JEMBA 2026: Six Years of Progress, One Clear Direction.

 

What is JEMBA?

JEMBA – the Junior Executive MBA – is a youth leadership and development programme modelled on the UCT Graduate School of Business (GSB) Executive MBA (EMBA), ranked 1st in Africa and the Middle East and 11th globally (CEO Magazine, 2025). Founded by UCT EMBA18 alumnus Alex Burn, JEMBA brings executive-level thinking and practical tools to young adults at the stage in life when it matters most.

The programme is built on a straightforward premise: humans accomplish extraordinary things through cooperation, and that cooperation depends on clear thinking, ethical grounding, and self-awareness. JEMBA develops all three.

 

The JEMBA Story

In 2022, JEMBA launched at Hilton College with its first cohort of 20 Grade 11 pupils. The results were impressive, and in 2023/2024 a second cohort of 40 pupils completed the programme with equal success. 2025 was used deliberately – refining the programme, strengthening its framework, and planning the road ahead. That groundwork is now in place.

 

Where is JEMBA Going?

2026 sees JEMBA return to Hilton College while expanding into new territory:

• • Additional schools in the KZN Midlands integrating into the JEMBA program

• • Learner Management System (LMS) development

• • Tailored programmes for business and corporate environments

• • Expansion into South Africa and Africa

 

The Team

Alex Burn (Founder & CEO), Gerald Nightingale (Executive Administration & Development), and Debbie Preston (Operations, Facilitation & Development) bring together entrepreneurial drive, operational discipline, and deep facilitation expertise to deliver JEMBA’s growing portfolio.

 

JEMBA’s purpose is simple: to develop individuals who think clearly, act ethically, and cooperate effectively – people who create the future rather than simply react to it.