MBA diary: Switching from the accelerator to the sustain pedal

Last month students at McGill University's Desautels Faculty of Management in Canada travelled to South Africa to experience the country's business environment and discover its intricacies. Melanie Walsh reports on what they found.

TO BEST explain my South African experience I must start at the end. It wasn't until five days into our eight day trip, while sitting down to dinner in one of the harbours of Cape Town, it finally sank in that I was in Africa. I suppose seeing a pride of lions on my first day should have done the trick (I blame the jetlag and a hectic schedule), but it was only then that my rhythm slowed to an even, relaxed pace that matched the temperament of my environment. Then, I think, I began to get it.

To me, South Africa is a country with a little bit of everything and a lot of potential. You just need to take the time to understand the intricacies.  In 2010, South Africa joined the BRICS group of fast-developing nations (a political association which is distinct, confusingly, from the original BRICs). I can see why. The infrastructure, built for the World Cup, was fantastic. We took a Bombardier high-speed train that easily matched what I would expect in Europe.

Read full article: The Economist