OPTIMUS students benefitted from the advice and experience of prominent industry leaders during a recent event organised by the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. At the same event, third-year OPTIMUS students received certificates for completing the programme successfully.
The primary objective of the OPTIMUS programme is to support the top undergraduate academic achievers in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences on their academic journey to ensure sustained and distinctive achievement while at SU and after graduation.
On 4 October 2021 the programme concluded its activities with an “Engagement with a leader" evening at Middelvlei, where prominent industry leaders shared their life stories with the group of 2nd and 3rd year OPTIMUS participants.
Students were inspired by the life stories of Prof Rachel Jafta, SU Professor in Economics and Chair of the Media24 Board of Directors; Mr André Labuscaigne, Chief Executive Officer: Cape Union Mart; and Mr Zac Rusagara, entrepreneur and co-founder of Chommies.com. Mr Bertus de Waal, Director of Dewvest was represented by Matimu Ngobeni, an actuarial graduate.
Advice included changing one's mindset, to read outside of one's field of interest, taking action, building connections, to travel, to do the extra little bits, and to never forget one's roots. Students also understood that success may come in many forms.
- All photos by Anton Jordaan
- Photo above: Third-year OPTIMUS students received certificates for completing the programme successfully.
Second-year OPTIMUS students
From left to right: Prof Ingrid Woolard, Dean of the SU Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences; Prof Rachel Jafta, Economics Professor and Chair of Media24; Mr André Labuscaigne, Chief Executive Officer: Cape Union Mart; and Prof Ronel du Preez, Vice-Dean: Learning and Teaching, Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences.
OPTIMUS students enjoying the starters at Middelvlei Farm, Stellenbosch.
