Marketing Management students excel at Allan Gray top achievers function

Allan Gray hosted its annual top achievers function on Monday, 8 October 2018 at the University of Pretoria to commend the students in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences for their performance.

 

Each department in the Faculty identified its top students on second-year, third-year and honours level, based on the students’ mid-year marks. Allan Gray invited the nominated students to take part in the Allan Gray Achievement Awards by requesting them to answer two questions, and submit their essays prior to a set deadline. Students were informed in the invitation that Allan Gray was looking for independent mindedness, creativity and long-term orientation in their answers on the following topics:

 

Question 1: You are the author for the book of your life story. In 250 words or less, please write the executive summary or prologue for the book.
 

Question 2: You are elected as the new President of South Africa in 2019. In 500 words or less, please define the three strategic themes you will address in your presidency and why.

 

Only the students who submitted essays were invited to attend the awards function. Students were addressed by motivational speaker and founder of Iyeza Health, Mr Sizwe Nzima. Iyeza Health is a health logistics company which grew out of Mr Nzima’s bicycle courier company. In his presentation, Mr Nzima shared valuable advice with students on how to be successful in your career, despite all the obstacles that get in the way.

 

After Mr Nzima’s presentation, the prizes were awarded, with three students from the Department of Marketing Management being amongst the lucky few. Anja Ramanitrera was awarded runner-up in the second-year category and received a cash prize of R5 000. Alfred Letuku was named the top second-year student. He received a cash prize of R10 000, as well as an  Ipad Mini.

 

The sought-after award of the evening, a cash prize to the value of R20 000 and an Ipad Mini, went to yet another Marketing Management student. Before announcing the prize, Ms Nomi Bodlani, Manager and Team Leader of Client Experience at Allan Gray, stated that the awards team was most impressed with the essay by this candidate, because it contained all the elements of a story – a setting, a character, a point of view, a plot and an interesting theme. Explaining one’s life story by means of a tattoo, is what grabbed the attention of the Allan Gray Achievement Awards team. Therefore the top award went to Mr Ahmed Elbeiti, honours student in Marketing Management!

 

The evening ended with an opportunity for networking between the students and members of the Allan Gray team whilst enjoying delicious refreshments. We are proud of all the students who received awards, but we are especially proud of the Marketing Management students.

From left to right: Alfred Letuku (second-year winner), Anja Ramanitrera (second-year runner-up), and Ahmed Elbeiti (honours winner and top prize of the evening)