FORMAL EDUCATION
Gordon Institute Of Business Science
Master of Business Administration (MBA) 2013 - 2014
The GIBS MBA offers a life changing experience and relevant exposure to the
best practices of South African and global leadership. The GIBS MBA is
accredited by the Association of MBAs (AMBA), thus ensuring our students
are equipped for success in both local and international arenas.Click here for the GIBS Website
Gordon Institute Of Business Science
PDBA Management/Business 2011 - 2012
As a driven university graduate in a hurry to get to the top, you leave university with good technical knowledge and start your career with little or no business experience. The PDBA is aimed at fast-tracking high-potential young graduates, into the world of business. By combining a broad understanding of business concepts, practical applications and immediate transfer of learning to the work environment, PDBA students are at an advantage.
Click here for the GIBS Website
Unisa
Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) Law and Business Management 2006 - 2010
The largest university in South Africa and one of the largest distance education institutions in the world.
Majors: Law and Business Management with distinctions
King David Victory Park
REFERENCES
(Other references from previous dealings can also be found in the below Leadership Feedback Report)
Kgothatso Meka
Director at Cosmopolitan Property Developments
"Matthew is one of the few naturally gifted leaders that I have come across. He is visionary and possesses very good interpersonal and leadership skills. I have witnessed him interact with various people from all walks of life and I am amazed at how easily he is able to adapt and command the same level of respect across the board.
I worked very briefly with Matthew on a start up venture and was very impressed at his insights about the various day to day business challenges and opportunities we encountered. I was especially impressed with his self awareness, especially for someone as relatively young as he is.
Matthew is passionate about business and the development of South Africa and it's people. His experience as an entrepreneur and a philanthropist are evident in everything he does. A good team player and person I would be happy to work with again in future.'
Kgothatso Meka
27 May 2020Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/kgothatso-meka-944bab45 , Email: kgothatsomeka@gmail.com
(May, 2020, Work Associates)
Kaif Sheikh
Technical Business Development Expert
"I had the pleasure of working with Matthew Cigler during a collaborative project between Digitech India and Leadlab. As the Director of Operations at Leadlab, Matthew exhibited exceptional leadership and strategic thinking that significantly contributed to the success of our project.
Matthew's expertise in operations management and his ability to streamline processes were evident throughout our collaboration. He consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of the industry and market dynamics, which was instrumental in guiding our teams towards achieving our goals. His proactive approach and keen attention to detail ensured that we met all deadlines and delivered outstanding results.
What truly stands out about Matthew is his ability to foster a collaborative and motivating work environment. He effectively communicated his vision and inspired our teams to work cohesively. His professionalism, combined with his innovative problem-solving skills, made working with him a highly rewarding experience.
I highly recommend Matthew for any role that requires strong operational leadership and a results-oriented mindset. His dedication and expertise make him an invaluable asset to any organization.'
Kaif Sheikh
11 June 2024Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/kaifshikh786, Email: kaifs622@gmail.com
(June, 2024, Kaif worked with Matthew but they were at different companies)
Vivianne Ihekweazu
Corporate Solutions Manager at LANDMARK AFRICA
Matt was a key member of our syndicate group and a great person to work with. He was also a great team player who was never shy to take on a leadership role when needed. He has a very astute business sense, and can hit the ground running when tasted with a project. Matt has a well-rounded understanding of business strategies and is able to juggle multiple priorities simultaneously. Matt is a hard worker and makes a great effort to carry out tasks to the best of his ability and was very good at building strong relationships.
Linkedin: https://za.linkedin.com/pub/vivianne-ihekweazu/3/558/97a, Email: vivianne.ihekweazu@gmail.com, Website: http://www.tedxeuston.com/
(May 31, 2014, Vivianne studied with Matthew at Gordon Institute Of Business Science - PDBA)
Karl Thorington
Supply Chain Director at McCain Foods
In 2013, I embarked on the GIBS MBA full time program and during this period I had the opportunity to meet and study alongside Matthew. I was immediately impressed by his giving nature, always willing to help a fellow classmate, or the those in need through the TAC initiative, or through his mentor-ship in the GIBS Goldman Sachs 10000 women initiative. In addition, Matthew was driving separate business interests whilst studying and clearly demonstrated his ability to juggle multiple projects and handle pressure.
Matthew's contribution to the business dialogue in class, provided greater discussion opportunities and clearly demonstrated his broad business acumen. But it was always his entrepreneurial flair that caught the attention as he proved himself time and again as an out of the box thinker, and a shrewd negotiator.
Matthew was always aware of gaps in his experience and resume, and was open to suggestions and advice in his pursuit of knowledge and self-improvement. From what I have seen, Matt clearly demonstrates the flair required to be a successful entrepreneur, whilst also the capability of being a solid all round businessman. I firmly believe he will go from strength to strength in his career and believe his broader view to life, and particularly those he can influence, will provide him with great perspective as to what is important.Tel: +27 11 918 1348 (Home), Linkedin: https://za.linkedin.com/pub/karl-thorington/8/239/899, Email: karl.thorington@yahoo.com
(June 1, 2014, Karl studied with Matthew at Gordon Institute Of Business Science - MBA)
Caren Munzer
We Got Style Events, Owner
We Got Style has outsourced our Cocktail party package to Behind Bars on more than one occasion.
They have always given us great advice on what the best option for our clients would be, especially if the client is on a strict budget.
I have only dealt with Matthew and Justin and would highly recommend their services as I find them professional, pleasant and easy to work with.
Cell: +2782 959 3046, Tel: 011 022 6073, Fax to email: 0865510412, Email: caren@wegotstyle.co.za
(2009, Caren was with this company when working with Matthew at Behind Bars)
Peter Asbury
Backyard Caterers, Client Services & Manager
"To whom it may Concern
Matthew Cigler
Matthew Cigler worked as a service provider to the catering industry. During this time it was my privilege to make use of his services
I always found Matthew to be reliable, open and honest and able to provide outstanding service. He has the ability to understand instructions and act upon them with very satisfactory results.
I would recommend Matthew for any position which requires integrity, honesty and diligence"
Peter Asbury
27 May 2014Cell: +2782 330 2910, Tel: 011 262 2560, Fax: 086 721 2120, Email: peter@thebackyard.co.za
(2010, Peter was with this company when working with Matthew at Behind Bars)
Tyra Kihn
GMAT Consulting Client
"Matt and Gareth at GMAT Consulting are amazing! Extremely knowledgable and professional. They took the time and effort to find out my needs and goals, and gave me great and realistic advice. They even prevented me from entering into a deal that would've been disastrous! Definately 5-star sercvice! Thanks Matt and Gareth.
Tyra Kihn
June 2023Please see GMAT Consulting on Google Maps (South Africa) for the actual review and for more GMAT Consulting reviews from when Matthew was a Senior Business Consultant.
(June, 2023, Tyra was a client of Matthew's at GMAT Consulting for business advice)
Tebogo Moalusi
Head of Investments, Bridging the Gap Holdings
"Matthew Cigler is an enthusiastic and highly capable young professional. He has a great mix of corporate professional and entrepreneurial skills which enable him to be dynamic professional. He works well in teams, bringing high work ethic but with an element of fun and humour. I had the pleasure of working in the same syndicate group as Matthew while completing the MBA at GIBS. I learn much from him. Matthew thrives in interactive environments. He was a great contributor to discussions in class, adding value from experience but also willing to learn in areas where he was not as strong. He is honest and very kind, paying for his colleagues beers after some of the tough exams we had. It was indeed a pleasure working and studying with Mr Cigler."
Tebogo Moalusi
27 May 2014Tel: 0832909044 (Mobile) , Linkedin: https://za.linkedin.com/pub/tebogo-moalusi-mba/12/3ab/a8a, Email: tebogo@btgh.co.za
(June 1, 2014, Tebogo studied with Matthew at Gordon Institute Of Business Science - MBA)
Featured articles & Publications
(Recent)
Selecting the right audio or video access system - October 2014 - Hi-Tech Security Solutions Magazine - by Matthew Cigler (Also featured in Access and Identity Management Handbook 2015)
Young Jewish Entrepreneur Of The Year at the ABSA Achievers Awards 2014 - Featuring Matthew Cigler as nominee
Matthew Cigler ready to make a positive impact - Security Focus Magazine Article May 2014 - Personality Profile on Matthew Cigler
Customer value is crucial to growth - Security Focus Magazine July 2014 - Matthew Cigler's (Fermax SA Executive) thoughts on the creation of customer value throughout operations
Moving towards a brighter future (Organisation helps the poor) - North Eastern Tribune August 2014 - Fairwood resident and businessman Matthew Cigler believes that
charity and business should not operate in isolation
Power of social network gives Zac a new face - Jewish Report Article December 2014 - This is the story of the power of social media for good and giving someone with a badly deformed face a new lease on life - by Matthew Cigler
Community opens its heart to Yad Aharon - Jewish Report Article Feb 2012 - Follow up report on T.A.C clothing drive
Fermax launches new app - Security Focus Magazine Article October 2014 - Matthew Cigler speaks about the new innovative app designed by Fermax Spain
Visitor management evolves - April 2015 - Hi-Tech Security Solutions Magazine - by Matthew Cigler
Full article available at: http://www.securitysa.com/51346n
Growing beards for a very good cause - Jewish Report July 2012 - Grizzley Bear Challenge Article
Matthew Cigler - Entrepreneurship in SA - March 2016 Epyk Living Magazine
Wag Centre - Matt Cigler - 2016
Full article available at: http://wagcenter.com/entrepreneur-wags/matt-cigler/
JHB Pets Unleashed - Bizaffiliate - 2016
Formal CV and Additional Information
DOWNLOAD MY CV AND THESIS BELOW
Exploring the augmented product concept through social
media offerings on durable goods in relation to high-level
need satisfaction and consumer perceptions
Matthew Adam Cigler
12382664
A research project submitted to the Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of
Pretoria, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Business
Administration.
29 January 2014
Single page summary document in conventional CV format
Leadership Feedback Report
MBA Leadership Assessment and Development:
Report generated 5 December 2012
This report is based on results from 12 respondents, excluding myself.The report also indicates responses from the subgroups of 7 respondents who selected their relation to me as “Other” (Other) and 5 respondents who selected their relation to me as
“I work at the same level as this person” (Colleagues).The questionnaire describes five dimensions of leadership, as follows:
1) Setting the direction
2) Making things happen
3) Leading by example
4) Building the team
5) Unlocking energy
The assessors were given the option of providing an anonymous textual comment, in addition to the feedback that makes up the rest of this report.
Brief information on Matthew Cigler for the relevant party concerned (Informal Style)
Image Gallery:
Other Interesting Projects and Experiences
Need 4 Speed - Yogi Sip Commercial
CREW: Ryan Peimer : Director, Writer, Editor, Sound Design Tilo Spargel : Producer, 1st Assistant Director. Joshua Shifrin : Production Manger Matthew Cigler : Prod. Co-ordinator & 2nd A.D. Amy Meyer Prod Co-ordinator & 3rd A.D.
Teddy Bear Clinic
Teddy Bear Clinic For Abused Children
Day Care Volunteer: July 2012
Facilitator/Organizer: Daph Dinur (Teddy Bear Clinic South Africa)
Company Website: http://ttbc.org.za/
Click here for further images and information about initiative
Thuthuzela Clothing Drive - The T.A.C Initiative - 2012
A letter from Lizzy (Head of Thuthuzela Orphanage) regarding an exciting project, thanking all those involved
Please see corresponding image or click here for further information
Capitec Bank - Marketing FT MBA (Syndicate 3)
The aim of this research assignment was to assess the delivery of Capitec’s brand promise using the marketing principles explored during the MBA Marketing module as a Syndicate. An overview of Capitec in the context of the South African banking industry was provided, the research methodology used was outlined and an analysis of the delivery of their brand promise was evaluated. The findings were then summarized and recommendations made for an international bank looking to expand their footprint into the South African market.
In addition to the written assignment submission was the requirement to create a YouTube video as per the below link:
Link to video: Click Here
Syndicate group members: Matthew Cigler, Vivianne Ihekweazu, Ziyaad Jina, Londiwe Mgcina, Noma Ngubane, Sebastian Pieterse, Ruhin Rajkumar
Syndicate members featured in video: Matthew Cigler and Londiwe Mgcina
Submission date: 21 Feb 2013 (full assignment available upon request)
CHOC Grizzley Bear Challenge
An initiative, run through The T.A.C Initiative - 2012, whereby participants grew beards for lengthy periods in exchange for supporting donations online.
Resulting funds raised were given to CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa.
Click here for more information
Images also available here
Yad Aharon Clothing Drive
Successful clothing drive in aid of Yad Aharon - 2012 - via The T.A.C Initiative
Section 27 Social Strategy Development
Assistance given to Section 27 with the creation and compiling of a new social strategy for their 'Friends of Section 27' campaign 2013/14
Company details: SECTION27 is a public interest law centre that seeks to influence, develop and use the law to protect, promote and advance human rights. Their name is drawn from the section in the South African Constitution which enshrines everyone's right to health care, food, water and social security.
Flashforward: SAIF Promotional Video Voice-Over writing
Cinematic and media writing assistance for the production of a South African Institute of Funding promotional follow up video for potential investors 2015.
Production company assisted: Flash Forward Productions
Website of FF Productions available here
The Support Room
The Support Room assists customers apply practical, workable solutions to get their business noticed online. Assistance was given for a few of their clients (2013).
Web design, Branding, Social Media, Google Advertising and Email Marketing - they do it allhttp://thesupportroom.co.za/
Elvey branch competition Fermax Social Campaign
Organized an interesting campaign through Fermax South Africa in 2015; whereby all distributing branches at Elvey were requested to create an in-store Fermax display over a period of time.
Competing branch displays were posted online and judged according to social media, as well as in-store, responses.
The winning branch won a series of prizes and was afforded the ability to donate a sum of money to a charity of their choice.
Pictures and information relating to this campaign available here
Goldman Sachs 10 000 Women
The 10,000 Women initiative was launched in 2008 by the Goldman Sachs Foundation, providing 10,000 women from across 43 countries with business and management education, mentoring and networking.
Participated as a business plan marking, anchor mentor and coach in 2014 which proved to be an extremely rewarding experience.
Click here for further information on the initiative.
Manor Lane: Personal Project (Property Management Starting Point)
Investment project, with a partner, that commenced in 2014 involving the purchase, renovation, management and acquisition of a tenant - ground unit apartment located in Rivonia, South Africa.
Habonim Counsellor - 2004
Participated as a Counselor (Madrich) for 3 week summer camp in 2004; involving taking care of younger campers, planning/arranging activities and general supervision.
Information on camp/youth movement:
There are few experiences in life as unique as the South African Zionist Summer Camps - The Machanot.
Every year at Habonim Dror Machaneh, thousands of young Jews are transformed into responsible, accountable and socially conscious young people.
For three weeks in December, Habonim Dror hosts a world-famous summer camp that is the highlight of thousands of young people's year. This entails three weeks of fun and sun on their beautiful campsite in Onrus. Sleeping beneath the trees, relaxing everyday on the beach, playing sport, learning new crafts, singing songs you'll only ever sing at Habonim Dror, sitting and chatting around campfires and making life-long friends that become a part of your life forever!
Habonim prides itself on maintaining the highest level of child-care which is guaranteed by their highly trained team of two hundred madrichim (counsellors) – many of whom have spent a year in Israel undergoing intense hadracha (leadership ) and chinnuch (education) training.
Habonim is a safe and secure environment for kids from across Southern Africa – including Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, The Eastern Cape, Durban, Bloemfontein, Zimbabwe and Botswana. Here, young Jewish children have the chance to meet one another and share in an identity shaping Jewish and Zionist experience. They are privileged to have a number of foreign children and madrichim joining them from Israel, Australia, the US and England, amongst other places.Click here for website
Social AR Campaign (Fermax) - Augmented Reality showcase @ Ebotse Golf Estate
Creation and co-ordination of Fermax international augmented reality app social campaign showcase in South Africa 2014.
Taking place at the Weisenhof Craft Beer Golf Day, players were invited to be a part of this app by getting their picture taken, participating in a competition and receiving a follow up mail with the digital photograph comprising further information.
Click here for pictures or click here for information about the app itself.
Business Plan Judging (GIBS)
Participated as a business plan judge for FT MBA students at GIBS for their fulfillment of one of the requirements to obtain their qualifications. This was an interesting experience having completed the same course as them one year earlier (2013/14) and then having the opportunity to view the same process from a different standpoint.
Frontier Wildlife Conservation Volunteer - Costa Rica 2015
Central America
Participated as a wildlife conservation volunteer for 4 weeks in Costa Rica
Information:
Set between its tropical Caribbean and Pacific coasts, Costa Rica is one of the most breath-taking countries in the world. Even though it covers just 0.03% of the world’s landmass, it is home to an incredible 500,000 species including jaguars, pumas, four species of monkeys and five species of turtle.
This is the highest density of species of any country in the world.
Frontier volunteers are carrying out groundbreaking survey work, exploring Costa Rica's remote habitats and helping to combat the effects of global warming by establishing a baseline against which future protected area management can be assessed.
On this project volunteers will live in a wilderness camp set in dense tropical forest on the shores of the Pacific Ocean next to pristine turtle beaches.
Participants live and work with other enthusiastic and energetic volunteers at a basic research camp near some of Costa Rica's most impressive protected areas. Volunteers carry out crucial surveys that are being used to find out how climate change is affecting endangered species and threatened habitats.
Jaguars, sloths, pumas and turtles are just a fraction of the species here that are under threat; it is their job to help find out how to best protect these species and preserve their environment.The long term goal of this project is to investigate the effects of climate change on biodiversity and the subsequent implications of climate change upon Costa Rica's network of protected areas.
The project addresses four important questions in order to safeguard the future of Costa Rica's economically and biologically important natural heritage:
- What effect is global warming having on the biodiversity within Costa Rica's system of protected areas?
- What future effect is global warming likely to have on the biodiversity within Costa Rica's system of protected areas?
- Is there adequate existing connectivity between habitat blocks within Costa Rica, and within the Mesoamerican hotspot as a whole, to allow ecosystem migration?
- What conservation efforts can and need to be put in place to ensure the continued existence,where possible, of the ecosystems which typify the natural habitats of Costa Rica?Click here for more information on this project
JHB Pets Unleashed/Pets JHB Collaboration
2016
Pets JHB: 'Words cannot begin to express our gratitude to Matt Cigler & JHB Pets Unleashed for the incredible donation received of R10 000 towards our precious boy Shandy's stay at kennels. Since being surrendered back to us - Shandy has been staying in kennels for over 2 months while we looked for a foster or forever home for him to go to. Because we are not a shelter, we are reliant on the public to foster our rescues and when we don't find a foster home we have to kennel them until we do. We are very pleased to stay Shandy recently did find a foster home with his orginal foster mom Olivia Stirling who fostered him as a pup and we are so grateful to her for taking him in again while he looks for a forever home. But his two and a half month stay at kennels cost us just over R15 000. Money which we don't have. So we are so grateful to Matthew and JHB Pets Unleashed for coming to our aid and sponsoring the bill for the rest of Shandy's stay while he was at kennels. This has lifted an enormous burden off our shoulders. JHB Pets Unleashed is the First Online Pet Protector Business in Johannesburg that is fast GAINING MOMENTUM AND RECEIVING A LOT OF ATTENTION. Please take a moment to read more about what they do here : http://www.bizaffiliate.net/jhb-pets-unleashed-online-pet-protector/'
