After exploring a possible career in engineering, Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (EMS) alumnus Nomsa Maseko, found her true calling in commerce and communication management, which aligned well with her interests.

Maseko, a certified customer experience professional at First National Bank (FNB), says she found great fulfillment when she switched from engineering to communication, a field in which she excelled. Her academic achievements paved the way for an exciting career. “The transition from engineering to commerce worked out in the end, as I completed my degree cum laude and was placed in the top 15% of the class, as a Golden Key member.”

She has a great affinity for people and the BCom Communication Management capacitated her with the knowledge and skills to pursue a thriving career in customer experience. In her quest to serve people and make a difference in society, she is a member of the UP Convocation Advisory Board, striving to contribute to the University’s success and creating a conducive environment where students can thrive.

She attributes her success to her mother, an educator who ensured her children got a good education. “I am eternally grateful to her for recognising my gifts and investing in them,” she says.

Read more about her interests and love for UP below.

Briefly summarise your studies (including the qualifications you obtained) and your professional career, with special mention of specific highlights/milestones.

I hold a Diploma in Product Management and I obtained a BCom Hons Communication Management degree from the University of Pretoria (UP). I have occupied a number of positions as a certified customer experience professional, including my current position as customer experience designer at FNB. I am also an accredited customer experience master and certified scrum product owner.

My academic achievements, aside from my professional achievements, are some of my milestones.  I completed my communications degree with distinction. During my studies at UP, I was an Oppenheimer Memorial Trust Scholar and a member of Golden Key International, which recognises the top 15% of students at the University. I have also been re-elected as a member of the UP Convocation Advisory Board. After a 10-year tenure in entrepreneurship and a thriving career in corporate, I believe I am a well-seasoned value-adding agent personally and professionally. 

Q: To what extent did your studies at UP benefit you in your career and contribute to your success?

A: I owe a significant portion of my success to UP. From the sheer quality of networks and friendships that were established during my time as a student, to meeting people in different corporate and entrepreneurial spaces, people who contribute significantly to the UP brand, which I am incredibly proud of. I think the UP marketing and executive team has done an invaluable job in ensuring that our degrees hold long-lasting global prestige, even years after graduating. 

Q: Why did you choose your particular degree course/major(s) and did it meet your expectations or, in hindsight, should you have opted for something else?

A: So, I actually started studying engineering. I failed dismally. I then switched to a BCom programme, which I found was a better fit for me. I am so glad I decided to try again in a field that resonated with me more than engineering, which I pursued to impress friends and family. When you are as young as 19, you don’t always know who you are and what you want, so the opinions of others largely contribute to one’s identity. 

The transition from engineering to commerce worked out in the end, as I completed my degree cum laude and was recognised as a top achiever by placed in the top 15% of the University, as a Golden Key member. I am grateful that my family and sponsors supported me. My engineering experience was simply a lack of understanding of myself, instead of a real “failure”. 

Q: As a UP and EMS alumna, what makes you proud to be associated with UP?

A: The values that were instilled in us, such as always striving for excellence, work ethic, and valuing the people around us. UP and EMS have a strong culture that embraces diversity and makes decisions based on sound research, which is such a valuable skill in the business world. I can tell that I possess a unique outlook in solving problems personally and professionally because of UP, and as an EMS alumnus, I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities and teachings I have been afforded. 

Q: Given your academic experience at UP, what advice can you pass on to current students?

A: Being at UP is an incredible privilege. No matter what social media may say regarding qualifications, it is important to have a degree and to strive to do well because it opens many doors, even globally. A formal qualification can alter your life trajectory.  Enjoy your time at university, make friends and explore your various passions and interests, be it sport, art or social projects – all these help you become a well-rounded individual. Remember you are the future of South Africa and the future global leaders of our world. Thousands and thousands of friends, family, staff and sponsors have invested in making your experience at UP a valuable one, so make it count!

Q: AI (ChatGPT-4/Generative AI/LLM) is expected to have a significant impact on both tertiary education and the workplace. What is your take on the advantages/disadvantages of AI for students and employees/employers?

A: I think AI is a powerful tool that can create powerful efficiencies and seamless business processes and experiences for employees and customers. We live in the information era and it is always best to equip ourselves with knowledge to make the best use of AI tools. AI has created many opportunities for students and employees to participate. Secondly, AI cannot run on its own, you need people to set it up, maintain it, and ensure it delivers business value. There’s also a lot of work going into ensuring that there is compliance and governance for AI practices and ensuring its ethical use, which only humans can do. Also, there is one thing that AI does NOT have, and that is the human touch. People want to know they are cared for loved and understood, which puts us as humans in a unique position to solve complex human problems that only humans can understand. 

Q: Going forward, what are your professional/business/personal goals? What is your ultimate ‘dream job’?

A: I aim to continue to grow professionally and personally and to be the best version of myself. I am steadily making moves in the corporate world, ensuring I add value to my projects and the people around me alike. I also aim to continue investing my time on the UP Convocation Board, where we strive to create a conducive environment for students to thrive. My dream job is to be called a good mom, a great partner, and a wife, and to be amongst the most renowned leaders in business and education. As much as I aspire to professional success, I want to also be valuable to the people closest to me. 

Q: Which business/trade-related publications (magazines/newspapers/blogs, etc) do you enjoy reading?

A: I consume everything! From the Diary of a CEO, UP podcast, Forbes to my favourite TikTok videos by talented influencers on topics such as business, education, spirituality, and self-mastery. 

Q: What/who really inspires and motivates you personally?

A: At my core it is my dear mother, Lindeni Maseko, who fought so hard to raise my siblings and me, and to give us the best in life. She was a teacher and believed so much in education and the opportunities it can unlock. I am eternally grateful to her for recognising my gifts and investing in them. I am also inspired by the human spirit and our ability to transcend current circumstances and create a new reality. We are never stuck or without a solution, we have the answers within. 

Q: If you could have a face-to-face meeting with an inspiring person - in any domain - who sets an example in transforming the world and inspiring others to do the same, who would it be and what would you like to discuss?

A: I recently met the CEO of the FirstRand Group, Mary Vilakazi, and I would love to chat more with her and what actually inspires her to be the phenomenal woman she is. I would love to hear how she overcame her challenges in business and personally and what her vision for South Africa is. 

Q: Tell us more about yourself, including your likes/dislikes; strengths/weaknesses, business/life philosophy

A: I am such a spectrum in that my professional life is one that I love and continuously invest in. I have a love for people, family, and friends and spending lots of time with them. I have a special affinity for understanding the human psyche, which has helped me tremendously in navigating life. I also enjoy business and consulting, and I believe I have built a wealth of knowledge over the years in entrepreneurship and the corporate world. My philosophy and outlook are deeply rooted in my faith and also in self-mastery.

Q: How do you handle stress/failure?

A: I have learned to try not to take it personally. Many losses and failures are just here to teach and equip us for the next feat. Life will give you another chance. I am deeply rooted in my faith in God and always protect that space to pour into my life and work. 

Q: If you could contribute to solving one/some of our societal problems, what would you like to tackle and why?

A: I would say poverty and economic prosperity. I think my work on the UP Convocation Board speaks to that in that as a first step, we want to ensure institutions like UP continue to thrive and create prosperity for South Africans, but we also need that shift in mindset that doesn’t rely only on government to create jobs and opportunities. We need more entrepreneurs who can solve problems and create businesses that can employ more people. SMMEs are huge economic drivers in our economy and I would love to find ways that we can continue to support them.  

Q: What are your hopes and aspirations for South Africa and its people?

A: I think we are on the right track, as much as we still have the challenges of unemployed youth, poverty, and crime. I am hopeful that if we continue to invest in the youth to be educated, to support entrepreneurship, and to use technology, we will be able to change the status quo in the years to come.