Page 59 - KZN Top Business Portfolio - EBOOK 2019
P. 59

Acting dean and head of the Graduate School   prevails  in  business  schools  wherein  leaders  are
       of Business and Leadership (GSB&L) at the   detached from their fellow academics and students,
       University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN)   perpetrating a defensive dehumanising commercial
                                            focused mindset.”
            ROF ANA MARTINS is the acting dean   “Moreover, learning as becoming relies on nurturing
            and head of the Graduate School of   a leadership style wherein colleagues and students
            Business and Leadership at UKZN, which   endeavour to ask and answer existential questions;
       Pshe believes is the current highlight of her   namely, ‘Who am I?’, ‘What do I care about?’, ‘What
       professional career.                 does success look like?’ as well as ‘What does it take
        Martins’ professional journey has encompassed  to lead well?’”
       a  mosaic  of experiences. She  has  been fortunate   By keeping the human touch and embracing a
       to have worked for over two decades in higher   student-centric approach, such conversations provide
       education institutions located in a range of countries   a valuable tone on the standpoint of the organisation.
       with diverse cultures across the globalised world.   In addition, Martins holds to the necessity to innovate
        Her academic career has followed a traditional  in ways that meet the changing needs of students.
       model where she started on the career ladder as a   Some challenges that Martins has experienced in
       part-time tutor, moving to junior lecturer, senior   the past and which have provided her with a rich
       lecturer  and  associate  professor  with  a  multiple   learning curve, include (un)conscious bias; lack of
       collection of roles, ranging from lecturer, researcher,   support and cooperation; lack of organisational and
       personal tutor, to academic leader.   flexibility and mindfulness; lack of encouragement to
        In order to handle change and deal with  take the first step on embarking on journey towards a
       expectations,  Martins  regards  constant  personal  senior management role.
       development, as a must. This is particularly relevant   With this learning, Martins has experienced growth
       to  keep  up  with  the  latest  trends  in  her  field  of   in that she has had to learn how to define success and
       speciality in order to achieve success.    has experimented with her career by taking several
        “I  embrace  the  motto  of  lifelong  learning  whole-  risks.
       heartedly in order to keep abreast with the changes   “I am appreciative of the authentic vision for inclu-
       that  are  constantly evident  in  the  academia  and   sion and diversity in the workplace which has played
       industry. Moreover, I have my unique skill set, which   a fundamental unbiased role in reaching the current
       is embraced by my interests and values,” Martins   position I hold,” Martins explains.
       explains.
                                             The uncertainties associated with the academic
        Her strengths encompass a strong work ethic, being   career have arisen due to the paradigm shift from elite
       enthusiastic, persistent and conscientious and being   to mass higher education. This shift is evident in the
       open to experience. “I’m very organised  and pay   perception of academic careers which have moved
       attention to detail as well as being reflexive.  I focus   from the ladder to more recent academic career
       on encouraging harmony and work to achieve the   maps, wherein  transdisciplinary themes  dominate,
       common good of all.”                 allowing one’s area of expertise to be supported by a
        In addition, she explains that it is important to  range of subject areas.
       know the purpose of the organisation in order to stay   In the future, Martins would like to write a book
       focused on its values and roots.     narrating how the various countries she has lived in
        Martins has a strong focus on humanising leadership,  have shaped her experiences on learning and teaching.
       which is centred on both people and values. She   In her free time, Martins is a musicophile and
       believes that emotional awareness contributes to   cinephile. “I’m passionate about cooking and
       agile leadership principles and competencies.    sumptuous baking, and I try my hand in painting thus
        “I focus on doing away with the disconnect that  indulging my creativity.”




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