Studying Purpose-Driven Leadership at EMBA Global Network Week
During a weeklong exchange program in South Africa, Johnny Buckingham ’26 visited regenerative farms and learned how local leaders are approaching sustainable development.
Participating in Global Network Week at the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business was one of the most impactful experiences of my time at Yale SOM. I joined classmates and students from across the Global Network for Advanced Management in South Africa to study sustainable development. What began as an academic program quickly evolved into a journey that reshaped my understanding of leadership, equity, and community impact, while also providing some unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime moments along the way.
Although the course officially started on a Monday, our group of six Yale SOM students, and my wife, who traveled with us, arrived two days early to make the most of our time in a new country. On Saturday morning, we headed north of Cape Town for an experience I’ve dreamed about for years: shark cage diving near Seal Island. Clad in wetsuits, we entered the cold Atlantic Ocean, floating in a cage while seals and sharks swam all around us. The moment a shark rammed the cage, my heart skipped a beat. It was terrifying and exhilarating, but above all, it was an opportunity to face my fears and take on a personal challenge that I'll never forget.
After the course concluded, we flew to Kruger National Park for a two-day safari. The experience exceeded all expectations: observing lions, rhinos, elephants, cheetahs, giraffes, warthogs, crocodiles, we got to see the entire circle of life unfold. We even witnessed a lioness take down a warthog just 20 feet from our vehicle, then watched as a male lion chased after for a share of the kill. I’ve seen wildlife documentaries, but nothing compares to the real thing.
While the extracurricular adventures were unforgettable, the heart of the GNW experience was the weeklong course on sustainable development, which challenged me to rethink how I define responsible leadership. Before this trip, I thought of leadership in terms of strategy and performance. But during the course, I learned that in the South African context, where the legacy of apartheid and systemic inequality still profoundly shape everyday life, leadership must be rooted in empathy, inclusion, and justice.
We studied the interconnected challenges facing agriculture, entrepreneurship, and infrastructure. I saw how unreliable electricity, outdated irrigation, and lack of access to education compound to limit opportunity, especially for rural and marginalized communities. These aren’t just academic problems; they are daily obstacles that require deeply human solutions. We heard from leaders who don’t simply manage operations; they build trust, foster dignity, and empower communities to lead alongside them.
One of the most impactful site visits was to Spier Winery and Farmer Angus, where I saw regenerative agriculture and purpose-driven enterprise in action. These leaders were unapologetically values-led, refusing to compromise on sustainability or ethics, even when it meant added challenges. I was particularly struck by their use of storytelling and transparency as tools for change.
After the safari, I stayed in South Africa for another week to volunteer with the SAVE (South African Volunteer Experiences) Foundation, spending my mornings in the Dunoon township helping with childcare in local schools and my afternoons teaching sports. The experience was both humbling and energizing, and we provided much needed support.
It also became the setting for one of my personal milestones. Last year, after breaking the Guinness World Record for fastest travel to all seven continents, I started a nonprofit that uses record-breaking attempts to raise money for youth programming. In South Africa, with help from SAVE program director Saranne Hudson and volunteer Malthe Glent-Thule, I broke the world records for fastest time to set up and topple 10 books, and most catches standing on a balance board in 30 seconds. We completed the attempt together, donated the books used for the GWR attempt to the Dunoon Library, and gave the tennis balls to SAVE’s community sports program.
All of this was made possible by the support and encouragement I received at Yale SOM. The EMBA program creates real opportunities to step outside your comfort zone, connect with global peers, and grow through meaningful exchange. I saw things I never imagined and met people I might never have encountered otherwise. Students in the course came from Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Australia, China, and elsewhere. Being surrounded by such a diverse group of learners pushed me to listen more, question my assumptions, and collaborate in ways that made us all better.
I'm incredibly grateful to be in a program that not only teaches global leadership in theory but also provides us with opportunities to live it. Global Network Week gave me new frameworks for understanding systems, new relationships with changemakers around the world, and a renewed commitment to lead with purpose, empathy, and responsibility. The 15-hour flight across the Atlantic was well worth it.
