The Durban University of Technology (DUT) officially launched the ENVISION2030 Living Values Framework, comprising five core values: transparency, honesty, integrity, respect and accountability. These values are underpinned by the principles of fairness, professionalism, commitment, compassion, and excellence. DUT Communications team member, Vukani Langa, recently engaged in a conversation with Sharon Mandizha, a PhD candidate and Research Assistant in the Department of Entrepreneurship Studies and Management at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) to delve deeper into the Living Values Framework and ENVISION2030.
Q: Kindly tell me about your role at DUT?
A: “I am a PhD candidate passionate about SME/entrepreneurship research. With over seven years of experience in management consulting, I bring practical insights to my academic work. My research focuses on innovative strategies to help small businesses overcome challenges and achieve sustainable growth in our local context.’’
Q: How long have you been a member of the DUT family?
A: “I have been part of the DUT family for almost 15 years now. I joined the institution in 2011 when I started my studies towards my National Diploma in Management Sciences, and I am now doing my PhD.’’
Q: Amongst the mentioned ENVISION2030 Living Values and Principles, which one do you mostly associate with and why?
A: “I most strongly associate with the people-centred and engaged value from ENVISION2030. Throughout my career in management consulting, I have seen that organisations thrive when they genuinely value and develop their people. This resonates with my passion for mentorship and capacity building.’’
Q: What are your views on the new DUT tagline: Creative. Distinctive. Impactful.
A: “The tagline, creative, distinctive, impactful perfectly encapsulates what I believe education should be. In my work with small businesses, I have observed that those who succeed are the ones who find creative solutions to problems, to establish a distinctive presence in their market, and to create meaningful impact in their communities.’’
Q: How are you planning to keep abreast with the ENVISION2030 Living Values Framework?
A: “To stay aligned with the ENVISION2030 Living Values Framework, I plan to actively participate in university initiatives related to the framework, attend workshops and seminars on its implementation, and incorporate these values into my teaching and research methodologies.”
Q: What is the one thing that most people do not know about you?
A: “Most people do not know that I volunteer during weekends with a community cooperative that helps women from disadvantaged backgrounds develop micro-enterprises. This passion for grassroot economic empowerment is what drives much of my research interest in SMEs.”
Q: In your opinion, how will the ENVISION2030 Living Values Framework benefit DUT?
A: “The ENVISION2030 Living Values Framework will benefit DUT by creating a unified institutional culture that guides decision-making at all levels. By embedding these values in our operations, research, and teaching, we will develop graduates who are not only technically proficient but also ethically grounded and socially conscious.”
Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?
A: “In my spare time, I enjoy analysing business case studies and mentoring young entrepreneurs. I also find balance through activities like hiking and practicing mindfulness meditation, which help clear my mind and generate fresh perspectives for my research.”
Q: How do you plan to make a positive impact at DUT?
A: “I like DUT’s ‘grow your own timber’ framework and I hope to mentor or have a positive impact on as many DUT students as I can. I plan to leverage my extensive consulting experience to bridge the gap between academic theory and practical business applications, particularly for students interested in entrepreneurship and small business development.”
Q: What is your daily motivation?
A: “My daily motivation comes from the potential impact of my work on real businesses and people’s livelihoods. Every day, I am driven by the knowledge that my research could help small business owners to overcome challenges and create sustainable enterprises. I am also motivated by the fact that I have managed to break boundaries as the first woman in my family to attain a master’s degree and pursue a PhD.”
Q: What are your future goals at DUT?
A: “I am hoping to graduate as the best PhD student in my department. This will require me to work harder together with my academic sponsors, and I am sure this goal can be met. Beyond graduation, I aim to continue focusing on research on small business innovations that will create opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience in business consulting.”
Q: If you were granted one wish, what would it be?
A: “It would be to establish innovation hubs in the deep rural areas of Zimbabwe, where I could apply my expertise to empower young girls and boys. These hubs would serve as centres where the rural youth could be oriented on entrepreneurship and innovation from a young age, equipping them with the tools, mindset, and confidence needed to create sustainable solutions for their communities. This wish stems from my passionate belief that Africans must provide solutions to African problems.’’
