With an honours degree in communication and lots of previous experience in stakeholder relations, this alumna of the campus in Potchefstroom smoothly navigates the road to successful alumni relationships.

 

Tshepisho is no stranger to the Department of Stakeholder Relations, as she previously worked there as a senior stakeholder relations officer.

 

Growing our own timber

 

Tshepiso is a textbook example of how the NWU grows its own “timber”, as she completed both a BA Communication degree and an honours degree in communication management at the campus in Potchefstroom between 2012 and 2015.

 

“While studying for my honours degree in 2015, I was fortunate to receive an internship with the former Institutional Advancement Department.”“In 2016, I was appointed in the same unit as events coordinator, which is now known as a senior stakeholder relations officer,” says Tshepiso.

 

Ready to add value

 

Prior to her studies, she had the opportunity to work in the communication units of organisations in both the private and public sectors.

 

“I worked for Absa as a marketing and communication consultant (business support function) where I was exposed to business operations in private, business and retail banking.

 

“As a senior communications officer in the public sector, my experience was expanded by working with larger and more diverse groups, doing events and spending time in rural and farming communities. This broadened my understanding of the different business dynamics within agriculture, land reform and rural development.”

 

This background will not go to waste at the NWU. “I wish to take all this experience and use it to add value to this great institution,” she says.