Prof Hellicy Ngambi, Dean of the College of Economic and Management Sciences
She is one of the first females to be appointed to such a position in Zambia. As she says casually, “I am the first in everything.”
Prof Ngambi’s career spans over 14 years in South Africa with a list of accolades that include being the first African woman to obtain a Doctor of Business Leadership (DBL) in 1994, being the first African woman CEO of Unisa’s Graduate School of Business Leadership 2005-2007, as well as becoming the first African woman to be appointed Executive Dean of a college in 2009 within Unisa.
South Africa is not the only country to know Prof Ngambi. She has also made an indelible mark in other countries like Zambia, Botswana and the United States of America through her many significant achievements.
According to Prof Ngambi, her initial attraction to Unisa’s SBL was manifested due to the fact that nobody had talked about leadership schooling at the time. “Only Unisa had the vision to establish such a school,” she says.
It was evident for her during her early days that teaching was her passion. To her, teaching means contributing to individual empowerment which enables interaction at all levels. She confirms that it was the former President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki’s parliament speech of 1996 “I am an African” that ignited her dream to teach.
“Teaching is best for me to ensure that people are empowered. Moreover, as I mentor individuals through their studies – they must become independent of me. I don’t want to produce dependents but independents.”
In the same way, Prof Ngambi developed a module for the Thabo Mbeki African Leadership Institute (TMALI) where she is still actively teaching. She developed the module and at the same time teaches it.
Prof Ngambi believes in a winning formula for mentoring of which and to a major extent practises that which she preaches. One such instance is that many a times she has not been teaching alone in her classes. Mr Meiya Nthoesane of the Centre of Business Management accompanies Prof Ngambi to her lectures to also assist in teaching the module.
To her, this is empowerment at its best as she trusts that when she leaves the University, she should do so with a clear conscience. “It pleases me to see that there are so many academics within the college who can be afforded the opportunity to continue running the college. Success without a successor is failure.”
Being a seasoned leader as well as occupying a position equivalent to that of a CEO, Prof Ngambi displays refined leadership skills. She has always been intrinsically involved in the work of her college. While she wouldn’t budge and entertain my questions about her leadership skills, modestly, she prefers that people judge her on her leadership skills. In her words, “leadership is in the eyes of the beholder.” She defines leadership as influencing and inspiring others into action.
Another thing that she is well known for is her outspokenness on transformation issues especially cultural diversity. According to Prof Ngambi, the richest resource in Africa is its cultural diversity which brings about creativity, innovation, success, growth as well as the ability to advance and excel.
A prolific writer and author, Prof Ngambi has written many publications, articles and chapters on many issues surrounding education. An extract from one of her writings is acknowledged as follows: “Diversity is here to stay, and leaders and managers have to find a way of handling this diversity to leverage its benefits,” writes Prof Hellicy C Ngambi (Knowledge Resources, Human Capital Review 2008).
