#WIB – Q&A With Nitasha Pillay President & Co-Founder Of Tech Society UKZN

1. Can you please tell us more about your business?

A. Tech Society UKZN is not entirely a business but rather a student organization with the mission to promote and embrace technology amidst the 4th industrial revolution. We are a newly established organization within the University of KwaZulu-Natal. This organization is for the students by the students.

Our Objectives are:

To search and nurture raw talent of students as well educate and equip students with relevant tech skills.
To educate and enlighten current and potential students of UKZN regarding the tech industry.
To inspire curiosity and harness innovation.
To upskill members and students at UKZN with technical skills for the 4th industrial revolution.
To embrace the various forms of technology.
To partner with various technology related organisations to promote advancement of tech skills.
To encourage academic excellence.
Members of the TS primarily based on the different facets of technology share the common goal of enhancing and broadening their skillset.
Promote the technology industry on a platform more accessible to students in the current environment.

2. When, how, and why did you start your business?

A. We had to approve our organization to establish a new society or organization within UKZN. It took an entire year to start a new society at the university. It all started with the idea to create awareness around the space of STEM, specifically technology. We realized that amidst the 4th industrial revolution, many people, especially students, are unaware of the space of technology and the opportunities it has for students.

Also, we realized that different societies at the university focused on certain disciplines; however, no society or organization promoted technology. As students, we had to constantly e-mail and try to find the relevant officials in charge of approving organisations and societies within the university. And I’m proud to announce that on the 29th of March 2022 take society UKZN was formed. After establishing the society within the university, students were so eager to join and be a part of this organization and learn more about technology and the space of STEM.

3. What is your role in the business?

A. I am the president and co-founder of TECH SOCIETY UKZN. A product of a leader is another leader. And that is exactly my role within tech society. Is to build up leaders and ensure that the leaders that are being built up are also building leaders under them. So my role involves working with students and mentoring them and, advising them, encouraging them, especially about technology. Also creating awareness about things such as the work world, as we know in South Africa the unemployment rate especially for youth, is at an high and some of the things we also focus on in tech society is encouraging students to be more skilled especially with technology. Also learning things such as the basic CV writing, improving your digital presence , and how to become better.

My role is also to determine the vision of the society and to run and make sure that all departments such as your marketing finance and PR and there are some other departments but basically to make sure that everything is running well. But the most heartwarming part of being president and co-founder of this organization is also seeing the amount of growth in people and growth also in mindset. I think when you’re able to feed into a person’s mind, you change their life and also their future ahead of them. It’s so amazing to actually see how people have grown in the society.

4. Where did you study and what did you study?

A. Well, I’m proud to actually say that I am the first in my family to have graduated with a bachelor of commerce degree with majors in marketing and information systems and technology. I am currently studying towards my honours in information systems and technology.

5. How did you finance your business?

A. We are a student organisation and did not finance our organisation because it operates within UKZN.

6. Describe your average workday, if such a thing exists.

A. What it looks like a day in the life of the president and the co-founder of UKZN is balancing studies and my organisation. My day will start off by attending my online lectures and in between communicating with my team on certain events and even working with a few students and giving them advice. Every day is something new and exciting to work on with my team and that’s the amazing part about tech society UKZN.

7. How do you balance your home life and your work life?

A. Being a young person, president, honors student and being a part of other organizations it definitely is a lot but the key is finding balance and being organized. For me time management is extremely crucial and actually having a diary and planning out my day and the activities that I have, help me to be prepared for what I actually need to do. I’m also grateful for my parents and my brother that serves as my support system. And apart from all that I’m involved in, I find that church helps me.

8. What drives you and inspires you?

A. What motivates me is knowing that the work that I do is changing and transforming someone’s life whether it be adding to someone skills, sharing with them job opportunities through the society, preparing the next generation of leaders and unlocking potential within students. Every day I’m motivated to be a better version of myself. every day is also an opportunity to serve others and to make a difference in the world around me especially in the field of technology.

9. Where and when do you have your best ideas?

A. They say that your network becomes your net worth, with the field of technology it’s a space that is so vast and there’s so many opportunities that lie within this domain. The people that I’m surrounded by add value into my perceptions and ideas for the society. As I’ve previously mentioned this is a society that is for the students by the students. I am someone that is open to hearing others ideas and also working in teams to make a difference.

Working in a team is better than working alone, because when you’re working together you achieve more and can go further in a shorter space of time, rather than doing it on your own and taking a long time to achieve the goal that you’ve set. I am constantly eager in learning more about technology weather it’s through my studies, a YouTube video or a Tik Tock video. I generally am a very creative person and love coming up with new ideas. I strongly believe that to every single problem there is a solution and finding that solution lies within you. The world is full of opportunities.

10. Where and how do you market/advertise your business for sales leads?

A. I’ve studied marketing as well and was a top achiever in my undergraduate degree. I feel that marketing is a crucial element in any business or organization. Without marketing no one will know what your business is and what you do. Marketing ranges from your simple word of mouth, to sharing on social media with the world, advancing with technology. Social media is playing such an important role, as a platform/ medium and a voice for organisations. Initially when TECH SOCIETY UKZN had started, I handled all the social media posting and accounts, thereafter, I had trained students in the area of marketing and graphic design to run the marketing elements of the society. It’s always important to train and equip others with skills as well.

11. What is next for your business?

A. As a student organization, we hope to reach more students at UKZN and also help high school learners embrace the field of technology. We hope to have more events with companies and organisations that aim to promote technology and align with our vision and mission.

12. What advice would you give to female entrepreneurs hoping to start their own businesses?

A. My advice to young females is to get started. The hardest part is getting started, and once you get started, there’s no stopping the opportunities and the victories that lie ahead. The misconception that many people have when starting an organization is that you need to have all the resources at your disposal, but I personally feel that the most valuable resources that you can have is your mind and your passion for never giving up and seeing your organization succeed.

There are so many resources that are at your disposal on social media and even on Google. If you search how to start a business, the search results will be endless. It’s important to invest your time in talking to the right people and mentors, to help and guide you along your journey. One of the greatest investments you can make towards yourself is seeking advice from others and looking at success stories to keep yourself inspired. Never be afraid to make mistakes because that is all part of the learning process. Every successful entrepreneur and leader makes mistakes and overcomes them to be successful. If you are passionate about something, you will push and persevere over any obstacle to see the vision come to life. An organization starts with an idea in your mind. You can either leave it as an idea or part of your imagination or turn that idea into reality, something you can see in front of you. Therefore, get started!

Short bio

I am a BCom Marketing and Information Systems Technology graduate. I am studying toward my BCom Honours in IS&T. Marketing is a core business function and, along with technology, helps our society to evolve and adapt. I have held numerous leadership positions in all my respective learning institutions. I never settle for mediocrity but reach for success in all my aspirations. I see myself as innovative and continually finding ways to improve myself by developing new skills while helping others.
In primary school, I had participated in the Lego League robotics competition. Participating in this competition taught me the importance of teamwork, creativity, innovation, and robotics from a tender age. I am a former project manager of an Enactus project that deals with the education sector. I lead a team of passionate individuals as well as arrange youth development initiatives. I also co-ordinate digital marketing as well as marketing strategies within the project. During the 2021 final matric examination our project had assisted over 150 learners with free tutoring to assist them in succeeding in their exams. Apart from that, I am also a UKZN Peer Academic Mentor whereby I assist first year students with their academics.

In 2021 I had the privilege of representing my university (UKZN) at Innovate Durban’s Youth Innovation Challenge. Our team developed a sustainable solution that addresses child trafficking as well as SDG 11, 4 , 16 and 17. Tagged AI was placed 2nd in the competition. I was also awarded the Zutari Woman in Design Award. I’ve also represented UKZN in the 2021 Unilever Entrepreneurship Challenge. I am currently a member of Women in Tech South-Africa whereby I work along side a team of dynamic women that aim to promote STEM fields and close the gender gap and to help women embrace technology. I am the co-founder and president of Tech Society UKZN and am on a mission to make a difference through technology in the UKZN community.

Contact information

nitashap.techsocietyukzn@gmail.com

Social media links

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitasha-pillay-bb08691b4/

https://www.i n stagram.com/nitasha_pillay_/

Links to some of the articles I’ve been featured in :