Student Highlights
From strength to strength; tackling leadership

When Mpontšeng Lydia Pama-Letsoela made a decision to relocate from her home country, Lesotho in Africa to complete her double master’s degree at the University of Newcastle, Australia, it felt like a huge step. But it’s one she says she’d take all over again. In fact, she intends to.

After being awarded the Australian Government’s Australia Awards Africa scholarship to study in Australia for two years, Mpontšeng chose to study a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Master of Applied Finance – graduating for both degrees in 2012.

Now back in Lesotho, Mpontšeng holds a senior leadership position in one of the major water development projects. She says the expertise she gained throughout her studies continues to serve her every day.

“I learned strategic leadership and financial planning skills that sharpened my ability to serve as the Director in the human resources and administration arena across the natural resources (land and water), health, education, local governance, organizational development and pension funds sectors,” said Mpontšeng.

In her current role, Mpontšeng’s responsibilities range from strategic HR planning, and utilization to financial planning and investment analysis, performance management, organizational development and much more.

A career highlight was petitioning the Lesotho government to improve pensions for government employees, resulting in an increase to retirement pay-outs from 25% to 50%.

“This also birthed my appointment as a Trustee to the Pension Fund Board as the first-ever representative of the Lesotho Public Service since the Fund’s establishment 14 years ago,” she said.

Mpontšeng speaks highly of her time in Newcastle and the University.

“I chose the University of Newcastle because I considered it the ideal Uni for the double masters’ degrees, which are also offered ‘by the beach’ at the City Precinct and Newcastle Business School.

“The calibre of educators at the Newcastle Business School is a gem that has been crafted by various industries across the globe, rendering the lecturers there a perfect fit to prepare students for the business leadership,” she said.

“(The University) also provided immense support for my successful studying with its resourceful library and outstanding programmes such as Meet the Manager at the Business School and Peer Mentorship in the Faculty of Business and Law,” she continued.

Alongside her studies, Mpontšeng participated in several clubs and societies on campus.

“I was part of the University of Newcastle Finance Club which organised seminars regularly, where I had the privilege to tap in the wisdom from successful alumnus and millionaires on how to create and build wealth,” she said.

Impressively, Mpontšeng also held the following positions for 2012:

• Deputy President of the Newcastle University’s Postgraduate Student Association
• Member of the Board of the Faculty of Business and Law representing Postgraduate Students
• Faculty’s Postgraduate Students’ Representative in the University Academic Senate
• University of Newcastle Postgraduate Students Representative on the University Council

Besides her current corporate role, Mpontšeng is also an entrepreneur making her mark in the organic food trade and carpentry.

“I have established small-medium enterprises that I am running strategically with the skills I gained from my business studies at the University of Newcastle,” she said.

These successful businesses currently employ seventy temporary staff and 18 permanent staff; and are expanding their reach to the Australian and other global markets.

Looking ahead, Mpontšeng plans to return to the University of Newcastle to complete her PhD in the near future. Her areas of interest are superannuation funds governance and strategy.

`

Mpontseng Pama-Letsoela

When Mpontšeng Lydia Pama-Letsoela made a decision to relocate from her home country, Lesotho in Africa to complete her double master’s degree at the University of Newcastle, Australia, it felt like a huge step. But it’s one she says she’d take all over again. In fact, she intends to.

The calibre of educators at the Newcastle Business School is a gem that has been crafted by various industries across the globe, rendering the lecturers there a perfect fit to prepare students for the business leadership.