The Faculty of Health Sciences at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) hosted its inaugural Entrepreneurship Day at the Hotel School, Ritson campus on Tuesday, 10 October 2023.
Facilitating the event was Dr Moeti Kgware, Head of Department: Community Health Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Dr Moeti Kgware who began by introducing Dr Shanaz Ghuman, HOD: Somatology at DUT. Dr Ghuman gave a warm welcome to all the esteemed guests and students in attendance.
The aim of the event was to inspire and show students that it is possible to become your own boss even in the Health Sciences field. The faculty had called upon different business owners from different fields to share their experiences during the transition from being career driven to business driven.
The Executive Dean in the Faculty of Health Sciences at DUT, Professor Gugu Mchunu said that she was very delighted to be part of this special day and that students should know what it meant to be an entrepreneur.
“Thank you for honoring the invitation and I am very excited that this event is finally taking place. One cannot talk about DUT without ENVISION2030 which promotes innovation and entrepreneurship. I am hopeful that the students will benefit from this event by completing degrees and having the tools to further prosper,” said Prof Mchunu.
The event proceeded with different business owners who changed their lives by being innovative while serving the needs of their communities. They shared how they faced difficulties and what kept them going. They also shared the motivation they had which helped the to grow their businesses.
Director: Technology, Transfer, and Innovation (TTI) at DUT, Professor Keolebogile Motaung shared that she uses medicinal plants to make her products. She encouraged the students to be passionate about their businesses and fake it till they make it. “Know your clients first and then develop your products. You need to know how to sell and know your products in and out,” said Prof Motaung.
The Medical lecturer from the University of KwaZulu Natal (UKZN), Dr Zamadonda NQ Xulu-Kasaba said that starting a career can be confusing at the beginning as most students want to graduate and be employed for security. She encouraged the students to start with the ideas that they have in the health care field and make a living from them.
“You must be creative. You must make your business more exciting for your clients. You need to be curious, the kind of curiosity that will have you questioning how people are changing the way that they are living so that you can be able to go with the trends,” said Dr Xulu-Kasaba.
There we also different entrepreneurs who were there to share their line of work and inspire the students. Mr Luvo Gugwana from Green Arch, Mr Ntuthuzelo Qeqe and Rodney from Rhiza Babuyile, Ms Simi Raghununan from SnS Laboratory, Ms Anastasia Papaspiridis from Tasia Botanica, Dr Rakesh Mohanlall from Counterpulsation, Ms Nontokozo Ngcobo from innobiz DUT Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Mr Ebrahim Asmal from Information Technology at DUT, and Dr Lungile Mhlongo who is the CEO of Numasthetics.
Promoting the DUT Living Values was Mr Avhatakali Nenungwi, Director: Organisation Development and Talent Management at DUT. He addressed the students on how they can bring the DUT Living Values Framework alive through daily actions and behaviors.
In closing, Prof Mchunu thanked all the guests for all the information they shared and mentioned how inspired and encouraged she was. She said that she was grateful for the real-life stories told and that she could relate to most of what was said. Prof Mchunu ended with inspiring words that success usually comes to those who are prepared.
Pictured: Distinguished guests at the Faculty of Health Sciences’ Entrepreneurship Day 2023
Photographer: Khulasande Tshayile.
Patience Makhaye
