Hailing from Grahamstown (now Makhanda) and rising to a leadership role in Stellenbosch, BA(Psych)’17 alumnus Zukisa Nkombisa reflects on how his parents’ support, sacrifices and values, together with his journey at Nelson Mandela University, have shaped him into the leader he is today.
Growing up in a family of five with two siblings, Nkombisa credits his parents for instilling in him the importance of respect, hard work and perseverance - values that continue to guide his personal and professional journey.
In this Q&A, Nkombisa shares how his Mandela experience has influenced his career and why psychology remains at the heart of his approach to leadership and life.
What experiences during your time at Nelson Mandela University most influenced the path you took afterward?
With balancing life outside the classroom and finding his feet, Nkombisa did not start off on a strong academic journey in his first two years of his qualification. Although in third year, his academic shift came, where he decided to work harder in every module, and it paid off. I excelled enough to be accepted into an Honours programme in Psychology at the University of Fort Hare. The turnaround in my studies taught me that a slow start does not define the end of the story, it rather shaped how I support struggling students today, because I directly relate to where they are.
My time at Nelson Mandela University was full of good experiences that helped me grow. The University’s incredible range of student support programmes, carried me through from academic writing with the Academic Literacies Writing Centre, to Supplemental Instruction sessions for tougher modules, and Student Success Coaching to helping me build a personal plan for completing my degree.
One programme that was of personal significance to me was the Beyond the Classroom Leadership Programme, which I was part of from March to October 2017. With not being eligible for NSFAS or any other financial aid, this free, institutional- run leadership development programme became one of the few structured opportunities I could access at no cost, and it made a great difference in my life. Through monthly sessions focused on leadership, diversity, and personal growth, it helped me build the confidence and public speaking skills I still rely on today when facilitating workshops and presenting to senior management. Alongside this, being part of the Psychology Society gave me a community of like-minded students who shared my academic interests, and it deepened my love for the field long before I knew I would build a career in it.
Beyond the academic support, there was so much to be involved in outside the lecture hall. I got to experience the vibrant Madibaz Sport clubs culture, the many student societies through Student Governance and Development, and the First-Year Success buddy and mentoring programmes that connect senior students with first- year students. Looking back, it was this combination of a strong support system and the chance to be part of a real campus community, through societies, peer mentoring, and student life events, that made Nelson Mandela University feel like home, and not just a place I struggled through.
How did you get from graduation to where you are now?
After Fort Hare, with no prior lecturing experience, I was fortunate to land my first job as a lecturer. Through only one interview, I was appointed for the role, and ever since I have never been unemployed. I started as a part-time online educator at SACAP (The South African College of Applied Psychology) in February 2020, facilitating modules like Understanding Human Behaviour, Writing for Success, and Introduction to Counselling Skills.
In 2021, I moved to Cape Town to take up a role as Scholar Coordinator at the Make A Difference Leadership Foundation, while continuing to lecture part-time at SACAP online. From there, I moved into student support roles at SACAP, growing from Student Support and Development Advisor into more senior positions including Lead Student Support Advisor and National Lead Academic Student Support Advisor.
In February 2025, I joined the Open Window Institute on the Stellenbosch campus as the Student Services Manager, and since September 2025 I have been serving in a role as a National Learning and Development Manager. Alongside all of this, I am completing my Master's in Psychology at the University of the Western Cape, building on my Honours from Fort Hare and my original degree from Nelson Mandela University, and at the same time continuing to work as an educator at SACAP on a part-time basis.
What challenge or turning point had the biggest impact on your career?
The turning point was that first lecturing position. Walking into a classroom with no teaching experience was daunting, but it forced me to grow quickly and created opportunities I did not expect. It also reframed how I saw my own difficult beginning: the same resilience that got me through poverty and a rocky start at university became the exact skill that let me thrive in high-pressure, people-first roles, and it is the same resilience I now try to model for the teams and students I support.
What skills or perspectives from your studies do you rely on most today?
My psychology training shaped almost everything I do now. I rely daily on skills in crisis intervention, evidence-based programme design, and understanding human behaviour, all of which help me build student support systems that work. Whether that is running a workshop, coordinating an orientation programme, or reviewing performance data to see where students need more help. Just as essentially, my own experience of financial and academic struggle gives me real empathy when working with students facing similar battles. I try to bring both the head and the heart of psychology into every programme I design.
What advice would you offer to current students hoping to follow a similar path?
Do not let a difficult start convince you that you cannot finish strong. Your first year or two does not have to define your whole degree. Say yes to opportunities even if you do not feel fully ready, because growth often happens on the job, not before it. And remember that where you come from, including the hardships, can become the very thing that makes you good at what you do. I would like to encourage every student use the support structures and student life opportunities the university offers, whether that is a writing centre, a mentoring programme, a sports club, or a student society, because those experiences build the resilience and the network that will carry you long after graduation.
Zukisa’s journey serves as a reminder to continue with purpose, perseverance and consistency, proving that even in the face of adversity, staying true to your beliefs and values can shape a meaningful and fulfilling career.
Written by: Georgia Van Rooyen