“VUT leaders shone at the Wits Business School Executive Development Program: Yegash Naidoo 1st, Prof. Dlodlo 2nd, Ramasodi & Adelaja joint 3rd.”
15 September 2025 | Story By: Qhawekazi MemaniT| Picture: Sifiso Nomzaza and Keitumetse Makgope
3 minutes read time.
The pursuit of lifelong learning is a hallmark of impactful leadership, and several Vaal University of Technology (VUT) leaders recently demonstrated this commitment through their outstanding performances in the Executive Development Program (EDP) at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) Business School. The program, which focuses on leadership, strategy, creativity, and personal growth, saw VUT staff members securing top positions, a proud achievement for the institution.
Mr Yegash Naidoo, Director: IT Services, Information Technology Service, emerged as the top student, while Professor (Prof) Nobukhosi Dlodlo, Head of Department (HOD) of Marketing, Retail and Business Management, claimed second place. The joint third position was shared by Mr David Ramasodi, Executive Director: IT Services Information Technology Service and Mr Adedamola Adelaja a Laboratory Assistant Electrical Engineering.
Reflecting on his success, Mr Naidoo credits his career experience and positive mindset. “I managed to leverage the experiences that I have gained during my career to approach the tasks given to us. I tried to be optimistic during the challenging coursework, hoping that what I learnt would help enhance my career and contributions to VUT.”
He highlights that the EDP sharpened his understanding of executive skills and competencies, emphasising ethical leadership, governance, and financial literacy. Importantly, he noted how the program revealed that many challenges faced by leaders are shared across departments, reinforcing the importance of collaboration. His advice to future participants is clear: “To get the most out of the program, you need to have the right mindset. Develop your abilities and competencies by embracing challenges and seeing failures as chances to learn. Value effort and feedback, be curious and adaptable, and always seek continuous improvement and growth.”
For Prof Dlodlo, participation in the EDP was an opportunity to shift her leadership perspective from operational management to a systems and strategy orientation, aligning departmental goals with institutional priorities. “I wanted to become more deliberate about ensuring that my leadership adds value beyond the immediate team,” she explains. Among her key takeaways was the realisation that strategy execution matters more than formulation.
She stresses that the true test of leadership lies not in crafting visionary strategies, but in bringing them to life meaningfully for stakeholders. The program also reinforced the value of creativity and inclusivity in higher education, particularly in environments with limited resources. She plans to apply these lessons by driving teaching quality, research outputs, student success, and industry engagement within her department. Her second-place accolade is a testament to her humility and openness to learning. “Listen and learn. To do this, you must empty yourself so that you have a teachable spirit as a foundation.” Prof Dlodlo also acknowledges VUT’s Human Resources department for facilitating her participation, underscoring the importance of executive training in preparing leaders to respond to policy shifts, funding pressures, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and evolving pedagogies.
Both Mr Ramasodi and Mr Adelaja distinguished themselves by securing joint third place, rounding off a remarkable showing for VUT at the program. Their achievement demonstrates the depth of talent and leadership potential across the university.
The collective success of these leaders highlights the university’s commitment to developing strategic, ethical, and innovative leadership. Through programs like the EDP, VUT leaders are not only enhancing their individual capabilities but also positioning the institution to thrive in a rapidly changing higher education landscape. As Prof Dlodlo reflects: “A leader can never stop learning.”