Luis Guerreiro

From People Strategy to Storytelling: How an MBA Sparked a New Vision for Impact

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I am Luis Guerreiro, originally from a small town in South Africa, where I completed high school before moving to Pretoria to study Human Resource Management. Today, I serve as a Senior People and Culture Business Partner at Standard Bank Angola, and I also step in as Interim Head of People and Culture when the Head is away. With over 14 years of HR experience across the African continent and more than 18 years of professional experience overall, I’ve come to see my work as a bridge between strategy and people. My passion lies in aligning HR practices with long-term business impact.

When I began thinking about pursuing an MBA, I assumed I’d need to go the traditional route. INSEAD was at the top of my list. But as I explored my options, I discovered Woolf, and everything changed. Woolf offered a program that was globally recognized, rooted in contemporary practice, and flexible enough to fit my life as a working leader. It allowed me to grow without pressing pause on my career. The content was far from conventional — it pushed me, challenged my thinking, and elevated my leadership.

What stood out most was how directly relevant the coursework was to what I was facing at work. Every module felt like it had been designed for the challenges I was navigating: workforce planning, cultural change, strategic alignment. The learning was immediate and applicable. It shifted how I approached problems, how I designed interventions, and how I communicated with stakeholders. I also gained a new lens through the diverse perspectives of fellow students and the guidance of thoughtful, supportive tutors.

Beyond knowledge, the program gave me confidence. I now enter strategic conversations with insights and data that matter. I’ve become a champion for employee engagement in my organization, and I’m trusted with driving improvements that are measurable and meaningful. One of my proudest moments was presenting our employee engagement results at a national town hall, drawing directly on ideas and frameworks I’d studied during the program. The alignment between my studies and real-world outcomes made the experience even more powerful.

The impact of the MBA extended beyond my workplace. My sister was so inspired by my graduation that she decided to return to her own academic journey. And I found myself reconnecting with creative interests that had been dormant for years. I’ve started exploring cultural storytelling, particularly through the lens of heritage preservation. I want to write children’s books that celebrate and sustain our traditions, so that young people grow up not just knowing where they come from, but feeling proud of it.

Looking ahead, I’m focused on expanding my impact across Africa in broader regional leadership roles. But I’m also planting new seeds. Woolf didn’t just sharpen my strategic thinking — it widened my view of what’s possible. It helped me step into leadership with clarity and purpose, and gave me the tools to build both people strategies and stories that matter.