At the helm of the University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) School of Management is Adri Drotskie, who was appointed its director in October 2020. Formerly, Drotskie was head of research and faculty development at Henley Business School (Africa), where she established a research centre and taught research skills as well as an MBA elective module. She also supervised areas of strategy and international business, in addition to being the director of Henley’s executive MBA.

Through her role as director of the School of Management, Drotskie, with her team, is positioning the institution as the management school of choice. ‘If any student considers management studies, our school must leap to mind,’ she says. ‘If any academic or support staff member considers working in a school of management, our school must be their employer of choice.’ The School of Management is committed to ‘education excellence through an innovative and sustainable learning and research context for management competence in a 4IR world of work’.

The world of work constantly changes within the 4IR context and with COVID-19 workplaces were disrupted even more, and accelerated through the impact of technology. Employers, employees and future employees must be prepared to respond, grow and thrive within these changing environments. In doing this successfully, there is great need for relevant management and leadership skills to manage oneself as well as others appropriately and effectively. This is true from an entrepreneurial and small-business level up to large corporates in the public and private sectors.

Drotskie is a phenomenal strategist with eight years of experience in transport, 10 years of experience in the financial-services industry and 12 years of experience in academia, including teaching and learning, research and management. Her industry and academic experience, in addition to core competencies, include strategic thinking, strategy development and translation, team management, facilitation, action-learning methodology, and programme and project planning.

‘The knowledge I have gained through my studies in various fields – from investment management, marketing management, future studies and business management – combined with years of workplace experience, opened up many opportunities and leadership positions during my career,’ says Drotskie. ‘I am excited to contribute to the School of Management’s future growth and success.’

LEADING BY EXAMPLE
Department of Finance and Investment Management
Melany Lotter, acting department head of finance and investment management, is a certified financial planner who holds a master’s degree in financial planning law.

The department offers market-related programmes, from diplomas to PhDs, in four specialised finance streams, namely investment management; financial planning; property valuation and management; and quantitative finance.

‘We have two fully online programmes, the advanced diploma in financial markets and the advanced diploma in real estate, which both articulate into honours degrees,’ says Lotter. ‘The department’s application of gamification, 3D renderings, interactive online and app-based teaching aligns with the university’s drive towards 4IR innovation.’

UJ was the first university in Africa to be recognised by both the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute and the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Association for its investment management programme, and it is the only university in SA to secure an academic partnership with Wiley’s for the CFA Level 1 programme.

The department is affiliated with numerous professional bodies and institutions, and has an internship with Schroders. Many of its qualifications are accredited and/or affiliated by the respective professional bodies. Some staff also are professional members of local or international professional bodies.

Department of Transport and Supply Chain Management
Noleen Pisa, department head of transport and supply chain management, is an associate professor and one of the School of Management’s most impressive, forward-thinking young female leaders. She is an accomplished academic and researcher with more than 10 years of experience in higher education. Pisa holds a PhD as well as an MCom in international trade from Northwest University.

Her research expertise spans economics, international trade, transport economics, supply chain competitiveness and public health. She has published widely in local and international journals and serves on the board of the Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies (Africa) and the Journal of Transport and Supply Chain Management.

The department manages key local and international relationships with the likes of Transnet Freight Rail as well as the École des Ponts ParisTech, Association of Rectors of Transport Universities of Russia and China, World Bank, India’s National Rail and Transportation Institute, the University of Sydney’s Institute of Transport and Logistics and Glasgow Caledonian University.

The department offers under- and post-grad qualifications, from diplomas to PhDs, in the areas of transport economics, transport management and logistics management. It also offers continuous education programmes. These are accredited by the Department of Higher Education as well as the Council for Higher Education, and registered with the South African Qualifications Authority.

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