Introduction I learnt about systems thinking almost by chance. When I was finalizing my PhD topic, I knew I wanted to focus on the cultural and creative industries and the City of Johannesburg. These were two areas I had researched extensively and worked within, and I knew there was a need for deeper analysis and […]
Written straight from my head to yours – flaws and all! Yesterday I received numerous emails pointing to various issues, challenges, action points – a typical day at work. Some of those emails were quite serious and required immediate action, others were logistics that need resolution, others were meeting invites and networking opportunities. Towards the […]
Recently, I was invited to speak with a group of PhD candidates at the University of Auckland who are participating in the Doctoral Entrepreneurship and Leadership Programme. The room was filled with researchers from across faculties and disciplines, each deeply immersed in their own areas of inquiry. I had been asked to speak about something […]
Opinion piece – no academic jargon, no references, just my view. My adult life has taken a path my 18-year-old self could never have imagined. From the outside, it looks neat and linear: a confused teenager becomes an academic with a doctorate, now running a master’s programme in business and innovation. It looks like progress. […]
My full thesis, completed as part of my DPhil in Digital Transformation at the University of Johannesburg: Johannesburg Business School, now available to read. This thesis, titled “A Systems Thinking Approach to the Growth of the Creative Economy in Johannesburg,” investigates the application of systems thinking to foster the development of the creative economy in […]
Since sharing that I completed my DPhil in Digital Transformation at the Johannesburg Business School (University of Johannesburg) in two years, I’ve had lots of PhD candidates reach out asking how I managed it. This blog pulls together some of the tips and tricks that helped me stay focused and get through the mountain of […]
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The final step in gaining a PhD is an oral defense where you have one hour to present your research and answer any questions the reviewers of your research may have. The oral defense is a closed defense in South Africa, meaning people cannot join the session. However, I think it is a great and […]
Mariapaola McGurk – Johannesburg Business School, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa, Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6496-4173 Natanya Meyer – SARChI Entrepreneurship Education, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa, Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3296-7374 First presented at the 17th International Business Conference, 2024, Stellenbosch AbstractThe 21st century has led to the emergence of new economies like creative,circular, and green economies, but […]
Mariapaola McGurk (PhD candidate Johannesburg Business School, University of Johannesburg) and Prof Natanya Meyer (Professor, SARChI Entrepreneurship Education, University of Johannesburg) For over a decade, the Johannesburg Art Gallery (JAG) has faced persistent challenges with little progress. Every year, public concern resurfaces over the potential loss of one of South Africa’s most significant art collections […]
I am thrilled to finally get to read Mosa Mokuena’s dissertation for her MSc Finance (Economic Policy) done at the University of London. The study’s findings revealed that the sector is important economically and socially but is marred by a number of challenges that could be resolved through one intervention – that is intentionally clustering […]
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