An advocate for lifelong learning

I grew up on the Cape Flats. My mother was a housewife and she raised my siblings and me while my father was at work. My father worked really hard to give us everything we needed. We may not have had everything we wanted, but we never lacked anything.

My father is my greatest source of inspiration. He did not have the opportunity to finish school when he was younger, he only went as far as Grade 10. When he was a working man, with six kids, he went and finished his matric so that he could get a promotion at work. He taught us how to be independent, to always go for what we want and to never ever give up. He is 83 today and is still dancing with my mom.

I started studying very late in my life. I did not have the opportunity to go to university after I completed my matric, so I actually only started studying in my 30s. I would always do short courses through an employer, but not an actual degree. I only did my undergraduate degree after meeting my husband who comes from an academic family and encouraged me to study. So I did my BCom at UNISA.

It took seven years to complete my BCom because I was working and studying part time. I took my time because it was for me. It wasn't for anybody else. I did not study because I wanted to get a promotion, I just wanted to learn as much as I could. It also took me a long time because I was taking up every job opportunity that came my way. At the same time, I also knew that I was going to go somewhere, and I wasn't going to give up. After I graduated, I worked in many different jobs, and through all of that experience, I landed a role in research, which is how my journey with Henley began.

I started at Henley in 2022 as a research manager. When the opportunity to work at Henley came up, I knew that it was where I wanted to be. I wanted to manage research projects and write case studies while also doing my MBA, and Henley gave me the room to do just that. I am currently in the second stage of my MBA, and I am part of an amazing learning group. The lecturing is fantastic and people are always available to assist you if you're struggling. Joining Henley is the best choice I ever made.

The culture at Henley is what keeps us together. People genuinely care about one another and when someone needs support, they show up. The school is filled with good people and smart individuals who you can learn a lot from. Even in the demanding MBA programme, this supportive spirit shines through.

I will be a doctor one day. Growing up, I always said I wanted to be a doctor. I didn't say what type of doctor I wanted to be, but if I had to choose, I would have definitely been a dentist. I don't know why, but I would have chosen that over anything else. And you know what? I'm not a doctor yet, but I do plan to do my PhD, hopefully at Henley, which has just launched its DBA programme this year. So I will be Dr Cupido one day.

The more you learn, the more knowledge you can share. This is what motivates me to keep going. It's important to me to keep learning because if I don't continue to learn, I can't share any more knowledge. I thought I would stop studying after completing my undergrad, but when I was working, I realised that there were people in the room who needed more from me. Hopefully, after my PhD I will get in the classroom and teach a little just to get that feeling and to impart the knowledge that I've gained over the years.

I never thought I would achieve all of this in my life, but a traumatic event made me even more determined. My husband had a heart attack in 2019, and that event changed my life. I see things differently now. I used to take things too seriously but that event changed the way I see things and the way I see people. It actually made me stronger and made me take on things that I would never have taken on before.

That’s one of the reasons why now I tell people, don’t be afraid and don't let anyone else tell you that you cannot do it, because you can. I’ve learnt not to fear anything, go for what you want. Tell yourself over and over that no one can stop you, and you will achieve anything you set your mind to.