Interview - Nonkululeko Nompumelelo Gobodo, WSU Chancellor

Forging Ahead

By Raine St.Claire

Nonkululeko Gobodo’s extraordinary journey is truly inspirational. In 2023, she was appointed as Chancellor at Walter Sisulu University - the first black female CA to assume this leadership role, thereby compounding her legacy and elevating her meteoric career to new heights. Nonkululeko is the CEO of AWAKENED Global, a pioneering social initiative and was chair of Sizwe Ntsaluba Gobodo (now SNG Grant Thornton) the largest black auditing and accounting firm in South Africa, which she founded after earning the distinction as the first African woman to qualify as a chartered accountant in 1987.

Adding another dimension to her illustrious career, Nonkululeko authored “Awakened to My True Self,” in October 2022. Awakened explores themes of personal growth, resilience and seizing opportunities “It shares insights on forging ahead and soldiering on, leadership, women empowerment, and the importance of embracing change.”

Her narrative is defined by resilience, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to positive change; this continues to serve as inspiration for the dynamic business landscape in South Africa and beyond, leaving an indelible mark on both her career and the broader business community.

In a reflective interview, this inspirational woman sheds light on her strategic vision for Walter Sisulu University (WSU) and her unique approach to balancing academic and business responsibilities.

“My vision involves fostering alliances with industry leaders, governmental bodies, and NGOs to create internships, research opportunities, and curriculum alignment that resonate with real-world needs. As a WSU alumna, a woman in leadership, my bond with WSU fuels my commitment to encourage women to aspire and assume leadership positions. Strengthening ties means initiating mentorship programmes, alumni networking events, and fundraising campaigns to provide opportunities and resources for current and future students.”

High on the agenda are projects to revamp the curriculum to meet industry demands and foster a research culture. “In this era of rationalisation, my aspiration, without monopolising academic spaces, is to encourage a focus on optimising resources, enhancing academic quality, and driving innovation while taking care of the emotional well-being of both staff and students, as change has a tendency to disrupt progress.”

Acknowledging the delicate balance between her roles in both spheres, Nonkululeko relies on delegation, efficient time management, and a supportive team. It is a delicate balance when you are not full-time within the university. “I depend on receiving reports from the executive management, as they are hands-on in this area, keeping me informed about the progress. Aligning my business acumen with the university’s strategic goals helps harmonise my role as Chancellor and sets the bar higher as an influencer.”

Confronting bureaucratic obstacles is an integral part of the journey; however, Nonkululeko believes that the substantial opportunities overshadow these challenges. She finds immense satisfaction in observing the firsthand impact of initiatives led by the university management. “Witnessing the impact of initiatives implemented by the university management firsthand and seeing progress and transformation in staff and students’ lives through research harvests, infra-structure improvements and Convocation initiatives is immensely rewarding.

“Education is the cornerstone of empowerment, and as Chancellor, I strive to be present at every graduation ceremony, ensuring every qualification is significant, and every graduate photograph tells a story. I aim to create an environment fostering individual importance for student retention, innovation, aligning with the transformative power of education. It involves setting clear goals, effective communication, and leveraging synergies between my business commitments and the university’s strategic objectives”.

Being a trailblazer comes with a profound responsibility for Nonkululeko, who aims to provide guidance, support, and resources to aspiring black female CAs and businesswomen. Emphasising the importance of resilience and continuous learning, she believes, “a lecture once in a while to a class of 3rd and 4th-year accounting students can have an immense impact on mentorship.”

Nonkululeko emphasises the importance of ensuring students are well-prepared with industry-relevant skills. Adapting education for the workforce is a core aspect of an integrated university, where technology, soft skills, and industry partnerships become critical. The commercial sector plays a pivotal role in supporting collaborative initiatives to prepare the future workforce. This adaptation involves mentorship programs, funding, internships, collaboration on curriculum development, and adequate work-integrated learning.

“WSU can adapt by integrating practical skills, fostering adaptability, and creating interdisciplinary programs. Emphasising technology as an infused technology African university, soft skills and industry partnerships is crucial for students’ readiness for the workforce.”

A balanced recognition of languages, scholarships for underrepresented groups, and creating a uniform campus culture that values and celebrates diversity are a primary focus for Nonkululeko as the Chancellor. Strategies include acknowledging the languages used within the university (isiXhosa and English in the case of WSU) for diverse representation in decision-making bodies, providing scholarships to underrepresented groups, and establishing a uniform campus culture that values and celebrates diversity.

Synergy is vital, “My experience in the business world informs strategic decision-making in all business sectors, and WSU is not immune to this. Business insights, efficiency, and adaptability are transferable skills that enhance governance and operations, therefore with all this, the academic space will flourish.”