Research Newsletter issue 2 April 2018

Flavalite Innovations, a 100% women-owned and
black-owned company which Dr Tunzelana co-founded
in 2011 with her sister Unathi Tunzelana, and friend
Matsepo Africa, is a ground-breaking technology
company aimed at pioneering innovative products in
Information Technology (IT) service delivery.
”Our vision is to pioneer innovative IT solutions,
including convenient and secure e-ticketing services
for events management companies, governments,
entertainment companies, sporting events,
inspirational events, innovators and early adopters.
We also want to blaze a trail in web analytics strategic
solutions,” said Dr Tunzelana.
Her dynamism in the field is matched only by her
experience, just over two decades worth, which has
seen her transcend the disciplines of business and
academia.
Dr Tunzelana has amassed her stripes as an astute,
techno-savvy academic and leader in some of the
biggest institutions in the world, including Google,
where she conducted research on innovation at the
company. She also conducted extensive research in
the area of Internet Analytics in Canada at Ryerson
University’s Institute for Innovation and Technology
Management.
“I was the first and former CIO at the Victoria and
Alfred (V & A) Waterfront in Cape Town. I’ve added
value in leadership workshops for the National
Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI) and Science,
Engineering and Technology for Women (SET4W). I’ve
also done a program by Innovation Hub and Maxum
in collaboration with the University of Baltimore in the
USA for a program for Women in ICT,” she said.
importantly, her students.
Dr Tunzelana uses her wealth of knowledge and
entrepreneurial flair and talent facilitate learning and
treat each Student as an individual to prepare them
for either being an entrepreneur or for them to be
better positioned for being employable.
“I also reach out to some of my Mentors and
Associates that I have met globally to come and
assist me as Guest Lecturers. I make use of video’s,
mobile devices, digital platforms and social media to
facilitate Teaching and Learning.”
“I expose first year Students to tools and
methodologies of doing research, critically thinking,
reasoning, reflections, working as an individual,
working within a group, having spiritual values, living
their own defined values and being free to dream
without limits,” she said.
So passionate is Tunzelana about WSU that she, as
part of her responsibilities as one the winners of the
competition, has placed the University as a top priority
in her submissions to the Inspiring Fifty Campaign as
a means to produce solutions to some of the biggest
challenges facing the institution.
Her submission includes the facilitating of sustainable
linkages for exchange programs for Lecturers of WSU
to the Netherlands; linkages for work integrated
learning (WIL) and experiential training for Lecturers
of WSU to the Netherlands; sustainable linkages
for exchange programs for Students of WSU to the
Netherlands; Sustainable linkages for experienced
and qualified Guest Lecturers with Applied Expertise to
WSU from every part of the world; as well as funding
for adding to the core functions of WSU namely:
teaching and learning, research and community
engagement
Her passion, innovation and dynamism in the lecture
hall have endeared her on her colleagues, and, most
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