Phumzile Phooko, a determined 38-year-old from KwaNdengezi, West of Durban celebrated completing her Advanced Diploma in Marketing with Cum Laude and earning the prestigious Dean’s Merit for academic excellence. Her academic journey with the Durban University of Technology (DUT) began in 2016, when she enrolled for a Diploma in Marketing. After a brief pause, she returned to her studies in 2024 and successfully completed her Advanced Diploma.
Phokoo’s academic achievements are a testament to her consistent effort and discipline. Her commitment to her studies is evident in her ability to balance her job as a Promotions Coordinator at Ukhozi FM with her academic pursuits. With over 13 years of experience in the Marketing field, Phumzile has demonstrated her dedication and passion for her career.
One of the challenges she faced was studying while having a full-time job. Despite this, she persevered and excelled in her studies. Her family was overjoyed by her achievement, and she is proud of her accomplishment. Phumzile chose to study Marketing because of her experience volunteering at a community radio station.
“I was volunteering at a community radio in the marketing department for about 4 years before my studies, so I fell in love with it and decided to pursue my studies in the field I was already familiar with,” she shared.
Currently pursuing a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Relations and Communication, her career goals are focused on the Communications side of Marketing and plans to further her studies with a Master’s degree and possibly a PhD. Her current role as a Promotions Coordinator at Ukhozi FM, where she has been working for just over three years, has provided her with valuable experience and skills.
Her advice to first-year students is to explore different areas of Marketing to find what interests them, as the field is broad and diverse. She believes that by doing so, students can identify their strengths and passions, and pursue a career path that aligns with their goals.
Pictured: Phumzile Phooko
Photographer: S’bonelo Dlamini
Thubelihle Dumakude
