I want to say thank you to the UFS Business School for providing me with the opportunity to learn, grow and excel through your guidance and support.

Firstly, Lee-Ann, thank you for making my learning journey such a wonderful experience. I honestly think you spoiled us a little when it came to customer experience. One now expects nothing less than the legendary service you consistently provided from my first year right through to graduation.

I learned so much simply from interacting with you. Your knowledge of the programme and your ability to always have the answers taught me the importance of being equally prepared in my own professional environment. Thank you for helping us navigate administrative and curriculum matters so seamlessly, allowing us to focus on what mattered most: our studies.

As a graduate today with 40 distinctions, and part of the Golden Key community through the BML, I consider this a shared success. Your guidance helped me stay focused and disciplined enough to achieve those results.

Of course, this achievement was also made possible through the incredible support of my lecturers.

Mr Ellis, thank you for your ability to simplify challenging concepts and bring theory to life through practical application. From our first-year classes on communication and leadership to supporting me through the final MPW assessment, your guidance helped reduce the fear and anxiety that came with tackling something entirely new and carrying so much weight toward passing the module.

The Business Finance and International Finance classes were tough. Very tough. Half the time, I was convinced the exchange rates were personally against me. Yet today, I see the value of those lessons. Whether investing through Easy Equities, understanding exchange rates or appreciating the power of compound interest, the knowledge has become practical and meaningful.

In Strategic Marketing, we were encouraged to embrace new technology, explore what is available in the market and, most importantly, use technology ethically. Those lessons remain incredibly relevant today.

In my new role, I am now able to understand and confidently communicate how financial decisions impact the wider business. Thank you for helping us understand the importance of policies, leadership, human resources and team development.

I currently lead a team of 120 people, and honestly, I would not know where to begin if I had not learned about performance management, leadership principles and even understanding where my own power and influence come from as a leader.

Ms Saadijah, thank you for teaching us about personality types and how they influence the way we think, work and interact with others every day. Your classes empowered me to better understand why I make certain decisions and gave me practical tools to leverage my strengths while improving areas where I felt less confident.

The authenticity you brought during the final contact week session in March was one of the most memorable learning experiences of the entire BML journey.

And when it came to life after BML, thank you for repeatedly reminding us that our future plans should include a Plan A, Plan B and Plan C. Thank you for challenging us to think holistically, pursue multiple opportunities and remain adaptable while still keeping our eyes firmly fixed on our primary goals.

Across all my modules and through every lecturer, I learned something valuable that I carry with me into this next chapter of my life. I learned about consistency. I learned how to manage my time effectively. Most importantly, I learned about resilience.

To every person who contributes to the BML programme, thank you for investing your time, expertise and energy into the development of your students. Thank you to the University for providing so many people with a second chance to pursue an academic qualification and transform their lives through education.

My hope is that every student who walks through the BML programme experiences the same level of support, encouragement and growth that I was fortunate enough to receive.

Today, I can confidently say that I AM WORTH MORE because of the BML degree. The impact of this qualification is evident in my new work environment every day. It has strengthened my confidence, enabled me to speak with depth and conviction about my profession, and equipped me with the skills to lead authentically.

I am more confident in my work, more self-aware as a leader and better equipped to lead with empathy while managing both myself and my team in achieving our KPIs and organisational goals.

I honestly cannot thank the BML administration and lecturers enough for helping me rewrite the story of my life.

Ke ea leboha.