Six MBA Graduates Received their Degrees Cum Laude

BY: .

Six Master of Business Administration graduates received their degrees cum laude during the Law and Management Studies Graduation ceremony.

They were: Dr Donal Ryan, Ms Samantha Sigamoney, Mr Avaan Sewpersadh, Ms Megandrie Moodley, Mr Mogantheran Naidoo and Mr Luchen Govender.

Coming from a disadvantaged background, Sigamoney’s parents taught her that education was the conduit to success.

Her research focused on the evaluation of the effectiveness of interpersonal skills training interventions on leadership within the Eqstra Industrial Equipment business.

‘The study was designed to identify employees’ perceptions on interpersonal skills training initiatives within Eqstra Industrial Equipment, and its effectiveness in creating a talent pool of emerging leaders for succession planning.

‘The study also examined the impact of gender, age and the inter-racial cultural background of employees in relation to the effectiveness of interpersonal skills training.

‘Personally completing the MBA degree with 12 distinctions and four merit awards, and being awarded the degree cum laude was the cherry on the top for me.’

Sigamoney, who currently works as Toyota Industrial Equipment’s Assistant General Manager for the KwaZulu-Natal region, hopes her success opens up opportunities for better positions within the company.

Ryan, who completed with 15 distinctions and received three merit awards, advised students to go into their studies with an open mind.

‘An MBA is a very worthwhile challenge to take on. If you go into it with an open mind and the right attitude you will learn a great deal about the business world. If you don't, then the course will become a painstaking chore, and at the very most you will end up with a fancy sheet of paper with your name on it - and this should not be your sole reason for doing an MBA.’

Ryan’s research was entitled: “The effect of Chinese Rubber Imports on the South African Rubber Manufacturing Industry”.

He said he found it quite difficult trying to juggle family, work and his MBA studies.

‘My first semester exams in MBA coincided with the birth of my first child. Therefore, from that point on, any time spent on my MBA was taking me away from my wife and newborn daughter which wasn’t easy. But at the end of the day, it was worthwhile.’

Sewpersadh, however, said his personal life did not take any strain during his MBA.

‘Consistency is the key! Pay attention, work hard on your assignments and study for tests and exams. Because I was consistent, I was never stressed out – and neither was my family.’

He cites motivation from his family as fuel for working harder, longer and studying further. His dissertation titled: “The Impact of Company Acquisition and Rebranding on the Workforce in a KwaZulu-Natal Manufacturing Plant”, focused on how a change in ownership of an organisation affected staff within that organisation.

‘I investigated and tried to identify factors that cause the greatest demotivation and concern or worry among staff, as well as the factors that cause the most motivation and excitement.

‘I also investigated ways that could maximise the positive emotions and minimise the negative ones during the acquisition, merger and rebranding process. Finally, I investigated whether white collar staff or higher earners had a different attitude towards the whole process as compared to blue collar or lower earning staff members,’ said Sewpersadh.

Sithembile Shabangu