GNNL’s own Donna Todd is always striving to learn more
AT the Secondary School level, she gained only two passes – English Language and English Literature – but never once did Donna Todd let that deter her from her pursuit of always learning more.
Todd is presently the Administrative Manager for the Guyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL) and the acting General Manager. And just last Sunday, she graduated from the Nations School of Business and Management with a Master of Business Administration (MBA).
But Todd has developed herself, so much so that she has a postgraduate degree which is awarded to students who have mastered the study of business, while managing one of Guyana’s largest newspaper companies?
Well, according to her, “I just want to keep learning.”
In addition to her newly acquired MBA, Donna also has a Post Graduate Diploma in Development Studies, her first Degree in Accounts, a few certificates from the Critchlow Labour College and an ordinary diploma in Commerce from the Government Technical Institute (GTI).
Reflecting on her progress, she posited: “I’ve done very, very well because from where I came from, I think I have achieved a lot.”
Speaking specifically on her pursuit of the MBA, she explained: “After I finished my Post-Graduate Degree at the University of Guyana, as usual, the higher you go in education – your appetite becomes [bigger].”
She then decided that she wanted to pursue further business studies but noted that she procrastinated for some time. In 2017, however, she decided that she must start the MBA programme.
According to her though, the journey was not without its fair share of challenges.
“Despite being exposed to many of the subjects engaged in during the programme, the way in which you had to answer the questions was different,” she said. “And each month, there would be an examination for a new course.”
The examinations were an open-book format, but that really would not help your plight unless you knew the theory, according to Todd.
“What I did, for the exams, was that I used my work experience to write about matters in my exams,” she said. As such, she leaned on her time working with Gafoors and the Ministry of Public Security.
She recalled that the first course she did was on leadership, and while she could not understand the lecturer as well as she wanted, she was bent on excelling her first course so that she could set the tone for the rest of the programme.
“I did a lot of self-studying and what was surprising was that when I wrote the exam and got a very good grade [a distinction!], it was like ‘Wow, I understood the theory’ and was able to apply it,” Todd reflected.
But not all parts of the programme provided that proud feeling. “For some courses, you just had to cry,” Todd half-joked. “I give God the most praises, because, without him, I would not have made it,” the graduate said, and even shared that whenever she had her exams, she would turn to him first.
She also said that her husband and family were instrumental in her journey. “Though I was the one actually doing the course, we all struggled together,” she said.
As expected though, with her insatiable appetite for learning, Todd highlighted that the next journey she intends embarking on will be Law.
“Next year when I’m settled, I’ll go and do the Law- right at the Nations University,” she said.
Perhaps she is a testament to the saying that whatever the human mind can conceive, it can also achieve.
“As young people growing up, you have your own perception about life because you are not exposed, but being qualified and because you would’ve mixed with people from diverse backgrounds you take a bit from each group and eventually, you take the good ones and you try to shape your life,” she said. “At least I did that.”
