Congratulations to the two TSiBA Entrepreneurship students who received brand-new lap tops from Northeastern University!

Prior to class discussion last Thursday, ENT-2 students settled down in their seats and waited for a lecture to begin. However, class was special on this day as visitors from the main office came into the classroom and joined the group. As the students began to look around with curiosity and anticipation, ENT-2 lecturer Peter Kraan appeared and was holding a box with “DELL” written on the side. The classroom was filled with intensity and two students in particular were glowing and radiant with smiles.

Last July, 20 students from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts collaborated with BBA-2 students at TSiBA for the purpose of engaging in a business consulting project. The students learned first hand about the obstacles entrepreneurs are faced with when starting and growing a business. The students worked one-on-one with their entrepreneur to overcome these problems by providing them with advice and resources that will promote growth in their business.

In addition, the students took trips to Robben Island, learned first hand about the dramatic effects of Apartheid, went biking to Cape Point and visited the Desmond Tutu HIV/AIDS Foundation. On weekdays, they gathered together in the TSiBA arena and listened to hero speakers. They also learned about each other’s different and varied cultures. In addition, they had the opportunity to be taught by Professor Dennis Shaughnessy from Northeastern University.

Near the end of the programme, the Northeastern students were presented with the opportunity to provide two TSiBA students with brand-new laptops. This was a token of appreciation for their dedication and commitment to the NEU/TSiBA Field Study Project. The Northeastern students had given a silent vote. By majority, Phumzile Fatyela and Charne Fortune were chose and honored to receive these special gifts.

Once again, congratulations to Pumzile and Charne and a special thank you to all the TSiBA and Northeastern students for making the Field Study Project a memorable one which will last a lifetime!

BBA-2 Student at TSiBA Enters the World of Entrepreneurship

Nqobile Bhengu, a dedicated BBA – 2 student at TSiBA, has put her management and creativity skills into action by starting her own business in designing personalized cards. She started the company with two other members, and faced a challenge almost immediately after formulating a business plan. The two original members left the group and Nqobile was then faced with her biggest obstacle: Does she join her competitors, who consist of 6 members, and share their passion, or does she continue to follow her own passion and carry on the business alone? With much thought and discussion amongst herself and the competition, she decided to stick with her gut and take on her business by herself, under the name Design4U. Nqobile has been chugging through the process of starting a business by creating cards to sample her work, building financial models to track sales and profits, and by networking with other professionals in the industry. She knew that her product was something that people really appreciated, and this was evident when she made her first sale back in May. Nqobile’s personalized cards are unique in that she works one-on-one with her customers to create a card that caters to their liking. Her customer will then have a chance to write their own personal note or greeting which is then printed on beautiful hand-made paper. “I named the company ‘Design4U’ because it tells the customer what I do. I design personalized cards specifically for my customer.” – Nqobile Bhengu

Today, you may find Nqobile in the Entrepreneurship Centre making calls or writing e-mails to potential customers, or working with her mentor who has experience in this particular field. Nqobile’s passion and dedication to her business is sparking much interest among her network of supporters. She has had three personal and independent investors who also believe in her and the business to the point where they are willing to help fund her venture. Nqobile has found a hobby that she enjoys doing and then turned it into a business by first discovering the market potential for her product and service. This, along with her self-discipline and motivation will be the factors that will contribute to the success of her own business that started here, at TSiBA.