Sweet success: How the 2018 IMM top achievers did it
The 71-year-old IMM Graduate School recently hosted its annual graduation ceremonies, capping 984 students in the regions of Zimbabwe, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and Western Cape. The class of 2018 saw a record number of qualifications conferred: Two MPhil Master’s, 111 BPhil Honours, 117 Postgraduate Diplomas, 487 Degrees, 128 Diplomas and 139 Higher Certificates.
“We are extremely proud of our graduates and wish them every success in their future careers and endeavours. They are equipped with industry acknowledged qualifications that will serve them well in achieving their goals and ambitions. Online learning is not easy, and their accomplishments bear testament to the sweet success earned from hard work, dedication and commitment to their dreams. We also extend hearty congratulations to all our top achievers in the various academic qualifications; you have done yourselves, your families and the IMM Graduate School proud. Class of 2018, we salute you!” said CEO of the IMM Graduate School, Dalein van Zyl.
We caught up with several graduates to find out more about how they achieved their success, and their advice to others on how to win the studying game.
GRETEL ENGELBRECHT
Master’s of Philosophy (MPhil) in Marketing: 72% for her Master’s thesis
What has being an IMM top achiever meant for you on a personal and professional level?
A: For both my Honours and Master’s degrees I was working and studying simultaneously. I worked as a top-level, international marketing manager in an international software company while completing my Master’s. From a personal perspective, excelling at both work and studying took a lot of dedication, determination and sacrifice. Being honoured as a top achiever was very unexpected yet special to me and a perfect way to end my seven-year academic journey at IMM. Professionally, having your work recognised is encouraging and satisfying.
What did you learn while doing your degree that you didn’t know before, and that will hold you in good stead in future?
As the Master’s programme requires an immense amount of research, being able to stay focused on the topic and not get distracted and go down other tangents was something I learned first hand. Learning how to breakdown facets of an argument, research the underlying points and then construct an academic paper was a challenging experience, but taught me how to broaden my thinking and approach.
What advice/knowledge would you pass on to incoming students?
The advice I would pass on to incoming students is to have a clear goal and learn to enjoy acquiring knowledge. You might not always enjoy every aspect of your studies but if you are open to learning something new, you’d be surprised that you might just like it. Hard work always pays off and if you know the goal you are working towards, it helps to keep you motivated when you might not want to study, but know you have to.
What are you up to now?
Up until recently I was living in Latvia and working as the international marketing manager for HansaWorld. I am currently in a relocation process, as I will be starting a new position in July. I will be located in Germany as product marketing manager at TeamViewer.
KYLE SKIRROW
Bachelor of Philosophy (BPhil) Honours in Marketing Management: 78.6%, Cum Laude, with six distinctions out of six modules.
What has this honour meant for you on a personal and professional level? A: On a personal level, it is great to receive recognition for all the hard work put in. Receiving the award is evidence that time and care was put into making good work, which has helped build my professional profile.
What did you learn while doing your degree that you didn’t know before, and that will hold you in good stead in future?
Time management, communication and collaboration are the three most important skills I learned during my journey at IMM Graduate School and I will continue to apply them in future. The ability to prioritise, articulate ideas, and work collaboratively towards a common goal are the skills I find most valuable in the work environment.
What advice/knowledge would you pass on to incoming students?
Work smart and use resources that help you. When dealing with questions in assignments and exams, try to gain a 360° perspective of the problem at hand. Getting a clear understanding of this problem makes it much easier to move forward and answer effectively. Above this, find resources and study material that will assist in achieving your goal(s) in the most efficient way possible.
What are you up to now?
I currently work at Net#work BBDO as a strategy intern.
LISA GLUTZ
Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Marketing Management: 83.15%, Cum Laude, with 17 distinctions out of 20 modules.
What has this honour meant for you on a personal and professional level?
I am extremely proud of my achievement because I put in many hours of hard work and that effort has paid off. I am the mother of two young girls and I hope to be their inspiration to achieve great things later in their lives. This honour will boost my career and will open further opportunities for my development.
What did you learn while doing your degree that you didn’t know before, and that will hold you in good stead in future?
The course taught me to be on the lookout for opportunities for new products in the market, and how to engage with consumers to entice them to purchase these products.
What advice/knowledge would you pass on to incoming students?
I would advise incoming students to fully utilise all the fantastic tools IMM Graduate School supplies, including the learner guides and the exam technique workshops. They should work through material methodically, using a timeline with deadlines, and not leave things to the last minute.
What are you up to now?
I currently work in sales and marketing at an international, pharmaceutical company.
PATRICK CARROLL
Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) in Marketing and Management Science: 85.6%, Cum Laude, with 19 distinctions out of 19 modules.
What has this honour meant for you on a personal and professional level?
Personally, it was the culmination of four and a half years of hard work and sacrifice. It was especially humbling considering the large number of peers who graduated with me. It made me realise how fortunate I was to have the support of my family throughout my studies. Professionally, I believe it has elevated my profile even more at my existing employer and is already opening new doors and career opportunities for me.
What did you learn while doing your degree that you didn’t know before, and that will hold you in good stead in future?
For me the degree really brought together several concepts and highlighted how the various business and management disciplines are interrelated. To be an effective manager and leader you need to manage all elements of business and find non-mutually exclusive solutions.
What advice/knowledge would you pass on to incoming students?
Throughout my studies my father kept giving me the same advice – identify what you want to achieve, what you need to give up in order to achieve it and then simply get on with it. Spending endless hours studying instead of spending time with friends and family having fun is never easy. Unfortunately, there is no alternative to simply putting in the hours and making the sacrifice. In the end, it is worth it.
What are you up to now?
Apart from work (as manager of Car Rental at Toyota), I am enjoying spending some well-deserved time with my family and friends, as well as catching up on some much needed saddle time on my mountain bike.
JESSICA BARRELLA
Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing Management (PGDMM): 88%, Cum Laude.
What has being an IMM top achiever meant for you on a personal and professional level?
It’s great to hear I’m a top achiever. I am very happy and will definitely be updating my LinkedIn accordingly haha.
What did you learn while doing your degree that you didn’t know before, and that will hold you in good stead in future?
Theory is a super important backing when it comes to marketing. I have years of experience, but kind of skipped the theory part. It’s great to have both theory and practical in my arsenal now. I am able to view situations within the wider business context and think long term regarding brand and strategy.
What advice/knowledge would you pass on to incoming students?
Be consistent and you’ll gain a lot from this course. Don’t leave things to the last minute.
What are you up to now?
I have started my own marketing agency called Barrk Marketing. We specialise in social media and content creation with a focus on SMEs looking to grow.