Katlego Sekhu
Musician Loyiso Bala recently achieved his MBA from Henley Business School and touched many with a heartfelt note about his journey.
The 45-year-old opened up about the doubts and anxiety he faced when deciding to pursue further education in his late 30s.
Bala shared that he didn’t want to end up like many South African artists who struggle once their fame fades. As a father of three and a husband, he aimed to empower himself through education, realising that relying solely on music might not sustain him in the long run.
“At 36, I faced a harsh reality. If I didn’t make a change, I’d soon be in my 40s, struggling to book gigs, watching opportunities fade. I had spent years building a name in the industry, but deep down, I knew relying solely on music might not sustain me in the long run. I wasn’t willing to take that risk.
“I could already see where things were headed. Despite a successful career, I would likely spend my days blaming the system for why musicians struggle financially. Not because the argument wasn’t valid, but because my career would have quietly slipped away, leaving me with nothing but frustration and “back in my day” stories,” expressed Bala who wondered whether pursuing an education at the time would bear any fruit as he had ‘No degree. No corporate experience. Just music.’
Despite the uncertainty, he took a leap of faith.
“I walked into @henleyafrica , hoping to start from scratch. A friend suggested I apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), which allowed my experience to count towards a Postgraduate Diploma in Business (PGDip).
“That application was terrifying. Getting accepted was even scarier. I sat in my first class, completely out of my depth, Googling terms like “HR” and “balance sheets” because I was too embarrassed to ask. But I didn’t quit. I graduated. Then I went for what seemed impossible – an MBA,” he recalled.
While studying, Bala volunteered at TBN Africa as a presenter and producer. Just before finishing his MBA, he was appointed as Channel Director. Three years later he joined the SABC, heading some of their radio stations.
“At 36, I had no idea if I could rebuild my life. Now at 45, I stand in a career I once thought was out of reach, and it feels like I’ve been doing this for decades,” he said in part.
For Bala, the greatest lesson from his journey is that it’s never too late to start over, to learn, to change paths, or to embrace new opportunities. Your past does not define your future.’
Concluding his testimony, he shared: “On the other side of fear is growth. Be bold. Step into the unknown. Do what feels uncomfortable. And when you’ve done all you can, trust that God will take care of the rest.”
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