Business as a Force for Good, Up Close: A Week With Unjani Clinics

With campuses in France, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, and the US, I knew attending INSEAD would be a global experience. It was the main reason why I chose to apply in the first place. The opportunity to meet and learn from people of all different backgrounds and nationalities was a once-in-a-lifetime chance that I wanted to take, and I can honestly say that it has exceeded all expectations.

Still, when I started the programme, I never would have thought that it would take me all the way to Johannesburg, South Africa. It was, admittedly, not particularly high on my travel list, especially given its distance from both main campuses. For our school breaks, I imagined myself on a tropical island in Southeast Asia or touring vineyards in Europe. My perception of Johannesburg and South Africa as a whole was limited and primarily consisted of news stories, crime statistics, and my surface-level knowledge of apartheid. While I always knew there was so much more to the country, it wasn’t until I heard about the Business as a Force for Good trek that I began to develop the curiosity to learn more.

When I first read about the partnership between INSEAD and Unjani Clinic, my interest was instantly piqued, both personally and professionally.

On a personal level, I really resonated with the clinic’s mission of not only providing affordable healthcare to underserved markets, but also employing a nurse-led model that empowers women and provides them with business ownership and permanent jobs.

On the professional side, I was eager to use the consulting skills I’ve built throughout my career thus far and apply them to a new industry, namely the nonprofit sector. Though my background was in technology consulting, not strategy or management consulting, I felt confident in my ability to provide value to Unjani and wanted to be able to contribute tangibly in some way to their cause.

Although the trek lasted six days, we had a packed schedule that made the time fly by. The first two days consisted of clinic visits, where we travelled in our workstream groups to several Unjani clinics across the greater Johannesburg region. There, we were able to speak directly with the head nurses, clinic staff, and even some patients to gather information across various areas.

My group was focused on technology, data, and AI, so we learned about the current tech systems in place at the clinics and what pain points existed from both the nurse and patient side. After each afternoon of clinic visits, we would debrief as a team and start putting together our findings, which all came together in the form of a two-day conference with Unjani nurses and management, where we formally presented our recommendations and held roundtable discussions to incorporate their feedback.

It was an intense week filled with long drives, late nights, and even more extended conversations with Unjani leaders, talented nurses, our excited team members, and the broader trek group as a whole. The energy was palpable throughout the week, with everyone in high spirits and genuinely motivated and inspired by each day’s work.

 I was able to learn so much in such a short period of time, and though I found the work itself to be very fulfilling and educational, I was surprised by how much of my learning was indirect and not a result of the actual consulting project itself.

More than anything, I gained valuable insight into South Africa as a country, not just its history, politics, and the intricacies of its healthcare system, but also its people and culture, and all the unique nuances that bring it to life. I learned about the various languages (12, and those are only the official ones!), South Africans’ love for dancing and music, and, yes, the country’s tumultuous history and its grappling with systemic racism and inequality.

Despite the country’s challenges — persistent inequality, high unemployment, crime, and a struggling education system — what struck me most were the people. There was a deep sense of pride, resilience, and warmth in nearly everyone I met. The nurses we worked with were truly remarkable. Some drove several hours each day to reach their clinics, while others performed house visits in addition to their day jobs. All of them carried an unwavering commitment to their communities, not just as healthcare providers but as mentors, educators, and leaders. Their passion was infectious, and their belief in Unjani’s mission reminded me of why we were there in the first place.

I’ll never forget the last night, when, after the final presentations, the DJ played a mix of South African songs, and the room transformed as everyone danced, sang, and laughed. Students, professors, nurses and Unjani staff were all letting go.

During the limited downtime I had on the trip, I read the memoir Born a Crime by the South African comedian Trevor Noah. His reflections, sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, sometimes gut-wrenching, gave me much-needed context for everything I was observing, from conversations with locals to subtle moments in the clinics and on the streets. One line in particular stayed with me: “Being chosen is the greatest gift you can give to another human being.” 

That’s exactly what Unjani is doing — choosing to serve, choosing to believe in a better future, and choosing to lift others up along the way.  I feel incredibly lucky to have been able to witness even a small part of it, and I will be forever grateful to INSEAD for this opportunity.

INSEAD is grateful to Moondance Foundation, Hugo van Berckel Award, Andrew Land Fund, Aaro Eide (MBA’91J), and Georg Madersbacher (MBA’90D) for their generous support. 

This programme is organised and supported by the INSEAD Healthcare Management Initiative.