Learning beyond the classroom: How the MSM Mentorship programme helped Steven van Wyk shape his post-MBA direction

In this mentorship blog series, we spotlight these meaningful partnerships by giving voice to both sides of the relationship. Through reflections from mentees and mentors alike, the blogs explore motivations, expectations, lessons learned, and the impact mentorship can have on personal development, leadership skills, and career readiness.

Whether you are considering joining the MSM Mentorship Programme as part of your Full-time MBA journey or simply curious about the experiences it fosters, we invite you to explore these conversations and discover how mentorship can shape futures, on both sides of the table.

In this blog, we highlight the Mentorship experience of recent Full-time MBA graduate Steven van Wyk who was mentored by Mihaela Popescu, founder of CreateGrowth360, a consulting and executive coaching practice focused on digital transformation, AI, and leadership development.

Stepping back to see forward

For Full-time MBA alumnus Steven van Wyk and his mentor Mihaela Popescu, the mentorship journey became a powerful exercise in clarity, reflection, and intentional career design.

Steven entered the Full-time MBA with a clear ambition: to strengthen his strategic capabilities and deepen his work at the intersection of digital transformation, marketing, and AI through his consultancy firm, The Strategic Aim. MSM’s applied approach, international orientation, and focus on emerging markets matched both his background and his long-term goals.

Alongside the academic journey, he chose to join the Mentorship programme for a very specific reason: perspective.

“I wanted someone outside my MBA bubble. Not a grader, not a classmate but a sounding board who could help me step back and regain focus amid the noise.

MBA life can be intense: overlapping deadlines, networking events, career decisions, and constant performance pressure. Having a mentor created a dedicated space to pause and think more deeply about direction rather than just activity.”

The question that changed the lens

Rather than giving prescriptive career advice, Mihaela focused on reflective questioning. One question in particular stood out:

“What activities make you feel empowered or energised?”

That simple question shifted Steven’s thinking away from external measures of success, titles, outcomes, prestige, toward internal signals like energy, motivation, and engagement. Through this reflection, he recognized a pattern: his strongest drive and satisfaction came from creating, teaching, and presenting ideas.

This insight helped him reinterpret his strengths and preferences  and guided how he evaluated opportunities after graduation.

Confidence through clarity

Instead of pursuing every possible post-MBA opportunity, Steven became more selective and intentional. The mentorship process helped him filter options through a clearer understanding of what genuinely motivates him and where he creates the most value.

“Instead of chasing everything, I focused on paths aligned with what truly energises me.”

That shift translated directly into greater confidence and stronger positioning in the post-MBA market, not just knowing what he can do, but what he should pursue.

A mentorship built on trust and reflection

Their mentoring relationship developed through relaxed but purposeful conversations, meeting every month or two in an informal setting. The structure was light, but the intent was strong: honest dialogue, thoughtful questions, and shared ownership of the process.

Steven highlights that Mihaela never tried to impose answers. Instead, she created space and asked the right questions at the right time.

Trust, openness, and consistency made the relationship effective and sustainable.

The mentor’s view: enabling, not directing

From Mihaela’s perspective, mentoring is about enabling clarity rather than prescribing direction. With over 20 years of global experience across multinational organisations and academia, and deep expertise in digital transformation and AI leadership, she sees mentorship as a vital complement to business education.

Her goal entering the programme was clear: provide a safe, structured space for reflection and intentional decision-making.

Over time, she observed a visible shift in Steven’s development. From uncertainty toward clearer self-articulation, stronger positioning of his strengths, and more confident decision-making.

“Leadership is less about directing and more about enabling others to see their own potential.”

Mentoring, she notes, also strengthens her own leadership practice by reinforcing deep listening and purpose-driven dialogue, while keeping her connected to emerging talent and fresh perspectives.

Why mentorship matters in an MBA

Both Steven and Mihaela emphasise that mentorship fills a critical gap between classroom knowledge and real-world leadership. Frameworks and models are essential but judgement, self-awareness, and direction are built through guided reflection and conversation.

For international MBA students especially, mentorship provides:

• A neutral, experienced sounding board
• A structured space for reflection
• Support in navigating career and identity transitions
• Greater clarity in decision-making
• Confidence grounded in self-awareness

Advice for future Full-time MBA students

Steven’s message to future MSM MBA candidates is direct:

“Do it. Go in with openness and curiosity. Mentorship is not about finding someone with all the answers. It’s about finding someone who helps you ask better questions.”

Mihaela adds a practical dimension: come prepared, be intentional, and take ownership. The more actively mentees engage, the more value they gain.

A habit that lasts beyond the MBA

For Steven, the most important takeaway is one he expects to carry throughout his career: the habit of reflection. Regularly stepping back, zooming out, and reconnecting with what truly drives him.

It’s a simple practice, but in fast-moving, high-pressure careers, it can be a decisive advantage.

Together, their story shows that the MSM Mentorship Programme is not just an add-on to the MBA experience. It is a catalyst for clarity, confidence, and purposeful leadership development.