Curiosity, commitment and leadership: Aloy Gowne’s journey of growth

Aloy Gowne describes himself as a “curious” person. This deep-rooted curiosity, coupled with a passion for growth, has shaped his personal, academic, and professional journey – propelling him to greater heights.

Having risen through the ranks to become senior manager for Brand and Stakeholder Relations at the University of Cape Town (UCT), Aloy has played a pivotal role in enhancing the university’s image. His contributions to UCT’s Communication and Marketing Department (CMD) have led to numerous local and international awards over the past decade. This month, he adds a cherry on top of his illustrious career: graduating with a master’s degree in development policy and practice from the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance.

“I’ve always been someone who asks why things are the way they are,” he said. “I don't just accept things as they are – I challenge them.” This inquisitive nature has guided his decisions, from academic pursuits to career choices and personal life.

One of Aloy’s defining personal moments was becoming a single parent to Oratile despite doubts from others including his own family. “I think the biggest is maybe choosing to have my son because everybody thought maybe I can’t do this because I’m a single male. People questioned whether I could manage to do this on my own, but I asked myself, ‘Why not?’ That same mindset applies to everything I do.”

“I wanted to be in a space that prioritises knowledge creation and lifelong learning.”

His decision to adopt – something he never envisioned as a single man – came after his volunteer work at children’s shelters. Witnessing the dire circumstances many children faced inspired him to dedicate time and resources to some of these initiatives, raising funds and providing emotional support where needed. Yet, he felt compelled to do more and realised he had the privilege and means to make a lasting difference, hence the decision to adopt.

Pursuing a master’s degree while having family and work responsibilities was not a walk in the park. “It was quite difficult. You asked yourself, ‘Can you take on all these responsibilities? You have a young son who’s going to primary school. You have a team that you lead, and you have responsibilities towards your own work that you must achieve’.”

“It wasn’t easy,” Aloy admitted, recalling how his son struggled at school. “When I was on block for those weeks at a time, there was a sense I was neglecting my precious boy, and it touched me a lot.” However, support from colleagues, neighbours, and family made all the difference. “Sometimes neighbours picked him up from school. There were friends and family members where he could go for weekends. Things like that really helped me push through my studies. Making time to be with him when I wasn’t studying was also important to catch up on school work and just spend quality moments together. The essence of it all is that I have realised that one is never really alone in these situations. It does indeed take a village to chip in our lives. We shouldn’t take for granted that a child can also be a source of support and strength for parent through these milestones.

Now, post-studies, Aloy prioritises making up for lost time. “It’s important now that my studies are done that I pay the most gratitude to him because if it wasn’t for his support, it would have been more difficult. I will continue to celebrate with him, but I need to make up for that time.”

Hailing from Kimberley in the Northern Cape, Aloy began his journey at UCT in 2008. After three years, he took up an opportunity as a public affairs specialist at the US Diplomatic Mission to South Africa in Cape Town during President Barack Obama’s administration. However, in 2015, he felt drawn back to UCT’s intellectual environment and never looked back. “UCT fosters debate, critical thinking and challenges ideas, which aligns with how I approach the world,” he explained. “I wanted to be in a space that prioritises knowledge creation and lifelong learning.”

A commitment to continuous learning

Aloy’s belief in education as a lifelong journey stems from an upbringing that emphasised learning as an opportunity rather than an obligation. “In my family, my grandparents encouraged freedom of thought and the ability to make own decisions. Education was always about growth, not just about getting a piece of paper,” he shared. Facing leadership challenges in his role, he decided to pursue studies covering effective management skills, strategic and ethical leadership. “You never stop learning, and you can never say you know enough. The programme I pursued focused on cultivating the next generation of ethical leaders to inspire and create meaningful change for greater good. I could see I was moving into leadership roles and managing teams in ways I wasn’t fully prepared for, so I chose to study further. It helped me to develop self-awareness as a leader and gave me the tools to know myself, understand others and my environment better and handle workplace challenges more effectively.”

Balancing work, studies, and personal responsibilities wasn’t easy. While UCT’s staff study benefits made it possible, study leave was often insufficient, and he had to use his annual leave to keep up with coursework. Despite these hurdles, he found the journey rewarding. “Studying while working allowed me to implement new knowledge in real-time. But having a strong support system – my managers, colleagues, and family – was essential.”

As an advocate for continuous education, Aloy encourages university staff to take advantage of their academic environment. “If you work in an institution of higher learning, you should engage with it beyond just your job,” he argued. “It’s not just about career progression – it’s about personal and intellectual growth. Being in an environment of knowledge creators and thought leaders pushes you to think critically and contribute meaningfully.”

A career marked by transformation and excellence

On his time at UCT, Aloy mentioned his involvement in transformation initiatives – one of the pillars of the university’s Vision 2030 – as a key career highlight. “It’s about more than just a job; it’s about shaping the future of the university.”

His dedication to excellence has been recognised through several awards in the last 10 years at UCT – no less than 14 awards to be precise. These include recognition by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) and the Marketing, Advancement and Communication in Education (MACE).

But, he remains focused on continuous improvement. “To be good or excellent is not enough necessarily. It’s not the end. You’ve got to continue challenging yourself or stretching yourself. Maybe there’s a better way of doing things, and I’m always pushing myself not to be complacent. You’re only as good as your last project. Excellence for me means always pushing yourself to do better and become more.”

While taking a break from formal studies, Aloy remains open to future academic pursuits, possibly a PhD with a research topic in an area of interest which can make a difference in everyday life. “For now, I want to apply what I’ve learned before deciding on the next step,” he said, hinting at a potential interest in teaching and following in the footsteps of his grandfather – his biggest cheerleader.

Having contributed to the establishment of the then National Institute of Higher Education in the Northern Cape, a catalyst to the now Sol Plaatje University, Aloy remains passionate about the broader higher education sector. He intends to support the growth of institutions and have a lasting impact in education.

Gratitude and leadership

Acknowledging those who supported his journey, Aloy mentioned his family (his 95-year-old grandfather and 9-year-old son), his supervisor, Dr Shanil Haricharan, and colleagues, particularly his former line managers, former Executive Director: Communications, Gerda Kruger and former Director: Communications, Kylie Hatton for his success in pursuing and ultimately completing the programme. “To have supportive line managers is a blessing. If it wasn’t for their encouragement, support and giving me those opportunities to tackle, I don’t think I would have achieved much.”

And there is no better way to thank those before him than paying it forward. “I was given opportunities to grow, and I believe in doing the same for others. Leadership isn’t about climbing the ladder and kicking it away – it’s about lifting others and bringing them along on the journey. UCT provides incredible learning opportunities. I hope that more staff take advantage of them and continue to grow, both professionally and personally.”