Changing Faces: Business Consultant

Right, tell us about how you grew up

I grew up in Esikhawini, a township outside Richard’s Bay. I’m from a very humble family. My mom was a nurse, so we never visited the Doctor if we were sick, and my Dad was an HR manager at Alusaf now known as BHP Billiton. My Mom prepared super for us every night and my Dad sometimes helped us with our homework. On weekends we use to go to town with our Mom, she always had something to do, and my Dad was a videographer part time so he usually had a wedding or a funeral to film. In general my brother and I were considered as naughty kids growing up, always got scolded at or a hiding, but looking back now we deserved it.

What do you now? No need to go into detail here, we're still getting there.

I’m a Consultant at Accenture

What did you study and are you using it at all in your current role?

BComm Information Systems (Hons), not really but it was a criterion for getting me in the door.

How long have you been working and what do you miss about not working (i.e being a full time student)

It will be my fifth year working this year.

I miss not having to worry about making meals, it was done for me at residence. I miss those long 3 month holidays, I miss waking up in the morning and choosing if I want to go to class or not, I miss the reckless living, partying till sunrise. 

How is your typical work day?

Read emails, respond where I can

Formulate a to do list

Do tasks those tasks in my To-Do list could be

Build a plan, explain deliverable to junior resource

Attend meetings

Respond to emails

Three tips for people keen to join your line of work?

You have to be absolutely sure, that your personality is a fit for consulting, it can make your life miserable if you are not a good fit.

Always, always and always be willing to learn, make learning your habit.

Live up to your promises, even if it kills you, start now.

*names and faces have been deliberately omitted

Changing Faces: Candidate Attorney

Like how we start off with everybody around here, can you please tell us about life growing up?

I grew up in a very close-knit loving home. My parents got married young and decided to start their life in the Mother City, so they packed ship and off we went. Then came along the 4^th member of the "Awesome Foursome" and we did everything together. We laughed, cried, learnt, explored, lived abroad, came back and did it all again. My fondest memories involve my parents, brother and I all being together, that’s how I grew up.

What is it that you do now?

I'm a candidate attorney, in simple terms an 'almost attorney'.

What did you study and are you using it at all in your current role?

I studied a B.Com LLB, which is both a B.Com degree and a Law degree at the same time. Whether I'm using it in my current role is a yes and no answer. Yes, because I'm in legal practise and no because I work in a department which didn't have a specific course in my curriculum.

How long have you been working and what do you miss about being a full time student?

I have been working for two years now. I'm currently in my third year and honestly I don’t think I miss varsity, it was genuinely a gruelling experience. However, if I had to pick one thing I miss, it would be the lengthy holidays.

Tell us about your work typical day.

What I love about what I do, is I generally don't have a "typical day". I'm currently doing mining law, which is multifaceted. One day I could be on site, which means I'm at the mine itself; the next day I could be office-bound drafting and attending to client issues and the following day I could be at court attending to that aspect of my job. It's an arena of law which is exciting, different and plays a huge part of our economy.

Three tips on people keen to join your line of work?

·         You must enjoy learning and strive to always learn more. The law is always changing and you have to have the stamina and desire to want to keep learning

·         Be prepared for long hours because as much as we sell expertise, we sell time and it’s critical to be able to manage your time efficiently and effectively.

·         Be nice to people. The industry isn't as is shown on popular television shows. I'm a firm believer that anyone can learn the law, but character and heart along with knowledge take you a little further.

Do you encounter any challenges that specifically come with being a young black woman in corporate SA?

My current job isn't my first job, so I have had the opportunity to be able to answer this question with a little more objectivity and less subjectivity. There are challenges, but you have to take it with a pinch of salt. Be confident in your work and who you are and your goals. Here's a little experience to give an example of what I mean; I once attended a lunch meeting whereby I was the only woman, let alone black women and a fellow black male counterpart made a joke along the lines of "normally it’s women who serve the food". Naturally I laughed because you have to be smart about such things. But I wasn't going to let it ignite a reaction. I could have decided to be cold, and conduct myself as "one of the boys", but I wasn't going to let it change who I am, nor influence the great person I'm trying to be in this industry. Being a young, black woman with knowledge is South Africa's next great "mineral resource".  

Changing Faces: Junior Principal (Insurance)

Can you give us a brief background of how you grew up?

I grew up in a single-parent household and am the second eldest amongst 5 children. My childhood was full of laughter, tears (from being spanked – my Mom and Gran still firmly believe that if you spare the rod you spoil the child) and an overwhelmingly solid foundation.

My mother is my rock; through her I have seen that all things are possible. She single-handedly put all her children through private schools and her biggest gift to us was ensuring we got the best education. When I was growing up none of my siblings or I had fancy birthday parties or trips during school holidays. I used to think I was uncool because I didn’t have what all the other “cool” kids had, but I had something more precious – the best education and of course, I was quite the perfectionist and always came in the Top 3 of all my classes from primary school right through to High school. Sport was also my thing, from swimming, squash, netball, softball, running… *sigh* those were the good days.

So what is it that you do now?

I work for an insurance company and am employed as a Junior Principal.

What did you study and are you using it at all in your current role?

I studied Economics as well as Insurance & Risk Management and also completed a Postgraduate diploma in Management at Business School. I do use the Insurance knowledge in my current role. However, I quickly realised that all the theory I learnt in Varsity versus real-life experiences are two different things!

How long have you been working and what do you miss about campus life?

I have been working for just over 4 years now.

What I miss about being a full time student is the ability to see my friends as frequently as I used to. I attended classes with my friends and it was so fun. I also miss feeling invincible and I miss the child-like dreams I had of conquering the world as that is what kept me driven. However, the most significant thing I miss is the learning aspect of being a student which is why I think I will always study just so I do not feel like I am losing my edge.

How is your typical work day?

First thing is our Team has catch-up where we discuss any “burning issues” that affect our business or our Partnerships. Once that is done, I set about attending to the various support services we provide our Partners.

My job is to implement Reinsurance, BEE, Risk Management, and Compliance & Governance principles in the Partners businesses and to ensure that they are compliant. As much as we mandate our Partners to write insurance business on our behalf, we do still get involved in how they run their businesses (from an advisory perspective) and through that you get exposure on how a business is run and what it takes to ensure its growth.

Three tips on people keen to join your line of work?

I don’t know anyone who deliberately seeks out a career in the insurance industry. We all happen to stumble into the profession.

However, to join my line of work one needs an insurance qualification/ background (knowledge of the regulatory environment is important).

My line of work also needs an analytical individual, who can read financial statements and also assist our Partnerships with formulating and driving their Strategy.

The ability to manage relationships as well as stakeholder expectations is key (if you are a people’s person this is will be a plus) and also know how to pay attention to detail, read between the lines. We work with entrepreneurs whose livelihood is dependent on ensuring the success of their businesses. 

Do you encounter any challenges that specifically come with being a young black woman in corporate SA?

What I find challenging is that in some organisations, women of colour are sought after in order to “window-dress” and fulfil EE quotas. Secondly, there are few learning organisations and I feel like the transfer of information/ knowledge is not as fluid as it should be particularly if you’re black and female. I find that women in general are viewed as the ‘weaker’ sex, but women of colour even more so. I have noticed as well that in order to be elevated or considered for an opportunity one needs to kiss-ass and it is quite disturbing?

Despite these challenges, it is not impossible to transcend them and stand out. I believe I am not defined by my circumstances and use them to propel me to the next level. Even though it is tough to penetrate the testosterone filled boardrooms I know that it is up to me to grab those opportunities and ensure I make my presence felt. Women can do anything they put their minds to. It depends on how badly we want success for ourselves, and for our sisters. It can be done and it has been done.

“Be yourself, everyone else is taken.” – Oscar Wilde

*names and faces have been purposely been omitted

Changing Faces: Brand Manager

Let's get started, where were you born and raised?
I was born in Baragwanath Soweto 1983,  lived in Soweto for the first 5 years of my life.  I lived in the Eastern Cape for 2 years before coming back to Johannesburg after the release of late President Nelson Mandela.  I went from a rural missionary school to a private convent model C school where I completed my primary schooling (Holy Rosary Convent).  At this point I was living in Edenvale, no kids playing in the street just birds and trees…. I completed my high school in Edenglen High School,  a public co-ed school which was another twist to my tale. I grew up with my younger sister and raised by my widowed mother working as a PA.  I had a lot that I needed but like any other kid I thought I was not fortunate enough, I look back on my childhood and really couldn’t have asked for a different mother.

What is your current role?

I work as a Brand Manager for the Twinsaver brand

What did you study and are you using it now?

I majored in Marketing, B. Tech Marketing.  I was in sales and now am in brand so I have used it since the beginning of my career

How long have you been working and do you miss life before that?

I have been working for 9 years.  I don’t really miss any of my time prior to working.

Describe your typical work day?

Not all my days are the same however ensuring performance to plan is a major priority.  Managing projects is a constant process that I need to nurture.

What do you feel is holding black women from progressing in the work place?

I think most black woman have an inferiority complex issue that needs to be addressed.  Being vocal as a black person I find is shunned upon in a corporate environment.

Advice on those wanting to join your line of work?

No monotony, if you're passionate about brands this is what you need to do and strategy development coupled with the follow through of it.


*names and faces have been deliberately omitted

Changing Faces: EA to First Rand Group CEO

So, where did you grow up?

I grew up in a township in the East Rand called Vosloorus.

What do you now?
I work as the Executive Assistant to the FirstRand Group CEO and the Head of the FNB Innovators Programme

What did you study and are you using it at all in your current role?
I studied Actuarial Science. I use the way in which I have been taught to think and solve complex and non-standard problems. Not so much the exact application of the technical skills taught.

How long have you been working and what do you miss about student life?
I have been working for 5 years.
I miss having that much free time!! I could have used it more effectively though.

Tell us about your work typical day.
I typically start my day with a bout of exercise (if I am not held hostage by my snooze button) and then head to the office and kick off my day before 7am
I get through emails and make final preparations for the day, which would have been started the night before. I attend a number of project meetings, management committee meetings and board meetings. I also do a fair bit of writing reports for different reasons and the research and reading that comes with it. No two days are the same.
My day usually ends at 6.30 and I head home for supper and do a last bit of work thereafter to prepare for the next day.

Do you encounter any challenges that specifically come with being a young black woman in corporate SA?
There will always be challenges, regardless of race, gender or any other factor on which people may use to discriminate against you.
What sets the ones who succeed apart from those who don't is how they deal with it

Taking what you've said in your previous answer into consideration. Can you give an example of one particular experience and how u think it could be countered/managed going forward? 
Years ago in my first management job, working for an older white male with invaluable experience, I sat in a meeting that I was chairing and the two other people in the room just never looked at me and addressed all their attention and questions to my boss. I was the youngest and only black person in the room. It was uncomfortable and didn't leave me feeling happy at all. I resolved then to always have my work speak for me as it could not be debated and had the ability to transcend prejudice. Recently one of those two people in that meeting, who have left the business had tracked me down on LinkedIn to keep in touch and work together in future as well as being one of the first people to congratulate me on recent promotion.

Three tips for people keen to join your line of work?
Be clear on what you want out of your career 
Be deliberate, don't be a victim of chance
Don't be afraid to float away from the norm and develop a unique set of skills

Changing Faces: Brand Manager

Thank you for being a sport, now let’s take it back to where it all began.

I was born in KZN stayed in Umlazi till I was about 8 before moving to the suburbs. Didn't know it as a kid but we were quite poor but my parents never showed it or made us feel it. Was raised by my dad and older sister when my mom took work overseas to initially settle her debt from a business she had started. Loved my childhood. Honestly can't remember not having gotten anything I wanted. Because of the strong Christian home I was raised in I also didn't have much room to be naughty, had the fear of God in me! Haha. My dad was quite firm about always being respectful, elders are never wrong, girls shouldn't wear make-up etc so I only wore make up for the first time at 18. Even getting braids was a struggle! A key thing for my parents was: regardless of what's going on, study! 

And now you are…

I'm a brand manager in the marketing department of a multinational health care company

What did you study and are you using it at all in your current role?

Initially I signed up for a b.com heading in the CA route because that's how I got a bursary to get into the varsity and that would make it easier on my parents. After day 1 of doing vac work at KPMG I remember crying to my dad telling him how much I hated it & had made a mistake so after much debated I switched to a B.Com degree in Marketing. Did my Honours at Unisa and followed it up with a Management Advancement Program at Wits nominated by me employer. Planning on doing my MBA next year. 

How long have you been working and what do you miss about being a full time student?

Been working since 2011. To be honest I don't miss not working, I have money and freedom now. I shouldn't say this out loud but I hate studying. I just now it needs to be done and so I do it. 

What’s your typical day like?

It’s filled with project management

Entails writing briefs, managing agencies, senior stake holders and analysing numbers. Marketing is glamorous but also requires a lot of ground work hay people aren't exposed too. I can go a week without taking lunch 

Do you encounter any challenges that specifically come with being a young black woman in corporate SA?

Plenty!!! I find corporate quite racist and classicist. I am well aware that because people think I am privileged and sees well that I am treated differently to the black colleagues with African sounding accents. Never believed my parents when they told me it would happen 

I also feel as Black females we aren't raised with EQ. Instead we are raised to be humble. The white girls are more aggressive and proud to talk up their accomplishments even if they aren't theirs and are actually yours. 

I've also found I have to work harder & longer than my white female counter parts and deliver more work even though we get the same amount of credit 

Because I don't like small chat or attending after work drinks I am aware I've missed out on many opportunities to get a promotion. Honestly wish someone would have just told me. Would have made appearances sooner. 

Lastly: I wish I had been myself from the time I started working. I was quite timid the first 16 months at least because unfortunately I encountered black on blacks manager syndrome. Never a support environment nje. I had to fight back 

Lastly, can you give those keen to join your line of work three “how-to” tips?

Study 1 extra course, ALWAYS. Marketing is seen to be the go-to course so you need to differentiate yourself and very quickly. 

Don't treat marketing as a one channel job. Immerse yourself in other knowledge such as supply chain & operations. It will make you (more) well-rounded 

Forget everything you learned in school and be adaptable 

*names and faces have been purposely omitted 

Changing Faces: Network Security Engineer

Thank you for being a sport on this; in one sentence, describe how you grew up.
Single parent household, went to relatively good public schools and now I’m grown.

So what do you do now that you’re “grown”?
 I’m a Network Security Engineer, basically I’m a glorified security guard for the network cloud. I have the power to say no and watch other people squirm for my yes. If my friends saw me at work they wouldn’t recognise me because I’m very arrogant, I have to be.

What did you study and are you using it at all in your current role?
I studied Electrical Engineering, oh joy! Nope, I’m not using it…I have a bunch of other certifications which actually matter for what I do and I’m always studying, I just don’t make it a thing because like it’s part of what I do. I need to be abreast with the latest technologies and so on and so forth.

How long have you been working and now that you’re working, are there any things you miss about being a student?
Since 2010 officially. I miss nothing about not working because the financial freedom having a career has given me is waaaay better!

Time for second base - tell us about your work typical day.
Honestly, I don’t have a typical work day so I’ll describe two type of days, a)  a ‘normal’ one and b) a ‘something is broken’ one.
SCENARIO A
Get to the office at about 8/8:30. (No one really cares what time I come in really)
Check emails and make sure that I didn’t sleep on anything
Start “working” on any pending projects, this usually entails designing, planning, configuring, testing (anything from a day to a month) and finally handing over to a project manager (every engineers nemesis).
Meetings usually just pop up in my notifications then in the midst of things I’ll attend one or I just get called into a conference call while I’m minding my own business.
I actually hate meetings and Project Managers love them!
Then at about 4/4h30/5 I leave depending on my mood.
SCENARIO B
I get to work or I get woken up by a phone call from either a project manager/my manager/some or other type of specialist/a call centre agent or whomever to tell me that the network is down!!!
Then I go into ‘panic’ mode or at least pretend to because everything is meant to stop while I troubleshoot and try to figure out what’s wrong.
Depending on the impact and nature of the problem, they’ll be a war room (a bunch of engineers dial into a conference and do end to end testing) or they’ll be a bunch of emails flying back and forth.
For every sec the network is down, the company loses money so I’m supposed to really be under pressure but not really….
These are the days when I leave the office late or go work from home till late
And when the problem is finally fixed, I carry on with my normal day…
The most painful part of my job is working standby because then your time is not your own, I was once called to work while at a club…yes a club


Do you encounter any challenges that specifically come with being a young black woman in corporate SA?
I think the one thing that has helped me overcome the perception that black female engineers need to be spoon fed, is my work. My work speaks for itself and that’s where my confidence lies.
So when I encounter a new stereotype/challenge, I silently think to myself, ‘wait till I start working’. I’m good at what I do and although I’m not the best, I’m not just average.
I’m also fortunate to have a good team in my corner who want to see me succeed and be better…so I try not to focus on the challenges but on where I am (read title) and where I’m going.


Three tips on people keen to join your line of work?You are boss, no seriously, you are the boss. No one takes you seriously if you are timid, unsure and expect to be mothered…at least I don’t.
Study anything with science and maths so that you can learn early how to be an analytical thinker.
Say hello to learning how to work under pressure and remember, no one really cares about you.