Tshepiso Branding Solutions

“My late husband and I founded Tshepiso Branding Solutions in 2018. Our business exists on the premise of living our purpose and it goes beyond just making a profit. If we were in it just for the profit we would have gone back to corporate. “Our loyal customers that keep coming back to us appreciate the personal touches we add. We understand their challenges and visions as start ups because we are one too. They are not just customers but brands that we hope to grow with. Our “WHY” is co-creation of brand equity, because we know as our customers brands grow, so do we,” said Sarah. As previous owners of a reputable signage franchise, she and her husband were able to use their intelligence, resources and their complimentary skills to ensure that their customers received excellence on all fronts. Their services ranges from Indoor and outdoor signage, vehicle branding, printing services, graphic design, street pole adverts as well as digital strategy and implementation. Sarah also mentioned that Tshepiso Branding Solutions is committed to improving its customer base in South Africa and across the African continent and to growing the business into an asset of value that will have an impact locally and globally. “We also want to play an active role in the digital branding space while adding value to our customers’ brand exposure. To be an employer of choice by putting people first, to uplift and empower the youth and women with skills but lack knowledge on how to start and grow their own businesses,” she said, while adding that Tshepiso Branding Solutions is committed to addressing the early childhood development issues prevalent in our communities. How did your interest in business come about? “I was entrepreneurial from my early years but most out of necessity as opposed to passion. I can say that I had a clearer sense of what it means to run and own a business when I worked in a friend’s business as a Business Development and Marketing Manager. But essentially the decision came late in 2019 when my late husband shared the business vision of Tshepiso Branding Solutions with me and I was sold. I knew I was still employable but I wanted to be part of something more purposeful, something bigger than the average goals I had at the time,” she explained. When asked about people who inspire her she said; ”My late husband was my inspiration, he was just an amazing man who rebuild his life against all odds. He helped me to be a better me in all aspects and saw the best in me even when I didn’t. He taught me a lot about business hence I am still steering this ship. Vusi Thembekwayo is another person who inspires me. He is a realist; I love how he’s unapologetic about his convictions and how he made a success of himself. I am also inspired by a lot of my peers and business owners waking up daily to build their legacies while impacting lives positively. To me their efforts truly inspire and fire me up.” Both your mother and grandmother contributed towards your upbring... “Indeed. From birth until 1997 I was raised by my maternal grandmother in Ramokokastad, a rural town in North West. In 1998 I moved to Johannesburg to stay with my mom and two of my siblings in Sandringham where my mom was a live-in domestic worker. We had the opportunity to go to Model C schools and enjoyed the suburban life until my mother remarried and we moved to Meadowlands, Soweto in 2010,” said Sarah.

Purple Pineapple Marketing

Purple Pineapple marketing is run by a twenty-six year old marketing strategist Reabetswe Mabine. Born in Bethlehem but raised in Bloemfontein, Reabetswe is an ambitious young lady with a vision to branch into not only the African but international market in the near future. “After I completed my undergraduate degree in marketing and communications, I went back for a postgraduate qualification to apply myself as I wanted to be well rounded in my industry. And the BCom Honours in Marketing has helped me improve my marketing skills from a business standpoint,” she said. In 2016, she founded Purple Pineapple Marketing initially under the banner of “The Evergreen Branch” which was later rebranded to Purple Pineapple Marketing. Reabetswe says she was inspired by business woman and Philanthropist Thato Mokgothu to follow her passion. “She encouraged me to do that which makes me look forward to getting out of bed in the morning because people who do what they love never feel like they are working,” she said. “Our business objective is to be pioneers in building forward-thinking, long-lasting, and competitive brands that people relate to. Through this, I aim to establish brands as household names, allowing them to market and sell their products and services effectively. I also want to provide marketing and brandingservices that will help start-ups, small and medium businesses to access their market share,” explained Reabetswe What makes your business to stand out from the rest? Tell us about the unique features. My business story began at a business convention when I realized that brands did not understand what their customers wanted. I then founded the business to help bridge the gap between brands and their customers through designing innovative and tailored brand development and growth strategies. We have brand packages for start-up companies at reasonable prices, and a unique feature is what we call “Pineapple for Hire” where any company is able to outsource us as a marketing department and let us deal with everything marketing and branding allowing them the peace to run their company without having to worry about the marketing aspect. What are the highlights of being a businesswoman? My highlights of being a businesswoman must be the ability to make moves that inspire other women who are already in business or who aspire to be in business. Being a businesswoman has also given me a voice to speak and have influence in conversations of key importance that might impact people’s lives and their way of thinking. Another highlight was when I was able to branch out into investment property, which is an industry I have always wanted to tap into and now that I have, I intend to scale and grow my property investment portfolio. Are there any challenges or lowlights? The lowlight would have to be the barriers to entry in the business world, especially as a woman where one does not only need to keep proving oneself as compared to male counterparts. Women generally also experiences challenges of being expected to give out favours in exchange for business deals. Another challenge is to operate in a market that is not ready and sometimes unwilling to buy into your service offering. Do you have advice for aspiring entrepreneurs? First and foremost, find your passion. The moment you start your business in line with what you are passionate about, you give your company a stronger chance for success. The biggest mistake one can make is getting into business for the sake of getting into business, or solely for money but with no passion for that industry or market. Who do you look up to and why? My mother. I watched her become a single parent after the passing of my father and she picked herself up to build a home for us from nothing. She would work double shifts to put food on the table for me and my sister. It did not stop there, she adopted two other children and raised them as her own, and I have never heard her complain. She carries herself with so much grace and dignity. She is always there for us; she carries our pain like it’s her own. My mother is the epitome of class, sophistication, and hard work.

Scientist produces indigenous skin care products

Bodi Bata skin care products was founded by Dr Barbara Keitumetse Mashope (47) from Kimberly in the Northern Cape Province. She is a scientist with qualifications from esteemed Universities such as UFS and WITS. “My mission is to create natural skin care products while also providing healthier alternatives to conventional petroleum based products,” said Mashope. “I want to re-establish the connection between people and nature because I feel that it has been lost especially our indigenous knowledge on how to make skin care products. My products were developed with the knowledge acquired and used prior to colonialism. During those days, black people applied animal fat on their skin. Hence my products are currently all oil based with natural ingredients,” she explained. Mashope began developing her products in 2011-2012 while she was a full time employee. “Initially, this began as a side hustle. I would make products over the weekend or when clients placed orders. At that time my friends and family were the only clients I had. Their positive feedback motivated me to start taking my business seriously because I could see that the products were helping them with other skin problems such as Eczema which I had not thought off,” she said. Bodi Bata skin care products started trading on a full time basis in 2015. “I realized that business is an avenue that could help me support myself and would allow me to survive without having to rely on a job,” she said. Her business, as she mentioned is a benevolent expression of her cultural heritage, her scientific training and her spiritual journey. “It is and continues to be the biggest adventure of my life,” she explained. Having role models such as Oprah Winfrey, my late father G.M Mashope and Rudolf Steiner helped to steer my life in the right direction. “My late father was able to transform his life from a child who entered high school with no shoes to an adult who was awarded a partial Fulbright Scholarship, and studied at an Ivy League University in the 1980s. He was pivotal in building the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature in the 1990s.” “Oprah Winfrey, transformed her life of poverty to become the first self-made African American Billionaire. Her talk show, affirmed so much of my thinking and ideas in the late 1990s and early 2000s,” said Mashope. She adds:”Rudolf Steiner’s work enabled him to establish a schooling system (The Waldorf Schools), that is still one the best in world, in my opinion.” When asked to mention some of the best advice she has ever received, Mashope said: “When I was young my late father gave me one important advice. He told me to chase my dreams with everything I’ve got because naturally young people have few responsibilities.“I believe that youngsters shouldn’t wait for the degree or the funding. They should start building the dream they were born with and came here to express. It makes all the difference. You can see the people who have given up on their dreams, they are almost lifeless,” she said. With all that she has achieved, Mashope still has bigger plans for the future. “In ten years time I see myself on a farm surrounded by lots of plants, or in a greenhouse working with plants or in a laboratory making new products with plants. I would also like to build a more transformative school in the Northern Cape. I believe that our education system is outdated and does not teach kids how to create with the knowledge they have gathered,” she explained. My motto... To know thyself is the beginning of all wisdom (Socrates) Current read ‘Knowledge of the higher worlds and its attainment’, by Rudolf Steiner

Hygienic products are on demand

By: Onalenna Jantjie

Madidimalo Sasebula is the founder and Manager of Kathu industrial and chemical supplies based in Northern Cape Kathu at Kameeldoring Plein shopping center (checkers). Hailing from Limpopo Musina, her company is fast becoming known as the go to supplier for guest houses, Kathu solar park, Rooisand Beltong, Boitsweletso cleaning services, Lohatla SA defence force and households around the area. Kathu industrial and chemical supply was established in 2017. Speaking on why she decided to start her company Madidimalo said; “I decided to start the cleaning and chemical business after noticing the unhygienic conditions that people in this area are subjected to. In some of these areas people still use pit toilets.

Some areas have insufficient water,” she said while adding that she wanted to improve the lives of community members by supplying households with cleaning materials, industrial chemical, tools, brush ware, Sundry, floor care, tissue papers and PPE. As a newly established business, Madidimalo says it’s imperative to have an accountant and to refrain from using business money for personal needs. “It’s not easy running this company because I am also running a consulting company on the side, so my staff makes life easier for me. We buy and transport the products from Pretoria,” she said. “I am in the process of manufacturing my own chemicals and we have already bought the machine and underwent training to do the mixture ourselves. We are trained by Entrepreneur Resource warehouse based in Gauteng,” she stated.

Former mine worker turned award winning author

By: Onalenna Jantjie

Kabelo Duncan Kgatea is an award winning author who writes captivating and enthralling stories in Setswana. As a motswana elderly person in the church, his style of writing is aligned with the gospel doctrines and truthfulness of Setswana proverbs. He has more than 20 unpublished books written in Setswana. “Setswana is my identity, my dignity and my pride hence my dream is to preserve Setswana and be remembered as a lover of my language,” said Kgatea. He describes himself as a nation builder who loves South Africans and children. Hailing from Madibogo village in the Motsitlane section in the North West province, Kgatea was born on the 31 January 1961.He is a descendant of the Bakwena tribe of king Sechele son of king Motswasele of the great Batswana nation. He currently resides in Rusternburg with his wife Caroline. And they were blessed with three children.

“I was born in a family and community of story tellers. My own parents were great story tellers. We used to sit around the fire at night and listen to elders telling stories. When I became a teenager I could also repeat the same stories to my peers and they would be very impressed by my story telling technique and in the absence of elders they would ask me to repeat stories again and again. In 1979 I joined the mining industry and I happened to stay at the mine hostel with a colleague who could not read or write. One of the old men asked me to write him a letter to his wife. And when the wife wrote back, he asked me to read the letter to him. He was impressed with my writing and reading skills and he referred more colleagues to me and I became the hostel writer,” explains Kgatea. However, Kgatea says he needed more than just talent to polish his creative writing skills.

“After discovering my creative writing talent I realized that my level of education was too low, my grammar and spelling was very poor so I decided to do a correspondence course with Damelin correspondent college and Lyceum college to obtain my (JC) Junior and senior certificates. I have also done a Comprehensive Writing Course with The Writing School in Durban, South Africa. A Diploma in Business Communication with Stanford College, Basic Principle of Public Relations with PROVOX (PRISA),Public Relations Writing with PROVOX (PRISA), Journalism and Media Studies with INTEC college. I also believe that my membership to writer’s organizations, attending local and international writers’ conferences, book fairs and writers festivals has prepared me better,” he said.

Once he had equipped himself with knowledge Kgatea says he was able to write as broadly as he could. “As part of my assignments at the Writing School of South Africa I managed to write 14 radio dramas for Radio Setswana (South African Broadcasting corporation) SABC and two for Radio Mmabatho (Bophuthatswana broadcasting corporation) BBC respectively. In 2000 my first Setswana novel (Njeng manong fa ke sule) won the Sanlam Prize for youth Literature and the MNET Book prize in 2001. Because of that achievement the head of corporate communications at Anglo Platinum mines, the late Mike Mtakati convinced human resource department to take me from underground to communications department. I was appointed as an assistant communications officer in Rustenburg. The company paid for both my Basic to Public Relations Writing courses and I was appointed as a communications officer and the Setswana editor of one of our in-house newspapers called Morongwa which was published in English, Setswana and Isixhosa.

However, the journey to getting published hasn’t been without any challenges. “My challenge as an author was to find a publisher who could pay good royalties. Publishing houses in South Africa pay 10-15% royalties and you cannot make a living from your God given writing talent. When you go the self publishing route, traditional publishers become gatekeeper. That is why I worked at the mines for 37 years to be self-reliant. It is also the reason why so many African writers are now writing in English and other colonial languages for the broader market,” he explains.

On a lighter note, Kgatea says his favourite author is the late Tshekisho Solomon Plaatje. “Without any formal education he managed to be the first and best South African to be a journalist, author, researcher, politician, interpreter who believed so much in his people and his language enough to translate the work by the great William Shakespeare into Setswana. He is not only the first Motswana to write an English novel he also collected over 200 Setswana Proverbs. I am highly inspired by his selfless life. And my second favourite author is Sabata-Mpho Mokae for following in the footsteps of the great Sol Plaatje,” he said.

All my novels are outstanding. They are from my heart to my people, but this one is the best seller. Leba seipone is a novel with self-acceptance as its main theme. It is the story of MotswaGauteng (The one from Johannesburg) who is born of a white man and a black woman. He was brought up by his grandparents in a village where he was constantly mocked because of the colour of his skin, the people in the village consider him inferior to themselves. To them he was not black enough to call himself Motswana.

His grandmother however comforts him by encouraging him to look into the mirror and to accept, honour and respect the person who he sees reflecting therein. In that way she encouraged him to believe in himself. When the main character went in search of his identity, he met coloured people who also rejected him because he could not speak their language.

When he met white people to them he was not white enough to be a white man. When things become difficult for Motswagauteng he would take out a piece of a mirror look at it and recall his grandmother’s words of wisdom. “Only be the person that you see in the mirror.” or “Leba seipone, o rate, o tlotle le go amogela mosimane yo o mmonang mo go sona gore batho ba tle ba mo rate, ba mo tlotle le go mo amogela.”

This book deepens the understanding of the hurt one may experience when not accepted by others in society because of factors not under his control. However, in the end it is only through self-acceptance and self-esteem that one can live with honour. The book is nationally prescribed for grade 12 and is also used at the University of North West.

Where are your books sold?

To get my first five prize winning Setswana novels contact:

The book distributor at: orders@onthedot.co.za or get ebook at www.tafelberpublishers.com

For my latest novel contact the publisher at: segachris@gmail.com cell: 083 575 0277

Awards

Sanlam Prize for youth Literature: (silver (2000)- Njeng Manong fa ke sule

M-Net prize: Sotho category (2001) Njeng Manong fa ke sule

Sanlam Prize for Youth literature (2002) – Leba Seipone

M-net literary award (2006) Ntshware ka letsogo

Sanlam Prize for Youth Literature: silver (2008) – monwana wa bosupa.

PANSALB 2009 Setswana Multilingualism Nation building writer of the year

South African literary award 2009

List of Titles written by Kgatea

Prose

2000 Njeng manong fa ke sule: Tafelberg

2002 Leba Seipone, Tafelberg

2006 Ntshware ka letsogo, Tafelberg

2008 Monwana wa bosupa, Tafelberg

2012 Mmudubudu, Tafelberg

2003 Re tswa Ga Lowe (poetry) Stimela publishers

2003 Di sa itsangeng (drama) Stimela publishers

Create your wealth through Bitcoin

By:  Onalenna Jantjie

Bitcoin has taken the world by storm through providing a platform where people can create wealth without going into the office says Desiree Tlou-Lengwati. She is a crypto enthusiast and network marketer. “One doesn’t need qualifications to become a network marketer. You just need to understand what you are doing and what is happening around you to be able to keep up with the times,” said Lengwati. According to Lengwati, Bitcoin is a global digital currency. It’s an easy peer to peer payment system created to cut out the middle man (bank, government etc)

It was created to make transactions easier and faster at minimal cost. Its only limited to 21 million Bitcoins so the scarcity gives it value. You can almost do anything with Bitcoin anywhere in the world. It is only digital until you convert it into your host country’s currency. “To get involved one has to trade the currency. They can mine, buy it and hold it or just use it as a payment system,” she explains. Seeing as the world is changing and the 4th industrial revolution is the future, Lengwati says its imperative for one to adapt to the changes and be stakeholders as opposed to being a mere user.

Speaking on how she was introduced to Bitcoin Lengwati said; “I have always known about Bitcoin since 2012, but I didn’t take it seriously. However, I became an investor in October 2016. I took it a step further by entering the network marketing business with Bitcoin in 2017. Since then I have never looked back.

“To be honest, I have always known that I am destined for greatness from a very young age and swore that I would never work for anyone else in my life. “Growing up, I have always noticed how people around me failed to live their lives because they had to work like slaves. I decided then that I wanted a different life where I would own my time and do what I want when I wanted to,” she said.

“Thankfully, Bitcoin and network marketing offers us tools to generate cash flow to do what we really want. Jobs are scarce, so it is up to us to create our own wealth and economy,” explains Lengwati.

According to Lengwati, there are three aspects which she regards as the pinnacle of her job which includes meeting different people from all walks of life, helping others become financially independent and the profits that come with the business.

Have you experienced any challenges?

“Yes. When I noticed how ignorant people were of their surroundings and when they lose out on opportunities because they are judgemental towards a person who brings opportunities to them,” she said while mentioning that network marketing is not for the faint-hearted. ”I am on the road most of the time but it is something that has to happen to put bread on the table and give my children the life that they deserve. Thankfully, my family understands the nature of my work. “Although it’s tough leaving them behind I believe there are no short cuts in life, you have to go for the life you want. Be a problem solver and not money driven. Be passionate about what you are doing, because it won’t always be rosy. Do it for the right reasons,” she said.

Dr Saurambe-Africa’s youngest female Ph.D. graduate

 

Who is Dr Musawenkosi Saurambe?

 I am an exuberant young woman who is in constant endeavor to discover the all-encompassing extent of my abilities. I believe that our lives have a purpose beyond the actualization and exaltation of self, therefore, I am constantly seeking innovative and significant ways to do things that not only forge me ahead but also inspire others in the process. I believe that the difference between succeeding or failing for some people is the lack of inspiration and whenever I get the opportunity to be someone’s inspiration, I grab it with both hands. I’m just trying to do my noble service by rendering substantial contribution to humanity, before my time on earth elapses.

 What activities did you take pleasure in when you were a child?

 As a child, I particularly took keen interest in music. My parents tell me that I began to hum to songs I heard at home way before I even started to speak. My father being musically gifted himself, upon identifying this gift in me, took time to nurture it and I was often assigned to sing at church as well as school plays and functions. This has followed me even into my adult life as I am often invited to sing at university functions, religious gatherings, weddings and more. I also enjoyed out door and invigorating activities as a child. I loved going to amusement parks and my parents tell me that whenever they took my older brother and I there, I was always so fearless and never wanted to miss out on any of the rides, even though I was quite young. Apparently I would even go on all the rides which my older brother considered too nerve-wracking 

Is there anyone in your family or community who influenced your love for education?

My Dad is a teacher by profession and so my siblings and I were compelled to take education very seriously.  

My Mom who home schooled my siblings and I also always made sure she presented education to us in the most exhilarating manner possible in order to intrigue our young minds and help develop our cognitive abilities.  For the sake of preserving my father’s reputation at his work place, from a young age I learnt to take my school work seriously as it would have been a massive humiliation for him to teach and develop other bright minds while his own children slacked.

 Where did you study? (starting from primary school to university)

 I was home-schooled by my mother from the age of 2 and began my preparatory class “standard zero” at the age of 4, in 1998 at Phakalane English Medium Primary School, where I completed standard 2 in 2000. I transferred to Legae Primary English Medium School in Gaborone in 2001 where I enrolled for standard 3, only to be promoted to standard 4 in the second term of the same year. I completed my standard 7 at Legae Primary in 2004, subsequently commencing my secondary school education in 2005 at Legae Academy. I was part of the first group of students to be promoted from form 2 (grade 9) to form 4 (grade 11) in 2007 and successfully completed my IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) at Legae Academy in 2008, after which I did my Cambridge AS-level (Advanced Subsidiary) studies in 2009. I proceeded to South Africa where I began my tertiary studies at the North West University, Mafikeng Campus in 2010, at 16. I exhibited a ravenous passion for learning as I acquired my bachelor’s degree in human resource management at 19, my honours degree at 20, my master’s degree at 21 (cum laude), the top student in my entire faculty and all in record time. I wasted no time and delved right into my Ph.D. studies in 2015, completing this qualification also, at the aforementioned institution of higher learning, in record time of 2 years. I became a Doctor of Philosophy in Industrial Psychology on the 25th April, 2017, breaking an astounding academic record by becoming the youngest female Ph.D. graduate in Africa, at 23 years of age.

Were you always a top achiever at school?

Throughout most of my Primary school education I attained first position and a few other times 2nd position. The only time in Primary School that I attained as far as position 8, was when I was promoted from standard 3 (grade 3) to standard 4 (grade 4) in the same year and this was because I had to catch up on a whole previous term’s work in the second term of grade 4 as I had missed the first one. By the third term however, I was back at the top of the class. In high school I experienced somewhat of a slum in the first 18 months. This complacency towards my studies was as a result of having been under so much duress in primary school since my Dad is a teacher by profession and I attended the same primary school where he was teaching. I always felt compelled to perform extraordinarily so as not to put his name in disrepute.

Once I got to high school I felt like my Dad wasn’t there anymore so I could relax and just be like all the other regular kids. Besides, it wasn’t considered too cool being a nerd so I wanted to be part of the “cool gang” now. My parents firmly reprimanded my behavior and sudden slack in my school work and I ended up resolving to exert more effort and seriousness once more. Towards the end of my second year in high school, I finally ‘pulled up my socks’ and I achieved good results. Consequently, I was promoted from grade 9 to grade 11 and from then, I was more diligent with my school work.

At what stage in your life did you decide to follow the academic route?  

I never actually imagined that I would pursue an academic career this early in my life. As is the case with most people, I had anticipated first entering the corporate space in order to acquire industry experience in my particular field of education, however as we all know, life does not always go according to our own endeavoring, this being the case I believe that to those who believe in a greater cause than themselves, life goes according to a supremely designed plan. After completing my bachelor’s degree, I knew for certain that I wanted to pursue my honours, but master’s and doctoral degrees were only supposed to be a thing of the future. I began sending out a few applications for employment towards the end of my honours. However, to no positive revert. I then convinced myself that getting right into my master’s would not be such a bad idea because after all, I was only 20 years old at the time and who would hire a 20-year-old human resource practitioner right? Long story short, through hard work and rigour, I completed my master’s at 21, within a year, although the general time allowance is 2 years. To top that off, I graduated cum laude (with distinction) and my study leader Professor. Nicolene Barkhuizen immediately encouraged me to delve right into my Ph.D. as she said she saw great promise in me to be an academic and researcher of note in the future. I followed her advice especially since job prospects in industry were scant, which I later realized was all part of God’s greater plan when I was hailed the youngest female Ph.D. graduate in Africa at 23.

Were there other people who encouraged you to be an academic?

Besides my postgraduate research supervisor and mentor Prof. Nicolene Barkhuizen who encouraged me to pursue postgraduate education as she also followed a very similar path, my uncle who is also a Doctor of Philosophy, Dr. Talkmore Saurombe, saw an article in 2014 of the youngest Ph.D. graduate in Africa at the time who had achieved this feat in Nigeria. He sent me a picture of the article and at the time I was busy with my master’s degree. He then challenged, a 21-year-old at the time that if I worked deligently and swiftly, I could also establish my own record. While this was not the main motivating factor for me to enroll for my Ph.D as I wanted to go and work, once I established that I had no other options but to register, it was definitely what made me work harder towards completing a phenomenal, in-depth and significant study, in record time.

Why did you opt for Industrial Psychology?

When I was in high school I was actually studying science subjects because the ultimate goal was to be a scientist. After visiting a hospital one time towards the end of high school, it dawned on me that medicine was really not what I was ardent enough about to pursue. I informed my parents of my sudden change of heart, a change at which they were absolutely bewildered, however for the sake of not forcing me to continue with something that I did not feel strongly enough about, they allowed me to pursue whatever else my heart desired, which was a tough situation because at the time, I did not really know what I would resort to outside of medicine. I ended up resolving to enroll for a commercial course but was still unsure of what exactly. In order to assist with my confusion as the deadlines were fast approaching for the applications for university enrolment the following year, my parents decided to make the first 2 choices for me since most university applications allow three. My Mom chose Economics as my 1st option, my Dad chose Accounting as my second option and they told me to write down the third choice. At that point I remembered the career exhibition that we had had earlier that year which also afforded us the opportunity to take skills and strengths assessment that allowed us to match these to specific possible professions. I then remembered scoring highly in interpersonal skills and one of the professions that was better suited to my personality was defined as Human Resource Management and Industrial Psychology, which I ended up putting down as my third option. Long story short, my initial application got misplaced through the mailing process as I was applying from Botswana. 

Once we realized this upon calling the North-West University admissions office, they advised that we urgently travel to Mafikeng to physically fill in and submit a new application before time absolutely ran out. By that time however, the first 2 options I had written down were full to capacity so I had to be admitted for my 3rd option. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise as I later realized how much I despised economics and accounting modules. Once again, it all happened as per God’s design.

Where are you currently working? And what are your duties?

I am currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the North West University. My work largely entails research within the field of Industrial Psychology, specifically Talent Management and Talent Value Proposition, however I also lecture undergraduate courses. I currently have 12 research publications; 9 journal articles and 3 international conference proceeding publications. I also co-supervise postgraduate research.

Besides your academic work, are there any other projects that you are involved in? 

Outside of my academic work escapades, I am also entrenched in leadership responsibilities both locally and internationally, for instance I was a Track Chair at the Academy of World Business and Marketing Management 2018 Research Conference in Athens, Greece, which although is work related, is outside of my actual work specification. 

I am also currently an Ambassador of the Charlotte Mannya-Maxeke Institute (an Institute focused on girl and young women empowerment through various initiatives) as of October 2017 till present. I am also involved with the BRICS Youth Association, representing the South African delegation, among many other strategic and community leadership roles.

Most Managers struggle to create a harmonious working environment for their subordinates. Why is that?

The orthodox or traditional approach to leadership is often authoritarian. This means that previously, the prevailing workplace circumstances was that managers subjugated their subordinates, in a manner that proved detrimental and adverse to the performance of these ‘inferiors’.

Is there any advice you can give to those managers?

Contemporary times have seen a great shift from the conventional dictatorial leadership approach to the team leadership and membership approach. This new approach thus requires that managers can not only lead their teams, but also be a part/member of these teams. This eliminates apprehension in the subordinates and fosters an environment of openness and camaraderie. Any manager who can nurture such a workplace atmosphere is likely to get the most out of employees. A phenomenon which volumes of credible research have proven several times over.

What is the best way to encourage an employee who is demotivated?

The best way to motivate a demoralized employee is by identifying their strengths and assisting them to embrace those strengths in a way that allows them to leverage them, thus rendering these individuals more useful. The one question that haunts mankind throughout our lifespan is the question of purpose. 

Why am I here, what am I supposed to accomplish, how does my existence make a substantial contribution that is larger than myself? Once you help a person answer this question and thus apply themselves in the most congruent manner, this will yield a great sense of self satisfaction.

Who do you look up to and why?

I look up to my parents. Reason being that in a world that is becoming and has since become more and more degenerate, they have invested all they ever had, heart, mind, body, soul and resource, to ensuring that we had the best launching pad and gravitational force necessary to establish us on our distinct predestined trajectories, a reality they largely actuated through honing our self-perceptions and interpersonal interaction acumens. 

A wise person once said ‘sometimes it’s not about what you’ve accomplished in your life but who you raise’.  There’s an African proverb which says that if there’s no enemy within, the enemy outside can do us no harm and my parents inculcated a great culture of being self-aware. That way we are not easily swayed by external forces and are also less likely to replicate or take the form of negative associations we may encounter along our life’s journey. This knowledge and mastery of self which I am in perpetual pursuit of, has been one of the greatest underpinnings of my accomplishments thus far.

Where do you see yourself in ten years time?

I often avoid such questions (laughing out loud). This owing to the path I have traversed thus far having made me realise that most of what I had imagined my life to be, did not materialize precisely the way I had envisaged. It is for this reason that I have resolved on the premise of the little wisdom I have so far acquired, to allow life to run its course

I have come to appreciate the importance of being diligent and precise in whatever it is that my hands find to do, meaning I will give my all in every opportunity that collides with me along my journey. It is in this manner that every deliberate and rigorous work we do, becomes a building block towards the supreme plan and design for our lives, which I believe could never compare to and completely transcends, that which our own minds are able to fathom. All I can say thus, is in ten years, I’ll be ten times or more better than I am today.

What are your hobbies?

My hobbies are singing, reading thought provoking literature, listening to motivational podcasts, volunteering and community service, outdoors activities (whenever I get the chance), travelling (which I get to do a lot thanks to my profession!), spending time with family amid my fairly demanding schedule, Youth activism and motivational speaking.

Who is your favourite artist?

I don’t actually have a favourite artist. I have several whom I feel carry the same weight and significance however if I were compelled to choose one, I would say Jonathan McReynolds and Travis Greene. Okay, I know that’s two but these artists just touch my soul. Their music is so poignant and has seen me through some difficult times prior.

How do you unwind?

I usually unwind by listening to music and motivational talks/sermons in my own space. I also enjoy virtual group chat with my nuclear family. Such activity always brings things into perspective for me, especially after a long or daunting day.