When Moipone Lebenya began her Postgraduate Diploma in Business Leadership at The DaVinci Institute in 2025, she was balancing her career with the responsibilities of caring for an infant. By the time she was preparing for her oral defence, she had secured a managerial role at Pangea Made.
An October 2026 graduate, Moipone reflects on a learning journey that challenged her to speak up, recognise the value of her ideas and approach workplace problems with a broader perspective.
Building confidence to contribute
Moipone holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology from North-West University. She joined Pangea Made as an IT intern before moving into the SAP department as a Master Data Administrator.
Her responsibilities included maintaining Material Master and Bill of Materials records, conducting mass uploads and supporting the integrity of information within the SAP system.
When her HR department recommended further study at DaVinci, she welcomed the opportunity. With maternity leave approaching, she postponed her studies until her return.
Adjusting to DaVinci’s Mode 2 learning approach initially proved challenging. Participating in discussions required her to move beyond her usual habit of keeping her ideas to herself.
“That really showed me that I can actually contribute in a constructive way in different environments,” she says.
Through these discussions, Moipone began to recognise that concerns about how others might receive her ideas had sometimes held her back. Contributing more actively helped her build confidence in her own perspective.
Investigating a problem from the factory floor
Her research, which explored ERP system non-compliance at Pangea Made’s automotive leather manufacturing plant, grew from an issue she encountered at work.
Employees would sometimes report being unable to scan at a particular production stage. When she investigated, she found instances where earlier operations had not been scanned.
This prompted her to examine the gap between the processes reflected in the system and what was happening on the factory floor. It gave her an opportunity to connect her academic work directly with a practical workplace challenge.
Taking on greater responsibility
Towards the end of her programme, while preparing for her oral defence, Moipone applied for an IT Coordinator vacancy at Pangea Made. She was successful.
Her current role involves managing IT infrastructure and assets on site and coordinating IT activities across the company’s South African operations.
Alongside this increased responsibility, she describes a change in how she approaches problems. DaVinci’s TIPS framework encourages her to consider technology, innovation, people and systems together.
“Everything that you do actually works in a system,” she explains.
She now considers the technology involved in an issue, possible innovative responses and how people will be affected. Systems thinking helps her connect these elements when developing a solution.
Moipone is also collaborating with three other departments on a project intended to make it easier for employees on the factory floor to communicate their ideas. Although still in development, she says the TIPS framework has helped guide the team’s approach.
The support behind the achievement
Completing her qualification required late nights and personal sacrifice. Moipone credits her support system, her manager and colleagues who shared information and contributed to her learning.
She hopes to pursue a master’s qualification at DaVinci in the future. For students facing the pressures of their own academic journey, her advice begins simply:
“The first thing I would say is breathe.”
Having experienced anxiety while preparing for her oral defence, she encourages others to believe in themselves and remain committed to their work.
For Moipone, graduation marks an achievement built through perseverance, support and a growing willingness to contribute. As she takes on greater responsibility in her career, she carries those lessons into her work.
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