Careers Service Guide
2016
Graduate Gallery Science
Graduate Gallery
Key skills that have contributed to my success Being bold (learning to ask for what I want– put myself out there in an engaging way); networking (mutually beneficial relationships with sponsors, supporters, mentors); social intelligence (driven by curiosity to understand people); analytical thinking (always asking why or so what); communicating well (verbal, written, body language); and effective project management (seeing my work as a series of high-quality deliverables).
Thokozile Lewanika Mpupuni Degree(s): PhD Molecular & Cell Biology (UCT) BSc (Hons) Molecular & Cell Biology (UCT) BSc Microbiology & Biotechnology (UCT)
Day-to-day activities Managing key customers in the public sector; meetings with our various brand teams to develop/ implement/review strategies; contributing to internal office projects/activities.
Current job(s): Public-Sector Key Accounts Manager at Novartis South Africa Previous job(s): Expert at McKinsey & Company Sub-Saharan Africa
Advice about approaching your career-development journey
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How my qualifications relate to my work
Think of your career as a series of experiences that will help you grow, develop and make a difference. Don’t think ‘job’, think ‘experience’. Sometimes these will be in the same job and sometimes you will need a new job to experience this.
My qualifications gave me a good understanding/ experience of molecular and cell-biology research. My current job expanded on this and provided insights into what it takes to transform research into effective medicines and provide them to patients in a way that is profitable (sustaining the business) but also patientcentred (affordable). I found that a lot of the problemsolving approaches used in scientific research, work well in business.
How my qualifications relate to my work
Kate Posthumus Degree(s): BSc (Hons) Environmental Management (UCT) BSc Environmental & Geographical Sciences, and Oceanography (UCT) Current job(s): Project Administrator at the World Design Capital Department (City of Cape Town) Previous job(s): Intern at the Environmental Resource Management Department (City of Cape Town) kate-posthumus-19a31251
'Be open to untapped possibilities.'
Very few of my classmates pursued a traditional consulting route. What has been most valuable is the thinking process (holistic systems and complex thinking), which was learnt through studying sustainability, as opposed to implementing the practical ‘how to’ aspect of my qualification.
Best and most challenging parts of my job The best part is being close to the pulse and working with high-quality officials on exciting projects that can have a real impact on communities. The challenging part is that the nature of our organisation requires very strict processes, which can require quite serious diplomacy.
Advice about how to approach your careerdevelopment journey Don’t get too hung up on following an expected or normal career trajectory. Be open to untapped possibilities – go to events, read articles, know who the movers and shakers are, engage beyond the classroom. For those of us who did not earn a professional degree there are opportunities to do things that are not confined by titles.
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During my internship, I was asked to help with a few projects for a new department that had recently been established. They didn’t have the capacity so my manager volunteered my time! Although it wasn’t within my job description I took it on. When the department expanded, I was asked to take up my current position since I had the knowledge and experience.
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How I obtained my current position
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