Woman Crush-Hlengiwe Ndlela

 

Hlengiwe Ndlela is a testament to the truth that your dream doesn’t have an expiration date. This wonder woman who is a qualified CA is a true definition of the word : Perseverance. As I always say my favorite stories are not the ones with the easy happily ever after but those where people push through to reach happily ever after. To say I am inspired by this woman is an understatement but let me let you read it all for yourself.

• What did you study and is it in line with your career goals?
• I studied a B Com Accounting (undergraduate degree) at UKZN in Westville Campus. I then did my Post graduate degree at UNISA, my Honours in Accountancy – Certificate in the Theory of Accounting (CTA). I then got articles or a 3 year training contract with Ernst and Young Inc (EY) – a big 4 Firm, where I did my Board 1 exam (Initial Test of Competence (ITC)) and Board 2 (Public Practice Examination (PPE)). Through training, progress and promotion over the 3 years and passing of the 2 examinations I was then rendered or signed off as a Chartered Accountant in South Africa – CA (SA) by our regulatory body SAICA
• What is the most important lesson you’ve learnt after graduation?
• I’ve learnt that it’s not about where you come from or how you got there but it’s all about getting there.I remember I used to worry when I first started Varsity, coming from a developing area (not even yet a township), eMatikwe in Inanda with my First Additional Language English from a township school (Inanda Newtown Comprehensive High School, eBhambayi) and for the first time having to sit in a lecture room with learners from Model C schools and learners who weren’t African but also a lecturer that does not speak Zulu as a first language but is also not African… “How will I make it”? Simply put – my English had a little to be admired and speaking to an English speaking person was a mission and a half.

  I used to worry and I thought that the kids that went to Model C High Schools were the only ones who would cruise through Varsity and the profession I had chosen. But I strived. I always tried to remind myself where I was headed come rain or shine and without forgetting where I was came from. Where I came from was always a huge motivation in my life (having been raised by a single mom who is a domestic worker and did all she could to give me the best she could afford with the support of her family). I definitely had challenges including delays on the plans or goals I had set for myself, but through all of that – there’s nothing I could change about the humbling life lessons I encountered. I learnt independence, responsibility, self motivation and perseverance.

• What is the most disappointing low after graduating?
• This was in 2008 when I didn’t qualify or pass my CTA. For the first time in my life I had failed. It was a huge shock!! Before the results came out I had huge plans. I was going to start my articles in a Big 4 Firm, Training Contract all signed awaiting results. I was going to start earning an income in a form of a salary/allowance (I was going to be in a training environment) to be able to start providing for my then 2 year old daughter and my family.I had to remodel. I had to go back to the drawing board. I had to restructure and push out some of my personal goals. During this time there were moments where I had so much self doubt, where I thought – I knew it. This wasn’t for me, with the background I have there was no way. Then I decided let me get a job, this baby won’t feed herself. I have responsibilities that can’t just wait for me. So I became an educator teaching Accounting at a High School level. I got comfortable there. It was amazing to finally get a salary and realise the short term dream I had; which was to provide for my daughter and my family.

  It is so important to have people who believe in you even when you don’t. A lady that worked for the HR department at EY at the time (Neela Narainsamy), where I had my Training contract and where I had a Bursary to study even though I had failed – would call me to check how things were going with my studies. I failed CTA again. I got over it. Continued teaching, it was good money I was getting a reasonable salary I could live of.

  Towards the end of 2010 after CTA results had been released, she called me concerned about my results I told her straight up, I can not study full time. I have a family to provide for. Because she believed in me she convinced someone who was signing off training contracts and bursaries, they then said, fine! “You can come start your training contract while you study your CTA.” This was now a fourth attempt at CTA. The past 2 attempts while I was an educator were not attempts, I was just registered but not in it. I had lost belief in myself.

  That same nervousness and sense of disbelief I had when I started Varsity had become stronger. But when they gave me the opportunity to start my Training Contract and study, I grabbed it with both my hands. I realized I wasted so much time doubting myself. The belief this lady had in me had rubbed off me. I wanted this again. That grade 9 learner of Inanda Newtown Comprehensive High School who wanted to be an Accountant was back. I wanted to be a CA again. I pushed myself as challenging as it was. Being a mom, a thriving employee and a student. But I made it.

  The day Board 2 results came out they gave us Oscars like a trophy, I knew it didn’t matter how I got here, what mattered was that I was there. Qualified as a CA (SA). Doors have opened. God had been faithful throughout even though I had stumbled.

• What has been the biggest high of my career?
• I do not only get to meet and deal with prominent and successful people in my field but I also get to help groom and nurture the next generation of young professionals/ those want to be professionals, our little brothers and sisters who think it is not possible; through having access to mediums and media to talk to a large number of the youth to build a better future for a black child.Through committees I sit in (recently joined the ABASA and AWCA committees – KZN Region), National Radio interviews (UKhozi FM, Sakhe Isizwe with Nogcebo McKenzie through SAICA) and Mentorship Programmes I get involved in (1Woman1Girl) to instil a sense of belief in the African child, this has been the best and the highest of my career. I love giving back.
• What would be your advise for a graduate in their final year? 
• South Africa, Africa, the World does not owe you anything. We live in the times where the struggles we have are with the mind, self belief and being open minded. We have access to so much information. We have access to so much support; if you focus on your Education, so many things are possible for you.Not so long ago I was a nobody, a 7 year old starting school at Uthando Primary School – eMathinini. The challenges we have now are not about whether you have access to Education, but it’s what you as a human being want to do with the education you receive, whether you take it and run with it to change your life and excel at it so that opportunities to study further come knocking at your door or you sit there and feel sorry for yourself and be called ipara. Sizwe sakithi esinsundu, if we change our mentality we would change our situations for better.

Ayanda Meyiwa

 

When I asked  Ayanda  Meyiwa if i could profile him a few weeks ago it was mainly because of my admiration of his progress in academia especially since I am passionate about economics. What I didn’t know was that through writing and compiling this blog I would be impacted significantly. His story is both inspiring and challenging. Ayanda holds a MCom in Leadership specializing in Maritime Studies. He is a PhD candidate and a lecturer. He speaks candidly about the struggles and triumphs he has experienced in his journey so far. Here is what he had to say :

• What did you study and is it line with your career goals?
• I graduated with a postgraduate diploma in maritime studies which is something that I didn’t choose initially. I had no goals concerning it because while I was an undergrad I fell in love with economics. Having fallen in love with economics I decided to pursue it up until PhD level. However I couldn’t reconcile my love for economics and how I could earn a living from it because frankly there are no job opportunities with only an undergraduate degree in economics.  I decided to pursue a career in economics despite the low job prospects. So I had no career goals in economics except my love for it. Being part of a church family is where I was affirmed as a teacher and public speaker so I thought maybe I should pursue teaching but I didn’t know how to reconcile a Bcom degree and teaching. I was introduced to a postgraduate diploma in maritime studies which was a whole new learning curve but I enjoyed the research part of it. This path enabled me to continue further in my studies.  So it wasn’t in line with my goals initially but overtime I have learnt that God always has something a plan for you. Despite doing a postgraduate diploma in maritime studies I was still finding it hard to get a job however in 2014 I decided to do my master’s degree. I then pursued a master of commerce in leadership specializing in maritime economics.  It was then that I realized I was being drawn towards academia so I decided to pursue maritime economics up until PhD level. And now I am an academic specializing in the maritime field.
• What is the most important lesson you have learnt after graduating?
• It is important to have a plan and specific goals but at the same time trust God because He has your best interests at heart. Growing up I had a desire to be a teacher and I hadn’t been able to reconcile this love with my passion for economics however God put the two together and I am now both a researcher and lecturer. Before you go out there and wanting to secure a career it is important know yourself first. Know YOU! Know what makes you tick and enjoy. At the end of the day you have got to follow your heart and to be able to do something you enjoy this will lead you to know what solutions you could offer the world.
• What has been the most disappointing low after graduating ?
• I didn’t have a job and experienced pressure even though my family didn’t put pressure on me. The fact that I couldn’t provide for my family took a toll on me because it was connected to my identity as a man. But as I said it is important to know yourself first.
• What has been the most incredible high of your career?
• Rubbing shoulders with my teachers has been an incredible high. I now get to sit on the same table on equal footing with people I used to look up to only a few years ago as an undergrad. My intellect is actually valid. Being able to have a say and input in the school of management is a high.
• What would you advise a graduate in their final year of study?
• Know yourself and following your heart. It is never an easy journey to do something because of the love of it but be like a Steve Biko who said “I write what I like”. Be like a Steve jobs who said “stay hungry. Stay foolish”. There is nothing greater than knowing you. Don’t be afraid to start again and to rebuild. Don’t be afraid to take the first step towards what you believe you are called to and like or enjoy. Start walking towards that.

Woman Crush Wednesday-Bongeka Cele

Bongeka Cele is a close friend of mine. She has an Honours Degree in Supply chain management and is currently doing a Masters in Commerce. She is an outspoken leader, brilliant writer and has big dreams of impacting the country in the supply chain sector. I asked her to share a few insights on her journey after university.

• What did you study in University and is it in line with your career goals?

• I studied supply chain management. What I studied is definitely in line with my career goals. I would like to be a supply chain professional and be able to consult with or work with government to start transforming the supply chains in our country. I really do believe that rectifying supply chain inefficiencies is one of the keys to unlocking the countries potential

• What is the most important lesson you have learnt after graduating?  

•  I think firstly one of the most important lessons is keep dreaming big,but also understand that most people will not understand you dreams,visions and goals and you need to be able to push past That. NEVER play small!!!It will not be in your favor.I think secondly, to understand you talents and development area’s and constantly endeavor to grow and close those gaps. Third, Map your life paths. Put down every single thing you want to achieve in life on paper.Then break it down into short,medium,long term. If you cant think of everything, just do the next 10 years. Review every year,you would be surprised at how much you push yourself based on your own expectations. Lastly Give yourself Grace. Do not compare yourself to other,but rather the best version of you. Even then be careful to give yourself some leeway.We are human after all.

• What has been the most disappointing low after graduating ?  

•  I think the most disappointing aspect that hit me after graduation,more than being unemployed the first year after graduating was the realization that my degree had not in any way shape or form really prepared me for corporate. I realized that I had A LOT of hard work before me and that being a director in 3 years was not really going to happen,but also that I didn’t really want it.

• What has been the most incredible high in your career?    

• This is a difficult question,because I generally thrive in an environment where I am learning and right now I am learning a lot. I think though I would probably say having the courage to resign, where I felt like I wasn’t growing or my environment was not fostering my growth. Lots of people stay at companies out of a “ maybe if I stay they will promote me”,that’s not always the case. As long as you don’t burn any bridges when you leave, always know when to leave.

• Lastly what would be your advise to a graduate in their final year of study?          

• My advice is 2 fold. 1. For those who have always been entrepreneurial- Don’t bother trying corporate, unless you have a very specific learning plan that you want to achieve at a company. I think the biggest mistake even among us graduates is we don’t encourage people, or support them when they say “I want to start a business”. We all love the notion of being a business owner, we project our aversion to risk as soon as someone tries. So to entrepreneurs out there. JUST DO IT! 2. To the rest of us. Understand that your career is always in your hands! Managers are also looking out for number one,so don’t get lost in the politics of “the business need”. Go for what will make you happy or at least help you to achieve your end goals! To all of us: Understand your purpose- WHAT ARE YOU HERE FOR?!What will the world say of you? What legacy will you leave?!

Unemployment

The unemployment rate in South Africa as of the second quarter of 2014 was 23.5% which was the highest since 2008. 6.7% of black graduates are likely to be unemployed than white graduates and younger graduates are more likely to be unemployed than older graduates according to a finding of a study commissioned by the Centre for Development Enterprise (CDE). You have most likely heard a political party mention in a speech how they plan to eradicate unemployment and promise to “give” more jobs in the coming term.

I think what utterly infuriates me is that no one seems to realize that behind the statistics are actually people with actually lives. It can be so easy to be caught up in the numbers and not the impact that the numbers have on young people. Take for example a graduate who has to watched their family go through tremendous hardship to see to it that one family member graduates. Imagine the countless nights spent eating barely nothing in the hopes that a university education will change their lives forever. Can you see the pressure that one graduate can face? After spending years seeing your family suffer in order to see you through university you now get hit with the harsh reality that education didn’t bring the change it promised. This is what unemployment looks like in South Africa. It is not just statistics that politicians can throw around in order to further their interests nor is it a number that economists can spend their time debating on national TV. It is real stories of real stories. I think if all of us removed the layer of complacency we would be more furious at the statistics and more determined that we would change it. I myself know the bitterness of going through unemployment. I spend nearly 2 years at home with a perfectly polished picture of my graduation in the living room of my parents home.I experienced the bitter pain of rejection after rejection. I experienced the hopelessness that came with being at home. Unemployment wasn’t a topic around the dinner table for me, it was real life everyday. I am no politician but I can say our view around this needs to change. Here’s how I think it should :

• First of all, we need to stop teaching students that the only way to succeed in life is to find a stable job for 15 years and then live your dreams. That logic is flawed in so many ways and totally not true. Case in point the millionaires who never worked for anyone a day in their lives. I think this is also damaging because it gives companies a hero status amongst recent graduates. So they think that the only way to succeed in life is to work for a certain company and when things dont work out they are completely hopeless. As commerce graduate not once did it occur to me during that time to start my own business because I was waiting for a company to save me.
• We need to stop looking to the government to “save” us. I believe we as south Africans need to take ownership of the issues facing this country. Unemployment being one of them. How many times have we looked sadly as a news anchor blurts out the latest unemployment statistic yet we have done nothing to eradicate this problem. How many cv’s have you helped make? How many job opportunities have you forwarded?
• Graduates need to understand that a degree is just that a DEGREE. Ultimately you set yourself apart from the rest. Nothing will be handed to you on a silver platter. No one is going to make it easy for you. It is your career at the end of the day so take ownership.

There is a lot i can say about this issue. Infact invite me for coffee one day so we can discuss further. But for now, I will leave it here. Next time you see a stat regarding this I hope this blog challenges you to dig deeper. This is our country!

 

10 Year High school Reunion

Facebook posts and groups were created to discuss the celebration of our 10 year high school reunion. I couldn’t believe it had been ten years since I did my matric year and I couldn’t believe how different my life is from what I dreamt about back than. I thought by now I would have a car,house, a thriving career and a few established businesses however this is not the case. The temptation is to then classify myself as a failure however I have learnt crucial lessons over the years.

Here are 10 lessons I would tell the younger me dreaming of conquering the world.

1. Ditch the timeline :  If you had a chat with the younger me she would tell you of a specific plan with specific deadlines on where she wanted to be in life. That younger me didn’t know that life sometimes does not go according to plan. One thing i have learnt is that the timeline should be a guideline and not a rule. When we focus so much on where we should be by now we miss out on where we are. There is nothing as dissatisfying as living a life in the future and missing the moment now.
2. Accept mistakes: It is impossible to live a life without mistakes. We choose the wrong major; we choose the wrong job; we leave a job too early. All these things happen to most of us and for the longest time I thought mistakes were ruined everything. Like there was no going back on it. My mom said something that changed my life last year which was “This is the time for you to make mistakes”. Nothing is set in stone. You can always reset and reroute.
3. Study: I was the crazy few who decided to go into the working world without a postgraduate qualification. The truth is this is one of the biggest mistakes one can make. Granted it is different in every industry but it really impacts how much you earn and how far you will grow. My advice to any undergraduate that comes to me for advise is to make sure you have more than an undergraduate degree. An extra year on campus is nothing compared to a few years of unemployment or below minimum wage salaries.
4. Don’t compare : All of us are on different journeys. Some of us will find ourselves on a constant upward motion and some dont. Instead of spending our time looking over someone else green grass we need to cultivate our own.
5. Watch your circle: The people around you will influence how far you go. I have been blessed with the best friends who always push me to go further than I think i can. Surround yourself with people who will grow you spiritually, emotionally and professionally.
6. Keep dreaming : The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. –Eleanor Roosevelt
7. Dont forget the people who have your back : I learnt this early in my life. Your closest friends and family are the people who will love you when you have nothing. No amount of degrees, cars and money can ever replace that love.
8. Mentorship: Find yourself a mentor who will able to help you make strategic decisions regarding your career. Someone who can be able to ask you questions and keep you accountable in terms of your goals.
9. Dont always follow the money: Some jobs are not profitable in terms of finances but they will provide character development to get to the next level.
10. Trust God always : Through hard work, perseverance and a faith in God, you can live your dreams. Ben Carson