Page 13 - Unisa CSET Mid Year Highlights 2025 Digital

Q&A
Dr Mampilo Phahlane (Position: Director- School of Computing, CSET)
A quote or bible verse that you live by:
The function of freedom is to free somebody else (Toni Morrison)
Reflect on your upbringing and how you ended up in the sciences?
I was very good at English, maths and accounting during my schooling years.
Reflect on your journey to becoming a Director of School at Unisa
The journey is interesting and I’m thankful for the support of the college leadership in this journey, always there to guide and offer a helping hand. Most importantly the lessons on being a good leader at Unisa
Reflect on Balancing Research and Leadership in the college
Still learning this and it’s definitely a challenge and things will improve
Are there any Unique challenges experienced by being a female leaders? If so, how have you learnt to overcome them?
Understanding that being undermined and overlooked is part of the whole thing and not allowing that to get to you
Successes or wins that you want to share in your journey as a researcher and leader within the portfolio that you lead?
Believing in and supporting the people that you lead is the 1st step. About 3 staff members have completed their PhD, increased ROUs and there was a point the school had only women as CoDs and director. That was different and awesome!
Any interesting projects that you are currently working on that you wish to highlight?
I wish staff members in the school can collaborate more with the distinguished professors in the college and I wish that we can make this happen in 2025.
Define tomorrow.
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