The presentation kicked off with the HOD of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, Professor Roumen Anguelov welcoming Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng.  Lerato Masola, the manager of Crypto Giants followed by reading her profile. Professor Phakeng is a B2 NRF-rated scientist and is also the first black South African female to obtain a PhD in Mathematics Education which she received in 2002  from the University of the Witwatersrand.

In her presentation  she explained to the students how she decided to pursue her dream of becoming a researcher in mathematics education. She mentioned some of her struggles during her time as a student including to reject several job offers from private companies with attractive salaries. She replied that she was not interested in money but in a PhD.  She encouraged the students not to chase financial benefits, but to chase their dreams.  “If you're chasing money, you'll be chasing it for a long time.”  She further told students why she loves what she does and said “I am the CEO of what I do”.

At the end of the presentation the students were given the opportunity to ask her some questions including ones such as:  “How did you gain your confidence?” and “How can a mathematics student apply what they have learned in university to the real world?”