UKZN Student Showcases Entrepreneurial Talent

Mr Christian Ishimwe.

The goal of BCom Accounting student, Mr Christian Ishimwe, to be counted as one of South Africa’s future leaders secured him a spot in the 2013 Student Apprentice Challenge at the University of Witwatersrand.

The Challenge is a practical learning process through which 64 of  South Africa’s high potential students from the country’s universities gain valuable business skills, enabling them to successfully bridge the gap between achieving a tertiary education and entering the corporate and business environment.

The entrance requirements called for the applicants to motivate why they wanted to be part of the challenge, their plans for the future and how they were leading and inspiring their peers and the community. A vision which Ishimwe is already living in his position as Ushering Co-ordinator for ENACTUS-UKZN,  InvesCat Project Manager and part of KZN Financial Literacy Association, a project developed by the provincial treasury to improve financial literacy in the provinces schools. Mr Ishimwe also made the top18 in South Africa for the 2013 IgniteSA future young leaders.

‘Getting an opportunity to come up with these concepts that addressed the problems that these companies are facing was a great learning experience for me. I got to enhance my time and project management skills and go through situations that challenged my leadership. It was also a networking opportunity which will be beneficial for internship opportunities when I have completed my studies,’ said Ishimwe.

Through students utilising their marketing, entrepreneurship, sales techniques, project management, financial planning, leadership and business concept development skills to come up with several concepts for companies such as leading consumer product company Procter and Gamble, The National Youth Development Agency and Etana Insurance they showcased their initiative towards becoming the future driving force for the South African economy.