Samora Cloete - Bachelor of Tourism Management (3rd year )
Brief: Recently attended the Future Leaders Forum at Meetings Africa Johannesburg, South Africa
How did you get to know about the Forum you recently attended, what was it about and how did you become a part of it/ how were you selected? The forum was introduced to us by our lecturer in the beginning of our second academic year. I as well got to know about the future leader’s forum from the students that got the opportunity to take part in the future leader’s forum the previous year. The future leader’s forum is a program developed to join forces to promote networking, discussion and a learning platform for future leaders (the current undergraduate and post graduate students) in the industry. It’s a joint initiative by IMEX, MPI and MCI for future leaders to gain deeper understanding about the meetings industry. The selection was made based on the academic performances of each student, willingness and interest to learn and work for the meetings industry in the future. Each university had to select five participants which I was one of them to write a proposal and submit from which 3 final list were chosen to compete for the university challenge in Johannesburg.
What knowledge/experience have you gained and how is it beneficial to you and the NUST community at large? The experienced I got was exposer, meeting other students in the same field of studies on different levels of study, as well as experts and professionals in the meetings industry. I have learned that ‘’do not talk to strangers’’ saying does not apply on tertiary level. The best memory of the Future Leaders Forum was to meet all the people. It was amazing to mingle with people that have the same passion as myself, furthermore the knowledge I gained from this experience will definitely help me in the future. The other thing I have learned is never to stop asking questions, believing in myself, and not to procrastinate. The most valuable thing I learned was the success formula (Volume × Value length of stay × Geographic space × Seasonality = Job creation ) by RICK TAYLOR CEO at the Business tourism. This formula can be applied by other students in other fields of studies to create a better future.Through this forum NUST gained a lot of media exposer and importance in my own opinion.
What is the Future Leaders Forum in your own understanding and how will you use it to motivate others? In my own understanding this is a very important podium whereby students especially who wants to venture into the meetings industry can gain deeper understanding and opportunities. This is a platform where students participates in intervarsity creative and innovative idea challenges. This future leader’s forum can open up many opportunities such as scholarships etc. for students.
What are your plans for the near future? For the near future I want to persuade a higher degree in the field of study that I have grown passion for and join the industry and make a meaningful change to the economy and communities of Namibia. Later in the future I hope to open up my own enterprise in the MICE Industry to create jobs for those passionate Namibians as the forum as well opened my eyes to all the possibilities that are out there.
Share with us your success quote!
- “Push yourself. Because no one else is going to do it for you”
- “You are the creator of your own destiny”
- “Never stop doing your best because someone doesn’t give you credit”