Gaynor Van Der Westhuizen - 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? We had a Tourism Module called, M.I.C.E (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events/Exhibitions), which teaches us about organizing corporate Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events, and how tourism is used within this industry.Our lecturer Ms Green took an example of the previous year's forum and we wrote proposals to organize an event for Young Neurosurgeons. Out of 26 students, the top five were chosen due to creativity, participation and the overall academic marks.

What knowledge/experience have you gained and how is it beneficial to you and the NUST community at large? We learned about digital marketing through a Google representative and how to create creative an ideal proposal for future purposes. Destination Management focused on Tourism Industry.

What is the Future Leaders Forum in your own understanding and how will you use it to motivate others? At this Future Leaders forum, with all the University of Science and Technology gathered from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Kenya, we learned how to build up and represent Africa as a whole through whatever we do and how we should invest in one another for the future in tourism, as it is one of the fastest growing industries in the world.

What are your plans for the near future? My plans for the immediate future are to pass all my subjects/ modules and do my internship in August 2018.

Share with us your success quote! "Take a leap of faith, no matter the result, take it as a learning experience by also using the negativity in your life and turning it into your motivation."