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Stay informed and inspired by the latest marketing insights from UJ鈥檚 Department of Marketing Management. Explore our podcasts, publications, and expert interviews designed to keep you ahead in the ever-evolving marketing landscape.
Podcasts: The latest from the Department of Marketing Management
Pitch Perfect: UJ Marketing Students Rise to the Coca鈥慍ola Challenge
The Department of Marketing Management proudly showcased the creativity of Dr Aobakwe Ledikwe’s third鈥憏ear BCom Marketing students through the Coca鈥慍ola Challenge. This experiential learning project gave students the opportunity to tackle a real鈥憌orld brief from one of the world鈥檚 most iconic brands.
In a recent , the winning team reflected on their journey. They spoke about balancing creativity with practicality, and learning that 鈥渁 great idea isn鈥檛 that great if you can鈥檛 execute it”. The winning pitch explored how Coca鈥慍ola could strengthen its connection with Gen Z through personalisation, digital engagement and innovation.
Among their standout recommendations were:
- An interactive display bottle allowing consumers to personalise their Coke bottle via mobile connection.
- A Coca鈥慍ola content creation house providing resources for Gen Z creators in music, cooking and sports.
- Flavour鈥憁ixing stations where consumers can create their own blends.
The students emphasised how the challenge deepened their skills in research, data handling, teamwork and adaptability.
This initiative reflects UJ鈥檚 commitment to bridging academia and industry, ensuring graduates are not only academically accomplished but also industry鈥憆eady innovators.
Dr Aobakwe Ledikwe with the group members of Pitch Perfect
Prof Hinson visits UJFM
Prof Robert E.Hinson took to the听听in October to share powerful tips on 鈥淏randing Yourself for Success鈥� from building your digital footprint to showing up confidently offline. Personal branding is a relevant topic to all students starting on their career journeys. The interview sparked energetic dialogue on how students can shape their professional identities in a competitive digital world, with practical advice both academically and from an industry perspective.
Latest Book Releases
Exploring the Journey of Success: Dr Thebe Ikalafeng and The Traveller
The 欧美福利100000 of Johannesburg鈥檚 Marketing Department is proud to celebrate one of its honorary doctors, Dr. Thebe Ikalafeng, a visionary leader in the marketing industry. One of Dr. Ikalafeng鈥檚 most notable achievements is his thought-provoking book, The Traveller, which delves into the art of marketing through the lens of personal growth and international business experience. The book is not only an inspiring read for marketing professionals, but also an invaluable resource for students seeking to deepen their understanding of the ever-evolving world of marketing.
Dr. Ikalafeng鈥檚 relationship with the UJ Marketing Department is a reflection of his dedication to education and mentorship. Through various initiatives, he has supported UJ students, offering his expertise in branding, marketing strategy, and entrepreneurship. His contributions have helped solidify UJ鈥檚 reputation as a leading institution in marketing education, nurturing the next generation of marketing leaders.
Social Media Marketing Management: How to Penetrate Emerging Markets and Expand Your Customer Base
Prof Robert E. Hinson and fellow authors use this book to take a developing economy perspective and present a comprehensive understanding of social media practices and how these can be integrated in firms鈥� operational activities to create a competitive advantage.
In emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs), social media provides a technological solution to the economic challenges faced by governments, firms, and people at the bottom of the economic pyramid. Social media is often considered to be fundamentally changing the business paradigm and is increasingly integrated into the marketing function, and EMDEs seem to be quickly finding out that it offers them a relatively low-cost opportunity to potentially leapfrog the competition in developed markets.
This book provides practical guidance on the use of social media in marketing management. It provides contemporary perspectives on social media marketing, and while it is aimed primarily at practitioners, it could also serve as teaching text for undergraduate and postgraduate teaching programmes. .
LeaderEx 2025
The Department of Marketing Management manned a stand at听.听
Representing UJ loud and proud, the Department of Marketing Management made its presence known at LeaderEx this year. South Africa鈥檚 largest gathering of business leaders, professionals and entrepreneurs, LeaderEx gave the department a great opportunity to network and foster industry collaborations. Our HOD, Prof Isolde Ward, was a panelist for the discussion听Achieving business results in a stagnant economy.听Staff engaged with visitors on a range of topics, from queries on enrolment in the master鈥檚 programme to requests for collaboration. A few of our top achieving students were also selected to participate in one-on-one mentoring sessions. Thank you to听for inviting inviting the department to attend.
Department of Marketing Management Press Office
Keep up-to-date with our staff publications on
Recent articles explore how artificial intelligence can level the marketing playing field for small businesses, the potential of augmented reality to transform South African retail, and the role of trust and influencers in driving social commerce.
As we move towards the Fifth Industrial Revolution, the question isn’t whether AI can handle customer service 鈥� it’s whether it should do so alone. 29 Oct 2025
It is absurd to imagine that 88% of the Fortune 500 companies that existed in 1955 have vanished. For instance, the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company (A&P), once the largest grocery retailer in the United States, and F. W. Woolworth, a pioneer in department stores, have both disappeared, illustrating how even dominant enterprises can decline. Organisations must be more vigilant than ever in future-proofing their businesses and remaining innovative as corporate life expectancies decline.听11 Sep 2025听
The debate among South African retailers is no longer solely about brick-and-mortar versus online. The conversation has advanced to include concepts such as ‘social commerce’, ‘influencer partnerships’, ‘user-generated content’, and ‘trust-driven marketing’.听19 Aug 2025听
A friend shared how his kids complained about visiting their Eastern Cape home during festive season, citing no fast-food delivery, poor internet access, and disliking supermarket trips, preferring convenient online services instead.听15 Jul 2025听
The automotive industry is a powerhouse in South Africa, contributing 4.3% of GDP and 18.1% of exports, and employing over 110,000 people. As the 22nd-largest vehicle producer globally, it drives significant economic growth. Yet, like many industries, it is undergoing a significant shift with the rise of e-commerce.听25 Nov 2024听
As the world marches towards Industry 5.0, retailers are faced with new demands on leadership, strategy, and operations, as innovation continues to grow exponentially.听5 Jan 2024听
Stay Informed
UJ鈥檚 Department of Marketing Management continues to lead the way in cutting-edge marketing research and industry engagement.
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