Overcoming adversity with gutsy determination Chosen as one of the top 10 learners in South Africa in the 2019 Gradstar Programme, Yeshveer Manawar (27) is now a Business Strategy Analyst for Accenture through sheer hard work, tenacity and dedication to excellence.
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he GradStar Programme recognises the top 100 students based on leadership qualities and for workplace readiness. It is designed to provide previously unrecognised students with opportunities for employment and to emulate the process that top employers (Absa, Accenture, Fasken, Epiroc, BAT, DHL and many more) use to find their future talent. It makes use of behavioural testing and personal interviewing among other methods as measurement tools.
“I was privileged to meet numerous professionals in various aspects of the business environment,” said Manawar. “Networking and creating strong friendships with the top 100 students and some of the greatest minds in the country was a priceless experience.” It was this remarkable achievement that landed him his current position at Accenture, where he leverages technology to create dynamic business solutions that deliver value and drive innovation across various industries as part of the innovation and growth domain. “While my work does not involve Chemical Engineering, it has laid the foundation for how I work, think and solve problems in my career,” he said. “DUT allowed me to gain practical experience and how to apply critical thinking to solve complex issues and be agile in my way of working.” He went on to say: “We are not defined by our degrees and should always look to improve ourselves outside of our comfort zones. I was surprised at the vast range of professions in the workplace, which favours adaptability in skill sets as the roles we hold change as time and technology does.” His entrepreneurial father and mother (a housewife) always made sure that he and his elder sister always felt well looked after, even though things weren’t always easy financially. “My parents strongly believed in our potential but also pushed us to be independent and
Yeshveer Manawar DUT Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Chemical Engineering Graduate DUTConnect // 32
