MEET THREE WONDER WOMEN, ALL IIE VEGA GRADUATES, WHO ARE MAKING WAVES IN THE INDUSTRY
Making the right choice is ultimately the starting point of a career, which means students and parents want to ensure they select a future-proof education. Vega School is not just about students finding a job, but rather something more significant; finding their purpose. The school is known for producing mavericks and trailblazers leaving a significant mark in the industry.
A tertiary educational brand of the Independent Institute of Education (IIE), Vega has an unmatched IIE-Vega graduate employment rate: ninety five percent of the graduates are employed within just six months of graduating.
Celebrating its 21st year since launching the school in Johannesburg, Vega has seen over 8 200 alumni setting trends in the brand, business and design industry – both locally and abroad. These figures are a direct result of the school’s methodology, industry network and the decision to expand its IIE offerings over the last few years – adding brand management and strategic brand communication programmes to its largely design-based portfolio.
Thina Dyantyi
Studied an IIE BA in Strategic Brand Communication, landed an internship in her second year at Barrows Global, and before she graduated was appointed Field Marketing Specialist at Red Bull.
“Considering myself as a strategist, I had always undermined my capabilities to be an innovator and forward-thinker,” says Thina. “Through Vega and the learnings of my degree, I gained the confidence to regard myself as a creative in my own right. I became more open to sharing my ideas, taking my earned seat at the table with the creative big shots and making my presence felt.”
The Vega experience was for Thina defined by opportunities to engage in real-life client briefs through the annual Brand Challenge, and shaped by her determination to make the most of these opportunities to rise to the challenge. “Opportunity lies in everything that you do, even when you think people aren’t watching or taking notice – they are. I was surrounded by a pool of talent – graphic designers, brand strategists, photographers, content creators and visionaries. I simply couldn’t afford to miss out on the opportunity to learn from these resources every day.”
Thina’s advice to school leavers is that learning is a never-ending journey. “Discover your why, the very core of why you want to succeed, and be relentless in pursuing this,” she says. “And parents – support your children! As future game changers and innovators, they’ll hear the word ‘no’ a hundred times. Their first ‘yes’ should be with you.”
Aimee Crankshaw
Studied an IIE BCom in Strategic Brand Management and landed her dream job as content strategist for The Sharks. “I have always been passionate about rugby and fell in love with not only The Sharks style of rugby, but also their brand and all that they stand for,” says Aimee – who has recently set up the brand’s in-house creative agency. The Vega way of thinking and approaching problems has prepared Aimee for the highly competitive and fast paced industry she’s in. “Vega has always encouraged excellence and motivate students to do the impossible and to think beyond the box society has formed. Vega teaches you to constantly challenge the norms, push your boundaries and design creative solutions when coming up with campaign concepts and executions. The Vega belief and culture is that there is a creative solution for all problems, you just have to expand your way of thinking to find it.”
Dedicating her three years at Vega to gaining as much knowledge as she possibly could, Aimee says the lecturers were always very accommodating and enjoyed sharing their experience and knowledge with students who were hungry to learn.
Zainab Mitha
Studied an IIE BA in Creative Brand Communication with core discipline in Visual Communication, and then her BA Honours in Creative Brand Communication. She is now Junior Art Director at FCB and was recently selected as a Loeries Awards Judge.
“Vega’s connections and involvement in industry has been instrumental to me,” says Zainab, who met her current Creative Director through a Portfolio Night hosted at Vega – where members of the creative industry sit down with students and provide advice on how to improve portfolios. “I met him again during honours when he gave me an award at the Vega Showcase, an evening where agencies have the opportunity to look around at the new talent that’s about to enter the working world. He offered me a job, and also hired my copywriter – another IEE Vega Alumni.”
Zainab says Vega is the only college that offers a combination of strategy and creativity in one course, and has incredible lecturers who always go above and beyond to make sure each student is pushed to do the best they can. “Being at Vega gradually pushed me out of my comfort zone and turned me into the person I am today,” she says – adding that the Vega Collab lessons, when students of different specialisations had the opportunity to collaborate with each other, were extremely helpful.
Next Open Day: 26 October 2019 at 9am.