go for once AABS is completed,” he says.
His long-term vision for the school is simple: “We don’t want to be the biggest – just the most influential.”
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