Experience

ABIS - The Academy of Business in Society

• Belgium
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director

  • Sep 2022 - Present



UCTs Graduate School of Business

• Associate Professor - Leadership & Strategy as practice (L-A-P)

  • Jul 2012 - Present

  Kosheek Sewchurran is an Associate Professor and the director of the Executive MBA program at the Graduate School of Business in Cape Town. He is primarily interested in organizing practices and research that acknowledge the realities of lived-experience, more commonly referred to as strategy-as-practice and leadership-as-practice. He actively seeks out a new paradigm of responsible business, a caring effective state and developing morally aware leaders and organizing practices to institute such a world. He has published works and is actively engaged in research on project organizing, pedagogy for strategy-as-practice and leadership-as-practice. Prior to academia he spent a little over a decade on manufacturing projects working as a Systems Engineer optimizing plant automation and designing and implementing enterprise information systems.

• Program Director of Executive MBA.

  • Jan 2013 - Dec 2022

  My responsibilities include designing the Executive MBA program conversations, interventions and outcomes to create executives relevant for the societal context we experience. This involves interaction with faculty members, their research, contemporary media and on-going student experiences to maximize the collective outcomes of: learning, innovation, management competence, leadership competence, entrepreneurial will-to-venture and thought leadership capacity.

• Interim Dean / Director

  • Jun 2018 - Jan 2020

• Conference Chair : BUSINESS OF SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL INNOVATION 2014 Conference

  • Jan 2014 - Dec 2014

  "DESIGN THINKING TO BALANCE STABILITY AND CHANGE IN ORGANIZATIONAL INNOVATION"23-24 October 2014, UCT Graduate School of Business, Cape Town, South AfricaKeynote address:Richard Perez (GSB EMBA Alumni and Director of the World Design Capital 2014 for the City of Cape Town) The overarching objective of this conference series is to create a better understanding of the role of business in solving societal challenges by generating social and environmental innovation, especially from an African perspective.We welcome papers that address this broad theme, but we invite in particular submissions on this year’s theme “Design thinking to balance stability and change in organizational innovation“.Persisting and increasingly urgent economic, social and environmental challenges have spurred renewed calls for innovation and new forms of organizing. However, engaging in organizational innovation often creates tensions at different levels that need harmonising. A basic challenge is to balance stability and change across a number of dimensions or organizational life. “Design thinking” – an approach or philosophy that emphasises creative responses to paradox and dichotomies – has much to offer in this regard, as it encourages infusing intervention processes with more empathy, a focus on co‐creation and rapid prototyping. Design thinking is equally popular in practice, as can be seen in the key objective of Cape Town as World Design Capital 2014, which is to leave a “design thinking legacy” in the City and Province.Please submit an extended abstract (1500‐2000 words) of your paper or practitioner case to BSEI@gsb.uct.ac.za by 31 July 2014. Authors will be notified regarding acceptance of paper and cases by 15 August 2014.Online registration opens on 15 July 2014.Click here for more information.

• Program Director Mphil in Inclusive Innovation

  • Apr 2012 - Dec 2014

  Co-convene the MPhil program with Dr Francois Bonici. Inclusive innovation as a term can refer to a broad scope of applied ideas that relate to the increased inclusion of people in the economy and society; and could include a purely commercial, social or environmental issues or various combinations of these. Typically inclusive innovation research would culminate in developing new: business models, processes, services or products. Essentially, an inclusive innovation should be critical to creating a better future for citizens at the base of the pyramid whose needs often go unmet or not discussed with sufficient empathy.The programme is designed as a collaborative student led effort with nurture from other students on the programme and academics involved. The desired practical outcomes are :a) A practical outcome or artifact: prototype, framework, business model etc.b) A research thesis that lights up the effort of arriving at artifact and the subsequent implications to knowledge.c) An embodied experience of business model innovation (entrepreneuring).As skills and competence the program is designed to imbue students emerging from the program to be competent:a) At undertaking complex innovation focussed projects and managing in this complexityb) In identifiying and coping with the internal experience of entrepreneruring.c) In identifying and disclosing new worlds that they become aware of. d) At undertaking Business Model Innovation through the combined use of systems thinking, design thinking and integrative thinking.e) Planning a new venture and thinking through its detailed plans and feasability.



Artistry in Everydayness

• Integral Coach®

  • Nov 2012 - Present

  I live an original, sustainable, and flourishing life doing impactful work with executives skilfully. My focus is Executive Management and applied research consultancy in areas of Strategy, Business Model Innovation, Leadership Development.Service offering:- Personal one-on-one coaching of professional teams and Executives.- Customised learning facilitator.- Strategy and Business Model Innovation process facilitator. I live an original, sustainable, and flourishing life doing impactful work with executives skilfully. My focus is Executive Management and applied research consultancy in areas of Strategy, Business Model Innovation, Leadership Development.Service offering:- Personal one-on-one coaching of professional teams and Executives.- Customised learning facilitator.- Strategy and Business Model Innovation process facilitator.



International Journal of Managing Projects in Business

• Member of the international editorial advisory board

  • Jan 2010 - Sep 2022

  International Journal of Managing Projects in Business aims to provide: •The broader community of managers of projects with a journal that provides them with cutting-edge research and practice in the management of projects across as wide a basis as possible•A forum for debate and reflection•An anchor point for the many postgraduate programs where project management students can take part actively with other practitioners and academics linked to the journal through a web based discussion board



International Journal of Information Technologies and Systems Approach (IJITSA)

• Member of the international editorial review board

  • Dec 2009 - Sep 2022

  The International Journal of Information Technologies and Systems Approach (IJITSA) is a refereed, international journal on applied and theoretical research, aimed at providing coverage of the foundations, challenges, opportunities, problems, trends, and solutions encountered by both scholars and practitioners in the field of information systems when applying systems approach. IJITSA emphasizes the systemic worldview of managerial, organizational and engineering interaction facets provided by modern complex information systems and information technologies. The articles published in IJITSA will focus on information systems (IS) and their interactions with software engineering, systems engineering, complex systems, and philosophy of systems science issues for a better understanding and development of the information systems discipline.



Human Dignity and Humiliation Studies

• Global Advisory Board Member

  • Jul 2013 - Jun 2020

  We are a global transdisciplinary network and fellowship of concerned academics and practitioners. We wish to stimulate systemic change, globally and locally, to open space for dignity and mutual respect and esteem to take root and grow, thus ending humiliating practices and breaking cycles of humiliation throughout the world. We are a global transdisciplinary network and fellowship of concerned academics and practitioners. We wish to stimulate systemic change, globally and locally, to open space for dignity and mutual respect and esteem to take root and grow, thus ending humiliating practices and breaking cycles of humiliation throughout the world.



Association of African Business Schools - Connect Annual Conference 2015

• Speaker on Business Innovation panel - 18 May 2015 - 09:00-10:30 - GIBS

  • May 2015 - May 2015

  Preparing students for “Being” & “Doing” Managementand Leadership to realise ‘Africa, the success story of the 21st century Preparing students for “Being” & “Doing” Managementand Leadership to realise ‘Africa, the success story of the 21st century



CAPACITi 1000

• Servant leader

  • Oct 2010 - Nov 2013

  Professor responsible for curriculum design, education and research related to educating the "Innovation Professional". The programme is underpinned by a pedagogy a colleague (Dr Elsje Scott) and I have been researching for a long while. One of the key features of the programme is that it goes beyond imparting best practice to graduates; instead the focus is on sense-making, systems-thinking, being context driven and intellectually honesty to counteract the Methodism and Instrumentality that certification programmes and best-practice regimes tend to emphasize. The program is currently running in its 3rd iteration with 50-60 post-graduate students from Cape Town, Eastern Cape and Gauteng (most of whom were previously unemployed).



Knowledge Economy Network (2013) -

• Discussion Moderator - Inclusive Innovation

  • Oct 2013 - Oct 2013

  Agenda for Thematic Table (B) Inclusive InnovationInclusive innovation as a term can refer to a broad scope of applied ideas that relate to the increased inclusion of people in the economy and society; and could include a purely commercial, social or environmental issues; or various combinations of these. Typically inclusive innovation would culminate in developing new: business models, processes, services or products. Essentially, an inclusive innovation should be critical to creating a better future for citizens at the base of the pyramid whose needs often go unmet or not discussed with sufficient empathy.The discussion started with the following agenda points:How to organize for, and stimulate the pursuit of Inclusive Innovation? The various facets of Organising are an important issue to consider because inclusive innovation requires resolution of issues that requires empathy (focusing on human needs), engagement, cooperation and involvement among stakeholders from diverse social backgrounds. Often times Inclusive Innovation occurs to meet needs, which typically go unmet due to market and / or government failures. How do we educate for the performance required in Inclusive Innovation?The interior condition of people pursuing/facilitating/orchestrating inclusive innovation projects cannot be emphasized enough; as the deliberate pursuit of innovation and creativity with teams of people from various sectors of society is likely to require the ability to work with wicked problems; that is, problems that have an evolving nature and require articulating new concepts and regimes of common sense. This implies that the inclusive innovator needs to facilitate learning at individual level, team level and context level among actors from diverse backgrounds. The ability to articulate the raw experiences of the many to enable learning is important.



African Innovation Foundation

• Switzerland

• Validator on the Judging Panel

  • Mar 2013 - May 2013

  Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA is a joint initiative of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the African Innovation Foundation (AIF) started in 2011. IPA honours and encourages innovative achievements that contribute toward developing new products, increasing efficiency or saving cost in Africa. The prize also promotes among young African men and women the pursuit of science, technology and engineering careers and business applications. Specifically, the award targets technological breakthroughs in such main concern areas as manufacturing and service industry, health and well-being, agriculture and agribusiness, environment, energy and water and ICTs.IPA aims to:mobilize leaders from all sectors to fuel African innovationpromote innovation across Africa in key sectors of interest through the competitionpromote science, technology and engineering as rewarding, exciting and noble career options among the youth in Africa by profiling successful applicantsencourage entrepreneurs, innovators, funding bodies and business development service providers to exchange ideas and explore innovative business opportunities.



Center for IT and National Development in Africa (CITANDA)

• Research Associate

  • Jan 2007 - Dec 2012

  Responsible for the educational research track within the research unit. Leading an initiative to set-up a tele-center in the community of Vrygrond to pursue human development projects. Also leading an initiative to set-up a Software Productivity Research Centre within CITANDA. Responsible for the educational research track within the research unit. Leading an initiative to set-up a tele-center in the community of Vrygrond to pursue human development projects. Also leading an initiative to set-up a Software Productivity Research Centre within CITANDA.



University of Cape Town

• South Africa
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Associate Professor

  • Oct 2010 - Aug 2012

  Teach Project Management, Business Analysis and Contemporary IS Management with an emphasis on reflexivity, sense-making, systems thinking and intellectual honesty. Course-coordinator for the Post-graduate programs in Business and Systems Analysis and IS Management and Project Management. Supervise post-graduate research at Honours, Master and PhD levels.My research interests are in these areas pertain to the application of critical social theory to find new ways of knowing, coordinating human activity and interacting in contemporary business and society. I am drawn to use political economists like Karl Marx, Andre Gorz', Jan Smuts, Amartya Senn and Ngugi Wa Thiongo; and existentialists like Hegel, Heidegger and Bourdieu; and embodied cognitivists such as Humberto Maturana and Fancesco Varela. These theorists are useful in providing an expanded definitions of though and action in contemporary society.

• Head of Department - Information Systems

  • May 2011 - Jun 2012

  Managed team of Academics, administrators and research scholars. Formulated budgets. Crafted Strategy Goals and Objectives.

• Senior Lecturer

  • Aug 2005 - Oct 2010

  Senior lecturer in IS Management, Project Management, Systems analysis and Design, Strategic IS/IT Management and Systems Thinking.



SAICSIT Annual Research Conference 2011

• Co-Program Chairperson

  • Apr 2011 - Oct 2011

  Co-program chairperson with Prof Hussein Suleman and working with Prof Irwin Brown the conference chairperson to make SAICSIT 2011 a memorable occasion as is typical of SACISIT events. The theme for 2011 is Knowledge, Innovation and Leadership in a Diverse, Multidisciplinary Environment" Co-program chairperson with Prof Hussein Suleman and working with Prof Irwin Brown the conference chairperson to make SAICSIT 2011 a memorable occasion as is typical of SACISIT events. The theme for 2011 is Knowledge, Innovation and Leadership in a Diverse, Multidisciplinary Environment"



Politechnico Di Milano Business School (MIP)

• Visiting Professor in Project Management

  • May 2011 - Jul 2011

  Deliver seminars and undertake research with masters students enrolled for a multi-degree program - Masters in Strategic Project Management offered by the universities of Umea, Hariott Watt and Polytechnico di Milano. The focus of my seminars was to make students see the dynamic complexity of project management and how to engage with the "being" and "becoming" nature of projects Deliver seminars and undertake research with masters students enrolled for a multi-degree program - Masters in Strategic Project Management offered by the universities of Umea, Hariott Watt and Polytechnico di Milano. The focus of my seminars was to make students see the dynamic complexity of project management and how to engage with the "being" and "becoming" nature of projects



International Development Informatics Association

• Program Chairperson

  • Jan 2010 - Oct 2010

  Program chairperson for the 3rd annual conference held at the University of Cape Town Program chairperson for the 3rd annual conference held at the University of Cape Town



International Conference on Information Management and Evaluation

• Conference Chairperson

  • Aug 2009 - Apr 2010

  International Conference on Information Management and Evaluation International Conference on Information Management and Evaluation



Hulett Aluminium

• Systems Engineer

  • 1994 - 2005

  Worked as a systems engineer in various technical, management and leadership roles on large industrial expansion and automation projects. For most of the time on these projects I was responsible for work related to Information Systems project implementations and setting up systems to estimate, plan and optimise plant capacity. Throughout this time I worked as a member of a multi-disciplined team working toward the expansion and installation of manufacturing facilities. I spent approximately ten years on such projects. During this time I performed a number of roles which included: software engineer, enterprise architect, business analyst, project manager, programme manager and planning specialist. At the time of leaving in July 2005, my prime responsibility was program manager responsible for designing, building, implementing and commissioning a home-grown enterprise resource planning (ERP) system with a team of approximately 75 professionals. At that point of leaving the project was in the final stages of commissioning and had been running for approximately 3 years.