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Breakfast to Help Bring Finance Honours Students on Board

Breakfast for UKZN Finance Honours Students.

Breakfast to Help Bring Finance Honours Students on Board

The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) hosted a breakfast designed to provide finance honours students with valuable insights into the working world while fostering connections with industry leaders. The event was sponsored by Radisson Blu Hotel Umhlanga and the School of Accounting, Economics, and Finance (SAEF).


The event brought together students, alumni and industry leaders to discuss career paths, industry expectations and bridging academia with entrepreneurship. A Professor of Finance in the SAEF, Professor Paul-Francois Muzindutsi delivered a welcome address on behalf of the Dean and Head of School, Professor Mabutho Sibanda. Muzindutsi provided an overview of the Finance programme at the UKZN, emphasising the importance of charting a clear career path post-honours while urging students to explore the diverse opportunities available within the financial sector.


‘The aim of the breakfast is to equip students for the working industry, providing them with a variety of career choices and further building a robust network of past and present students, creating opportunities for mentorship and collaboration with industry leaders,’ said Muzindutsi. Giving industry insights were UKZN alumni and quantitative analyst Ms Miranda Vengatsamy of Nedbank; Regional Manager: Old Mutual International Mr Sabelo Mjaja, and Business Advisor: Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) Mr Innocent Mnisi.


Vengatsamy and Mjaja highlighted the dynamics of the working world and also emphasised the evolving nature of the finance industry and the importance of adaptability. ‘My career as a quantitative analyst is more than just numbers- it’s problem-solving, which involves mathematical and technical skills, and analysing data to help businesses understand what works,’ said Vengatsamy.


She further highlighted the critical role of coding in the finance sector, explaining how it enables professionals to interpret complex data and develop actionable strategies. ‘These are essential tools for navigating the modern finance landscape,’ she stressed. Mjaja, with a decade of industry experience, shared his journey of holding seven different roles in 10 years. His career path underscored the importance of staying relevant through self-development.

‘Lifelong learning is essential to stay relevant and updated with industry trends while continuously building technical skills. This has helped me in my career where I was able to adapt to changing environments and never become complacent,’ he said. While building a career is important, entrepreneurship is also considered as a career in itself. Mnisi brought a different dynamic, advising students of the importance of building a business using skills they have acquired in their qualification.

‘The finance background equips an individual with skills to manage risks, allocate resources effectively and develop business strategies – essential traits for any successful entrepreneur,’ he said. Mnisi further advised students to access grants and engage in programmes from SEDA for funding and support when building their own businesses.


Mr Siyabonga Hlengwa, UKZN alumni, Entrepreneur and CEO of HZ INVESTMENTS, emphasised that ‘knowledge is power’ only when applied. He encouraged students to think of different ways of creating employment and shared different entrepreneurial opportunities.

The event concluded with a prize-giving ceremony recognising top performing students from the second year to the honours level, which was facilitated by Dr Damien Kunjal, Senior Lecturer in the SAEF. The top students include Ms Aqila Sayed, Ms Leilah Beth Colley, Mr Masibulele Khoza, Ms Priyashni Reddy, Mr Yadiel Chatterpersad, Mr Calem Joel Gilbert, Mr Kiash Nadasen Baldeo, Mr Nhlanhla Lindelwa Mkhize, Mr Keshav Govender and Mr Saif Sherzadh Singh.

Words: Ayanda Radebe
Photograph: Supplied