What was your most significant challenge that you faced during your doctorate journey at the DaVinci Institute, and how did you overcome it?
Look, the doctorate itself is a journey. And one of the issues was allocation of time, because one engages in business and studying, you know. I think for me, it was most important that I had to find discipline within the structure of the course itself. But what I found to be useful was also the support that was provided, even if you missed some of the key issues, you still have access to it through available resources.
And for me, time was the most difficult issue that I had to maintain during the duration of my study. And that was overcome by putting discipline within myself to undertake the courses.
Can you share a moment or experience during your doctoral studies that had a profound impact on your thinking and approach to your research?
You know, when we were introduced to the TIPS™ Framework, I was among the few students who were almost anti-TIPS™ Framework. I thought it was just streamlining it, but during the course, we look at how you approach technology in enhancing your studies, how you apply it in terms of your normal daily work, which has provided you know, an input in my thinking in the way I run my business, in the way I foresee my business.
Integrating technology and applying systems thinking has had a positive impact on my business personally. And in a few articles that I have written as well, I have seen the impact of the ethics module as provided by government systems.
Given time and opportunity, do you think you would go on this journey again?
Yes, it is a yes and no question. But I think I will do something higher than that. When I say higher, learn more in terms of what is being developed within the institution itself. I find it to be very constructive as well. So, I want to further explore and look at what the key developments are and all that. But in doing the whole course, never at any stage did I feel lonely, but looking at my age, I would not even try. But my thinking and understanding of learning and development are being embedded and encouraged by the support I got from the institution.
What advice would you give to an incoming doctoral student considering your own experience and the insight that you have gained during your journey?
I think, you know, any student that wants to undertake a study must allocate time, make use of the available resources that are available, make use of the lectures that are given online, and do not miss them, because you will find that sometimes during your time of study, you have to go back and say, I think I have missed this part of the lecture. Or, in fact, even towards the end of the exam, when you are getting your results, you could see a gap, like I did not actively listen to that.
I would say, give yourself time to study. Use the supporting material that is given. Look at the previous students’ submissions. Look at the comments. Go onto the internet and look at the views, how they responded. That helped as well. And speak to former students that have undertaken the course, their experiences, and what they think. And that also helped me as well.
To my advantage, my brother was also here, so I had the advantage of finding out exactly what the challenges were, and I managed to navigate my way through them.
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