Category: DaVinci Staff

The DaVinci Institute is driven by purpose, aligned with one of its core objectives: to become an employer of choice. The story of our HR Project Administrator, Olerato Mmolai, is a testament to the Institute’s commitment to its people. From intern to permanent staff, she was given an opportunity that restored her hope.

Struggle With Employment

Like many young people in South Africa, Mmolai was no stranger to the struggle of finding employment. However, DaVinci gave her hope during a difficult time in her life. At her alma mater (Eduvos), there is an employability department, and from time to time, the coordinator sends out job adverts for entry-level positions.

The turning point came when she received a personal email about an internship opportunity with The DaVinci Institute.

“I was a bit hesitant at the time because, one, I had not heard of the Institute and the SETA that was responsible for my induction. Two, I was going through an exceedingly difficult time in my life, so looking for a job was the last thing on my mind. Still, I just thought, let me apply and see what happens,” she stated.

Little did Mmolai know that DaVinci would become her destination of choice. She secured an internship at the Institute, which later developed into a permanent position.

“My journey at the Institute went by very quickly, and a lot has happened. But most importantly, I have learned a lot in the little time that I have been here,” she added.

Mmolai’s Experience as an Intern

Mmolai’s experience as an intern at DaVinci had its difficulties, but within just a year, she had gained invaluable insights, even navigating a transition in management. She was exposed to many real-world experiences that she had never encountered in textbooks or classrooms.

It was not an easy journey, it was challenging. There were days when she doubted the stream she had chosen.

“When the good days came, it made it all worth it. Not forgetting the emotions and mental effect, People Management can put you in, it takes a strong person to pull themselves out of it and remember what the point of it all is. It has been both fulfilling and insightful,” stated Mmolai.

Turning Point in Her Career

Some of Mmolai’s greatest achievements came during her internship when she had the chance to contribute to the well-being of employees.

“This is something that is often overlooked yet important. It is a privilege to nurture and prioritise people because, in a world where there are many problems and conflicts, work should not contribute to that burden but instead be a peaceful and healthy environment where we can thrive and be at our best,” she said of her role in People Management.

Mmolai’s Reflection

According to Mmolai, being an intern can be challenging because people sometimes assume interns are incapable of doing the job. Fear nearly became an obstacle to her progress, especially during moments when she was afraid to respond to questions.

“I should have spoken up to those who doubted me. When I was asked questions, I chose not to answer because of the fear of misunderstanding the question asked. I would not change anything because I asked the relevant questions at the right time,” she explained.

Long-Term Vision

With the hands-on experience she gained at DaVinci, Mmolai now believes entrepreneurship is the path she wants to pursue. At DaVinci, we empower leaders to contribute meaningfully to society, with prosperity as one of our objectives.

“I see myself building an empire alongside my mother, who is an HR Manager in one of the Chapter 9 institutions, and assisting companies that do not have an in-house HR department. I also plan to study further. Since my degree is a double major, I might stream off into becoming a psychometrist,” stated Mmolai.

Tebogo Thabethe is a shining example of how The DaVinci Institute empowers its staff to grow into effective leaders. His journey from Graphic Design Intern in 2024 to leading the tt100 Business Innovation Awards Programme as Project Manager a year later is a true testament to the Institute’s commitment to professional development and innovation.  

Tebogo Thabethe’s Background Before DaVinci

During his second year at Nelson Mandela University, he joined Enactus, the student entrepreneurship society, a global network of leaders committed to using business as a catalyst for positive and social environmental impact. Being part of Enactus gave him practical experience in managing projects, articulating ideas, and creating presentations. 

“Interestingly, my journey in Enactus evolved from being the IT and Design Officer to eventually becoming the President. In my final year, I was a Chief Innovation Officer (CIO), simply because there was no position for me after serving as president. I wanted to continue contributing meaningfully, so we created the CIO role and I transitioned into it the following term,” says Thabethe.

Experience At DaVinci

When Thabethe joined the institute as an intern, he shared that he found that the organisation was relatively new and small, very different from the government university space he had known before, where there were many people and layers. 

Here, things were more intimate, which made it a fertile ground for exploration. 

“I found that working with Executive: Marketing, Branding and Communication, Ofentse Rapakgadi, was very open-ended. If I had an idea, I would be encouraged to explore it, test it out, and see how far it could go. That kind of freedom and innovation is what I liked,” Thabethe shared of the internship experience. 

There were deliverables he had to focus on. The journey was not always smooth. When his line manager went on maternity leave, he got a new line manager, and that was a tough transition. It was not terrible, but it was challenging. 

There he had to prove his value all over again, to remind himself why he was here. The real challenge was navigating the transition from the previous visual direction, a corporate business school direction, to a black, blue, and white AI-inspired approach that felt futuristic.. 

“My former line manager had pushed the AI-inspired visual direction, but the new conversation was around whether this was suitable for our audience. Were we not alienating the mature students we served?” tells Thabethe.

We ultimately agreed to go with what the new line manager requested and realised that to move forward, we needed to align with management’s expectations and see how far their vision could take us.

tt100 Role – Project Manager

About a year later, Thabethe transitioned from his role in marketing as a graphic design intern to project manager, capitalising on an opportunity that arose internally.

“A good colleague of mine was leaving, and I casually asked if I could take over his role. He encouraged it. I spoke to my line manager about it, and she motivated the move, saying it aligned with my entrepreneurial outlook,” Thabethe shared. 

Thabethe reached out to the CEO, Prof Ben Anderson, about the opportunity at tt100. Prof was inspired by his experience and confidence, and gave him a chance, although he had to prove himself. According to Thabethe, that opportunity was crucial. It gave him a chance to showcase what he could do beyond design.

“The knowledge I brought with me from Enactus helped. Managing tt100 projects now feels similar in some ways to the projects I managed back then, only on a larger scale, with a more professional audience. I was not fully aware of the challenges I would face, but I understood the processes required to get things done and deliver,” Thabethe shared.

A Change Thabethe Could Bring

When asked about what he wishes to change at DaVinci.

“If I could change one thing, it would be getting everyone to see this place as I do, as a space for entrepreneurial scientists. We are currently piloting a project called the “Structured Incubated Entrepreneurial Development Programme tailored for Food Producers and Food Manufacturers”, the first of its kind. We are testing, experimenting, and innovating. If everyone here could embrace that mindset, things would be so much easier. It is a co-creative environment, delivery is important, and the how is all to be innovative. When I have an idea, Executive: Business Development, Dr Sam February will say, “Run with it and see how far it goes.” Which makes this a truly co-creative space,” he shared. 

The Biggest Lesson In His Career 

The biggest lesson he has learned and now shares with others is failing quicker, which is common although not spoken about often, and because of that, people do not realise how many times you need to fail until you succeed at something. Thabethe emphasizes that failure is where critical learning happens.

“I do not need to know everything upfront, but I will go home, study, and come back ready. That is how I continue staying relevant,” he shared. 

In reflecting on what he is mostly grateful for in this journey, it is intellectual stimulation. This environment has challenged him to expand his thinking to co-create. 

“Our CEO often challenges us, questions on the spot, and I have grown to enjoy those moments. It pushed me to be more thoughtful, creative, and engaged. People here are open to sharing knowledge and listening. There is a culture of curiosity, what they call “problem probing,” to actively investigate, analyses, and address complex organisational challenges,” stated Thabethe.