Roshi Gains Management Skills with Milpark Certificate

Roshi Gains Management Skills with Milpark Certificate

Student Success
28 Jul 2025

For Roshi, the plan was simple: take a one-year sabbatical from her teaching post to support her husband’s work trip to South Africa—then return home, back to the classroom, back to what she knew in India. But life rarely sticks to the plan.

From Engineering to Business Management 

Fast-forward seventeen years—Roshi now calls South Africa home. From teaching engineering in lecture halls to learning business studies, she created a new life for herself. But first, she poured her time, heart and energy into raising her two beautiful children. “I vividly remember the first few days we arrived in South Africa. We stayed in a hotel in Johannesburg before settling in Umhlanga. My daughter was just two years old at the time.”

Neither Roshi nor her husband intended to stay in South Africa. But when his project kept getting extended, one year turned into two… until it became a permanent move. “I fell pregnant with my son, and our path shifted suddenly. I became a full-time mother, fully immersed in raising our children. It was a beautiful time, but it also meant putting my career on sleep mode.”

Beneath the quiet rhythm of school runs and supper routines, her ambition rebooted. However, Roshi decided it was time for a complete career change into the Information Technology sector. “IT was always a dream. When I was younger, it wasn’t something I could fully pursue. But when I decided to restart my career here in South Africa, I knew this was the moment to follow my dream.”

The foundation was there: Roshi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Computer Science) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Management. She also worked as a Senior Lecturer in an Engineering and Management college before relocating. However, switching from education to IT presented some challenges.

“There were moments of self-doubt. I had to learn how things worked in a completely new context, with new tools, new expectations, and at a whole different pace. Not forgetting, juggling it all while raising two kids.”

The academic shift—Roshi’s Milpark experience

In the midst of it all, right at the turning point of her life, Roshi hit “Enter” and stepped into Milpark’s virtual classroom. Her employer nominated her for Milpark’s Higher Certificate in Management. “I was honoured and nervous. I didn’t know what to expect from an online programme, especially after being away from studying formally for so long. But from the very first class, I was hooked.”

Roshi described the Milpark experience as energising and engaging. She especially enjoyed connecting with other students while studying at home online. “I was exposed to people from different lines of business, different organisations. The facilitators were phenomenal. Everything was so well-thought-out. I actually looked forward to each session. It felt like stepping into a new world again.”

She had to navigate between the demands of her full-time job and her family life. Her secret to managing it all? Preparation. Milpark’s flexibility made it easy for her to study at her own pace and in her own time. She was able to turn the theory into practical application in her workplace: “I tried to go through each module before class, even if just a little. It helped me connect the dots during the sessions. Afterwards, I could link what I learnt to my actual work.”

From full-time mother to top of her class

Roshi went on to graduate with distinctions and was placed second amongst the top 10 achievers for the HCM course. This achievement helped her regain confidence, build essential management skills and gain a deeper understanding of the fast-paced field she works in. “I work with people every day, understanding their needs, translating them into systems and solving problems. What I learned at Milpark helped me better manage those interactions. It has shaped how I show up, both at work and in my personal life.”

Roshi is proud to have set an example for her family, who have supported her academic journey.“ My husband is my biggest cheerleader. My kids make space for my studies. My manager understands when I need time to focus. It really does take a village.”

Roshi’s daughter, who undoubtedly inherited her mother’s academic ambition, is currently completing her Honours at the University of Pretoria. “Now we both sit and complain about assignments. We study together. It’s a special kind of bond, where we’re growing side by side.”

Reprogramming her future

Although Roshi’s academic journey is already impressively layered, she is not quite done upgrading her skill set just yet. She is already planning to enrol in Milpark’s Advanced Certificate in Management. “I’ve completed three qualifications after marriage: one in India and two here. Yes! I’m still going. I believe learning never stops. It is what keeps us alive, relevant and growing.”

Final Thoughts

Roshi’s journey reminds us that sometimes the bravest thing we can do is hit “start” and begin again. She strongly advocates for embracing change: “Believe in yourself, and the rest will fall into place. Don’t fear change, embrace it. Every challenge is just a new opportunity waiting for you.” Like Roshi, you can reprogramme your future. Explore Milpark’s flexible study options at Milpark’s School of Commerce and take that first step.

Share this article:

default logo
Milpark