Date:                    Friday, 28^th February 2025

Time:                   11h30 – 12h30

Venue:                The Orbital, Room 3-1 Chemistry Building

Enquiries:           Prof. Lynne Pilcher ([email protected])

Departmental Seminar coordinator: Dr. William Dlamini ([email protected])    

TITLE: Your reaction pathway to a greater you

     As a chemistry postgraduate student, you might find your career journey as unpredictable as a quantum particle. It's quite possible that you won't end up working in a chemistry-related field. But don't worry, that's actually a good thing! As a chemistry student, you possess a unique skill: the ability to use chemistry principles to boost your career, develop strong leadership qualities, and make a significant impact that will impress those around you.

   Take bonding, for example. It's not just about molecules coming together. It's your secret tool for developing a powerful leadership style and building a network of connections that are as strong as a covalent bond. Then there's retrosynthesis, which helps you become a forward-thinker and a problem-solver in any company. And don't forget about catalysis; that's your key to fostering unexpected opportunities and sparking innovation faster than you can say "exothermic reaction."

    There are many chemistry concepts that are just waiting to be linked to real-life opportunities for personal empowerment. If you're still unsure, let me introduce you to Professor Jefferson Yu-Jen Chen.

  Professor J is a full-time faculty member at the Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria. He explores a wide range of topics, from innovation and leadership to coaching and consulting. With a PhD in Computational Chemistry and a PhD in Collective Intelligence for Corporate Innovation, as well as two Master's degrees – one in Pharmaceutical Analytical Chemistry and another in Executive and Management Coaching – he has a passion for acquiring knowledge and wisdom, much like collecting elements in the periodic table. Professor J doesn't just gain knowledge and wisdom from books and peer-reviewed articles. He also learns from his network of people, from conversations with random strangers, and through his own reflections. Additionally, he learns a lot from the experiments he creates and conducts for his own growth.

    And here's something interesting—Professor J nearly dropped out of primary school. If he can create a meaningful and successful life using chemistry principles, then you can too. In fact, you might even surpass him. So, put on your lab goggles and get ready to experiment with your career, and your life!

Do come and join us. We are excited to see what you will achieve.