Dr Wongiwe Ludidi

Wongiwe Ludidi has always believed that she has been purposed to ignite greatness in others, thus she has mentored young women for the past 10 years.

Wongiwe, who is currently the Executive Director of a Non-Profit Organisation (LAMP Foundation), is a firm believer in mentorship since she has been mentored and recognises the value of having someone investing their time in her professionally and personally. I think that mentors should be passionate about growing another person and about nurturing potential within that person.

A challenge for Wongiwe has been the transition from corporate, where she was Head of Learning and Transformation for Lafarge South Africa, to running the NPO. “The skills set required is very different – from having to rely on a boss for direction to reporting to the Board of Directors on what the way forward should be.”  Wongiwe describes herself as someone who knows how to spot and nurture talent, a highly organised, and effective leader whilst mentioning her area of weakness, which is having high standards.

“I was fortunate to have studied at the NWU and to have also worked there. I think the university has done a lot to remain relevant in the ever-changing world of work and its relevance has assisted the institution to give students the skills needed to compete in the labour market,” Wongiwe said. She also added that being at the NWU has enabled her to operate in various sectors, at multiple levels and to grow professionally.

Wongiwe advises students: “No season lasts forever. Just as one rides the crests, one should also be able to walk through valleys.”

Nadine Watkins

Nadine, a communications graduate, is an Editorial Director for Newskoop, a media content agency in Johannesburg. She believes mentorship is very important if one wants to reach one’s full potential.

“I’ve been part of a couple of mentorship programmes in the past, and I reaped the rewards personally and professionally,” says Nadine. She believes that one of her strengths is strong and compassionate leadership. She also believes that honesty, innovation and self-confidence are reasons she is successful in her job. She mentions that one of her weaknesses is impatience, which puts a lot of pressure on her team to perform well.

She describes the news industry as one of the fast-paced and competitive industries, and producing high-quality news is very challenging. “As a company, we’ve introduced a total quality management approach to mitigate the negative impacts of these challenges. We also continuously assess our systems and processes to ensure that we produce quality news content that our community radio stations can be proud of,” says Nadine.

According to Nadine, the NWU prepared her for the fast-paced work environment she is now working in, adding that it taught her to pay attention to detail, which prepared her for her career as a journalist. “Whatever scares you is exactly what you should pursue, because safe and comfortable means you’ve already done it,” said Nadine, adding that one should not take things personally in a workplace, especially in journalism. She also believes that when a person takes on a task, they have to complete it immediately and not let it sit and wait.

She says she always recommends the NWU because of the University’s diversity and quality that it offers, adding that the NWU has well-rounded courses that cover several aspects of different topics. “The courses prepare you for different scenarios and equip you with the necessary skills that you’ll need to thrive in the workplace,” she says.

Her advice for students? “Should you find yourself in difficult circumstances, try to remember Franklin D. Roosevelt’s quote: ‘A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.’” She notes that this keeps her motivated because she knows she must go through difficult times to grow and become a better version of herself.

Rodean Booysen

Rodean Booysen, a B.Ed. alumna and a PhD student, is a Teaching and Learning Specialist; her role is to support academics in teaching and learning.

“Mentorship is a great way of giving mentees the necessary support and advice that they would need to navigate different aspects of life,” Rodean notes. She continues by saying that she believes that a mentor should be a good listener, respectful, empathetic, and someone who values diversity. She is a self-motivated and hard-working person; however, she describes being a perfectionist as one of her weaknesses.

Rodean is a former lecturer at the NWU, and she says, “I believe the knowledge and skills gained at the NWU empowered me to be a woman full of integrity, a woman who is competent, knowledgeable and goal driven.” She also adds that she had a lot of support from her colleagues and her supervisor throughout her undergraduate and postgraduate studies at the NWU. She further says that, given the chance, she always recommends the NWU because of the institutions quality of teaching and learning and the support services at the institution.

“During my career journey I’ve learned that people are different; they have different views and different experiences which ultimately impact the way they perceive the world and the way they make decisions,” she says, adding that she strongly believes in setting goals, both short-term and long-term, and conditions her mind to prepare for these goals.

Prayer is Rodean’s foundation, for through prayer she can voice her goals, and have the will power to reach her goals. She continues by saying, “the Serenity prayer keeps me motivated: ‘God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference, living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; taking this world as it is and not as I would have it.’”

She advises students that “dreams delayed are not dreams denied” and that students can reach their goals through perseverance, no matter the stumbling blocks they may face.

Dr Michele Rossouw

“A mentor is crucial to use as a soundboard and for debriefing; never underestimate the value of a mentor,” says Dr Rossouw.

Dr Michele Rossouw, who studied Theology at the NWU, is the owner of You-Turn Powerfully. She is as an Advanced Religious Specialist in Christian Pastoral Counselling focusing on self-worth, anxiety, empowerment and life transitions. Supporting families through long-term illnesses such as cancer is another passion of Dr Michele.

Dr Rossouw believes that mentorship is about building a trusting relationship with the mentee, and empowering them. She also has two mentors.

“Empowering the mentee is such an important part of mentorship, allowing a safe confidential space of unconditional acceptance – which in turn facilitates, supports and encourages personal, emotional and spiritual growth,” says DR Rossouw. She continues by saying that mentorship is important as that’s where mentees will get words of encouragement and where both parties can learn and grow.

She reveals that she pushes through difficult circumstances by trusting in her capabilities and keeping in mind why she’s doing what she’s doing. She further reveals that “Standing firm in faith and choosing a positive attitude filled with hope and Godly peace helps me through the difficult times. It’s not about being in control but letting go and letting God.”

What stands out for her is that the NWU is globally acknowledged as one of the sought-after universities, well known for its excellent teaching, learning and research. She adds that one cannot regret studying at the NWU as it provides opportunities beyond study, for example having discussions with peers, the virtual career fair and the newsletter showcasing research projects, researchers and related events.

My life motto and advice to students is that they should find their purpose and combine it with their career. “Believe in yourself, set healthy boundaries, never stop learning and growing, push yourself beyond your comfort zone!”

Onalenna Tsae

“I have mentored and still mentor women to be boxers, coaches, and R/Js in order to increase the participation of women in boxing,” says Onalenna.

Onalenna Tsae, a BComHons statistics graduate from the NWU, is a product specialist, Deputy Secretary General (DSG) of the South African National Boxing Organisation (SANABO), and a PEC member for the North-West Provincial Sport Confederation.

She is a hard-working woman who hardly finds time to rest. In her spare time she coaches boxing and plays basketball. “I am humble, willing to assist others, able to learn from others, and mostly dedicate my time to mentoring others,” she adds.

Onalenna also states that mentorship is important because one will have guidance from a well-experienced person and learn how to tackle any challenges one might face. She further states that one of the challenges she faces in her workplace is the masculinity. “I always try to be as calm as possible; emotions can cloud one’s judgement,” she says.

She also says that what stood out for her at the NWU is that the course she studied, Statistics, even applies in her own personal life. “Being in student leadership (Sports Council) has moulded me into having a strong character when dealing with problems and to also share my talent with others,” says Onalenna. She recommends students to study at the NWU because it is still affordable and has a vibrant student life.

Her advice to students?  “Do it right or don’t do it at all. You need to be better than you were yesterday. Give yourself room to always learn something new.”

Porthri Blaauw

Porthri Blaauw is a Dispute Resolution Official at Consolidated Employers Organisation. She describes herself as resilient, strong-willed and independent, but notes that her independence and will power are sometimes her weaknesses and that she can sometimes be too generous. Porthri has a very demanding schedule that often changes at the drop of a hat. Hence, she had to learn to plan her schedule three weeks ahead and still remain flexible to adapt to her ever-changing diary. The current career changes that Porthri faces is the recent change in culture at her workplace. She was determined to adapt, grow and learn from the change. In her free time Porthri enjoys an active lifestyle. She recently started boxing, and enjoys hiking and Pilates as well. She is quite a creative and enjoys crafts, candle making and performing art.

Mentorship is very important to Porthri. She believes that having a mentor leads to self-discovery and helps you continue growing your career. Through their feedback, you’ll grow professionally and personally and be empowered to take your career where you want to go. Among others, Porthri believes that a good mentor should have enthusiasm to share their expertise and have an eagerness to invest in others. “Never be afraid to say I don’t know; and follow it up. Trust in yourself and your abilities. As much as I despise making a mistake, sometimes it happens. Take the lesson and move forward,” is the most valuable lessons learnt on Porthri’s career journey. She has learnt that the Scripture that reads “I know the plans I have for you”, prayer and the support of her network is what gets her through the tough times.

Porthri, a proud NWU alumna, says that being part of the vibrant student life equipped her to adapt to situations and to work together with a diverse group of people. She is an ambassador of her alma mater and proudly states that the quality of courses is what stands out to her about the NWU. She would gladly recommend the NWU “because you become a part of a community, and not just an academic community but a diverse cultural community. And once you immerse yourself in student life, you become part of a family that will support you, and you will forge lifelong friendships”.

Schané Fouché

“Always try one more time” is the life motto of Schané.  

Schané Fouché is the Chief Operations Officer of Miss South Africa. She is a BCom Marketing graduate of the NWU. She prides herself on her positive outlook on life as well as her ability to remain calm in all situations. She admits that she is a workaholic and is constantly trying to work on her ability to delegate tasks. Schané shares her top tip on time management, which is: learn to prioritize. She says: “If the world will not come to a standstill if you don’t do something immediately, let it roll over…  and respond to it within a reasonable amount of time.”

Schané enjoys starting her day by exercising and takes afternoon walks with her husband, which is extremely important to catch up because of their hectic schedules. In her career she feels that the challenges she currently faces in her position are innovation and trying to remain ahead of the curve. A proud former student leader, Schané admits that her time on these leadership structures prepared her for the corporate world and gave her the confidence to make decisions alongside matured industry individuals. “Being an NWU student allowed me to grow into the adult I was meant to be and granted me opportunities to build a great network.” She believes that the versatile programmes on offer at the NWU makes the university stand out.  On mentorship, Schané believes that it is important for the growth of companies as well as individuals and that it’s important to create environments for mentorship to take place.

Maryda Draai

Maryda Draai is a proud alumna of the NWU who is currently a Health and Safety specialist at a company called PetroSA. She is a very hard-working, organized and efficient individual. She prides herself in being a good communicator and a good listener, who is empathetic and observant and who loves working with people. One of her blind spots is that she sometimes rushes through certain tasks which do not always produce a good outcome. However, she has learned over the years to pace herself and prioritize tasks in order to have a good end result; she does this by keeping a daily planner and establishing a routine. Maryda loves walking, reading and travelling to different destinations within our beautiful country.

Because of Covid and the current economic climate, training and development budgets being trimmed down, skills development and continued growth have had a negative impact and as an individual, she invests her time in mentoring and benchmarking. “You have your future in your own hands,” she says. Maryda says that the career centre gave good advice and guidance and that this contributed to her readiness in entering the job market and handling interviews.

 “Mentorship enhances personal and professional development, it also increases self-esteem and builds confidence,” says Maryda. According to her, a good mentor should be knowledgeable, flexible and honest. They should always give constructive feedback to mentees and be helpful and non-judgemental. Maryda’s motivation and motto in life is being the change you want to see and that in life there are simply no limits. Furthermore, she also motivates herself by listening to motivational talks and seminars. Some of the most valuable lessons she learned during her career is to always be teachable and punctual and to plan ahead.

According to Maryda, what stands out the most about the courses offered at NWU is that the university is diverse and it has a lot of fields of study to choose from. Maryda goes on to say she would definitely recommend NWU because it has produced a high calibre of alumni and trailblazers that are dominating world stages, the great campus life, the good support staff and helpful personnel.