Download Now - Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber

40
Bianca Wright, 34
Head: Journalism, Media and Philosophy, Nelson Mandela
Metropolitan UniversitySchool
At just 34 years old, Dr Bianca Wright leads the Department of Journalism,
Media and Philosophy at NMMU. A successful freelance journalist
and Public Relations strategist, Wright is no stuffy academic. While she
relishes her role managing the strategic direction of her department, it
is her continued work in journalism and public relations that allows her
to best serve her students, by giving them insight into current industry
trends and the benefit of her real world experience. She encourages her
students to engage in the community through projects with non-profit
organisations that are integrated into their learning. “My management
philosophy is based on the idea of visionary leadership,” says Wright,
the recipient of three teaching awards. Wright recently took on the role
of Managing Editor of the new student newspaper, NMMyou, and has
worked closely with the Department of Student Development and Governance
on a proposal for a new student radio station. “I encourage my
students to be entrepreneurial in the endeavours,” says Wright. “The field
of media is small in the Eastern Cape, and equipping students to create
their own jobs is vital to the future success of our province.”
Benita Jones, 33
Owner and Director, Producer Ally
Benita Jones has always been an entrepreneur at heart. “I had my own
shop on my parents’ farm when I was young, and even had a little clothing
shop when I was in Matric,” she says. “My ‘actual’ career started in
1999 when I began working for Riverside Enterprises, a citrus pack
house in Fort Beaufort, managing their cold store and loading of containers
for exports.” It was here, says Jones, that her passion for logistics
was ignited. She launched a logistics company called Citrus Direct (later,
Hooked on Fruit), managing the complete logistics chain for Riverside
Enterprises and three other exporters. Finally, in November 2006, Jones
began her own logistics company called Producer Ally with partner Liezl
Pentz. “The main obstacle was obtaining finance,” says Jones. She credits
her team’s dedication for her company’s continued success. “We started
Producer Ally with no funding at all. Young entrepreneurs should take
that crazy leap of faith – the rest will come,” she says. Jones is passionate
about the Thembani Sindawonye Bedford Project, aimed at creating
employment, and the Bedford Township Garden project, both initiatives
that are managed by her mother, Lana Blom.