ZEISS employee Thando standing in a glass-walled office, leaning against a table and smiling. A digital projection board with a presentation is shown in the background.

ZEISS Stories | Thando

A calling
from the world
of science

Sales

Thando's life has always been linked to microscope research in one way or another as a cell biologist, cancer researcher and microscopy expert. When she took on her current role at ZEISS South Africa, she changed career to work in a role where she ensures that microscopes for routine applications find their way into universities, pathology labs, museums or forensics. She is a crossover specialist.

It's hard to imagine that I had never held a microscope in my hands before I started my university studies.

Thando Sales manager

ZEISS employee Thando is standing at a railing in an open, bright corridor and smiling.

Love of genetic research

The impact a role model can have became clear to Thando during her time in high school: her biology teacher's enthusiasm for science immediately left a lasting impression on her. However, the education system in the South African townships is inadequate because of a lack of resources for equipment and support. Through hard work and discipline, Thando gained access to extracurricular courses that gave her new insights into the world of biology and the world of chromosomes, heredity and human DNA.

ZEISS employee Thando is working on her laptop in a glass-walled office while a presentation is shown on a digital whiteboard in the background.

Observing the world through a lens

From then on, microscopy became an integral part of Thando's life. Her bachelor's degree allowed her to continue her training in cancer research and to work as a medical scientist in stem cell science while she was doing her master's degree. Next, she got her first full-time position in the lab. But did she feel she had got to where she wanted to be in her career? As her job progressed, Thando realized she wanted to help open the door to research up for others. In pursuit of this calling, she joined the ZEISS sales team in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic - a challenging start. “The COVID lockdown came into effect just five days after I started so I thought I would lose my job. Instead, I was offered tools and support so that I could do my work from home.” She quickly realized that her ideas and knowledge were appreciated. She dared to think more outside the box and believe in her own expertise.

A female ZEISS employee looks after two children. They are sat by a microscope and high-fiving.

The microscope ambassador

From the university in Ghana to the museum in Nigeria and forensic laboratory in Kenya: today, Thando supports dealers in all English-speaking countries in Africa. Her job is to make sure that users receive microscopes perfectly tailored to their needs. “I enjoy the contact I have with different researchers such as neurologists, geneticists and botanists. Together we configure the best microscope for them.” That‘s because a device is only as good as how it is adapted for its place of use. Thando's experience in cell biology and cancer research is a great advantage here.

The career change has opened up even more doors for her. When she heard about A Heart for Science, the ZEISS education initiative, it soon became obvious to her that she could be a role model for the next generation as an ambassador at schools, for instance. Thando is very passionate about her work. “It's important to me that children explore the world of science at an early age in a playful and practical way.” This will give them the opportunity to get used to working with microscopes before they start their studies.