School of Business and Finance Alumni evening

The University of the Western Cape’s (UWC) School of Business and Finance
Postgraduate students had a wonderful opportunity to rub shoulders and network with UWC alumni in industry in November 2013.

The School of Business introduced the keynote speaker for the evening, Ishmael Samodien from the Computer Sciences Corporation. Samodien is a qualified business analyst with more than 20 years experience in business and represented Computer Science Corporation South Africa.

He started his address by saying  that he takes his hat off to UWC for producing many leaders in business over the years.

Samodien shared important knowledge with the postgrads. “The most important trait is that you need to show leadership as this is a crucial tool in the workplace,” he said. The purpose of the event had to do with the transference of knowledge and the dynamics of the corporate world.

He mentioned that graduates should look forward to their bright futures. “You should learn from your mistakes, let them empower you and put your experience to good use,” he said.

Samodien explained that Africa has arrived in a big way by producing leaders in every sector across the world. “In particular, South Africa has proven itself to be among the leaders in industries such as mining. Our young graduates need to get out there to contribute and make a difference in this country,” he said.

Later in the evening the School of Business and Finance also honoured a team of third-year finance students for winning the JSE/Liberty Investment Challenge. The team, dubbed the SkyDivers, consisted of Trevor Chatukuta, Abonga Sodawe, Dube Mzwakhe and Athenkosi Mjebeza, with the supervision and mentorship of Prof Andy Heng-Hsing. This also culminated with the bestowment of academic merit awards to Finance students who displayed academic excellence in their studies through the year. The alumni evening and events ceremony was sponsored by Computer Science Corporation South Africa and Allan Gray.

The Sky Divers blew the competition out of the water, scoring a 114% return on investment over the six months of the Challenge (a net profit of R1,140,000!), handily dominating Wits' Tripod Traders in second place (with returns of 86%) and third-placed UCT team, White Hare Capital (with returns of 68%). Their victory earned them R25,000 and an all-expenses-paid trip to Brazil, at an awards ceremony held in Sandton, Johannesburg on 18 October 2013.