Second group of BCom Supply Chain students start their journey

On the second of June 2015, nineteen individuals from various companies within the courier industry entered the Da Vinci Institute, situated in Modderfontein. With a clear purpose and intention to journey on a road of co-creation and life-long learning, the energy within Da Vinci escalated as the excitement and nerves started to filter.

The Da Vinci welcoming was orchestrated by Thrishan Naicker, Key Account Manager for the BCom Supply Chain cohorts. Garry Marshall, CEO of SAEPA addressed the students with encouraging and inspiring words. Marshall stated that gone are the days of old when people with just experience and no formal qualifications operate within the Supply Chain industry. The future of the courier industry is dependant on allowing passionate individuals to learn but also to focus importance on the application of such.

Dr Linda Chipunza carries out personalised student support for all students and in her gentle character, encouraged students to find that balance within their own lives in how to effectively manage work pressures, home life and that of a study routine. As working adults it is often hard to take on an additional task of studying, and this is commendable and achievable. Dr Chipunza relayed her support to the students and also advised them of Shadowmatch, which is a behavourial pattern tool to establish various behaviours which allow positive action, rather than negative.

Ronald Mlalazi is a Da Vinci associate and is a colleague at Commerce Edge, procurement and supply chain management faculty at Da Vinci. Mr Mlalazi congratulated students for having the courage to take the first step on this journey and offered words of wisdom in accomplishing this great achievement.

The first workshop for students was facilitated by Mr Joshua Bhengu and consisted of Self, Other and Social Context (SOS), Problem Solving, Creative thinking and decision making (PCD) and Managerial Leadership Development (MLD). True to Da Vinci's purpose is the notion of cultivating managerial leaders, of which these three modules apply strongly to. Each one of these nineteen individuals are a managerial leader within themselves and the co-creation of such modules assists in unlocking and unleashing the very potential to become a great managerial leader.