Young Professional: Africa Edition: Recent Episodes
Jonathan Ruwanika & Shaneil Moodley
Jonathan Ruwanika and Shaneil Moodley seek to tackle issues facing young professionals in an African context via shared experiences and story telling. They also use their collective African and professional networks as a pipeline for guests on the show.
In this episode, we introduce Passmore Ndlovu a multimedia journalist currently working with the Voice of America (Zimbabwe Service). In 2019, he was awarded the Mandela Washington Fellowship by the U.S Department of State and was a visiting fellow at Indiana University-Bloomington under Civic Leadership. Post his fellowship experience he was able to launch his career in radio and podcasts when he was still a media student at the Midlands State University in Zimbabwe. He became the founder of Lowveld Media Trust, a media development organisation working to promote access to information, freedom of expression and digital participation & rights in underrepresented and marginalized communities in Zimbabwe.
Meet Passmore Ndlovu:
✅ Multimedia Journalist
✅ Founder of Lowveld Media trust
✅ Radio Host
✅ Podcaster
🎙️ Episode Highlights:
🌟 Get to hear Passmore’s amazing journey and his passion for journalism
💡 Overcoming limitations
🌐 Connect with Passmore: [Passmore’s LinkedIn]
🌐 Subscribe to Lowveld Media Trust on Youtube
🌐 Connect with Annah: [Annah's LinkedIn]
🌐 Connect with Young Professional Africa: [Links to all our sites]
Support the Show.
🧠 In our latest episode, we're thrilled to feature Kate Wardle, a distinguished neurodiversity in business speaker and the Learning and Development Lead at Neurodiversity in Business.
🌟 Kate brings a wealth of expertise and personal experience to the table, offering an in-depth exploration of the diverse and intricate world of human brains. She sheds light on how these differences not only define our personal identities but also influence our professional interactions.
💡 The highlight of our discussion:
- what is neurodiversity why should we be talking about it.
- potential of AI in creating inclusive environments for neurodiverse individuals.
🔗 Tune in to gain valuable insights and join us in a conversation that promises to deepen your understanding of neurodiversity and its far-reaching implications. Let's envision a future where every mind is acknowledged and appreciated for its unique contributions.
Connect with Kate: Kate's LinkedIn
Connect with Jonathan: Jonathan's LinkedIn
Connect with Young Professional: Links to all our sites
Support the show
Embark on an inspiring journey into volunteering and community leadership in our latest episode, featuring the remarkable Wame Semele—a true force driving positive change.
🔍 Meet Wame Semele:
✅ Accomplished Risk Management Professional
✅ Dedicated Board Member for Special Olympics Botswana
✅ Passionate Coach and Mentor
✅ Committed Volunteer
🎙️ Episode Highlights:
🌟 Gain profound insights into the essence of volunteering.
🌈 Explore Wame's personal journey and discovery in the volunteering space.
💡 Unpack the challenges inherent in the world of giving back.
🌐 Connect with Wame: [Wame's LinkedIn]
🌐 Connect with Annah: [Annah's LinkedIn]
🌐 Connect with Young Professional Africa: [Links to all our sites]
Support the show
🚀 Elevate Your Feedback Game! 🚀
Embark on a journey into the world of impactful feedback with our latest episode featuring Janine Ahlers – a true force in leadership, coaching, and academia!
🔍 Meet Janine Ahlers:
✅ Certified Professional Integral Coach
✅ Academic Director of the Centre for Coaching
✅ Over a decade in senior corporate roles
✅ 5000+ coaching hours globally
✅ Senior Lecturer, shaping minds in MBA and Executive Education
✅ Published researcher on coaching and leadership
✅ Co-director of the Centre for Coaching and Coaching Matters
Join us as we delve into the delicate art of feedback from both the receiver and giver's perspectives. Janine shares her wealth of experience, debunking myths and arming you with invaluable tools to supercharge your feedback process.
🎙️ Highlights:
🌟 Gain a deeper understanding of what effective feedback truly entails.
🌈 Explore the intricacies of feedback for both sides of the conversation.
💡 Bust common myths surrounding the feedback process.
🔧 Acquire practical tools to take your feedback skills to new heights.
🌐 Connect with Janine: Janine's LinkedIn
🌐 Connect with Young Professional Africa: https://linktr.ee/YoungProfessional
Support the show
Embark on a career journey with Jonathan and Shaneil, your hosts and fellow career navigators. Join them as they unveil the secrets, challenges, and triumphs of landing their new roles. In this episode, dive deep into the nuances of the job search process, exploring topics such as:
- Resume and Cover Letter Optimization:
Discover the key elements that make your application stand out. - Effective Job Search Strategies:
Explore actionable strategies that fueled Jonathan and Shaneil's successful job searches. - Interview Preparation and Memorable Experiences:
Get insights into interview techniques and memorable moments from their experiences. - Being Open and Not Afraid to Fail:
Learn the importance of resilience in the face of challenges and setbacks.
Tune in for engaging anecdotes, relatable experiences, and actionable tips to empower aspiring professionals on their career journeys.
Stay updated with our dedicated hosts:
- LinkedIn: Jonathan's LinkedIn
- LinkedIn: Shaneil's LinkedIn
- LinkedIn: Annah's LinkedIn
For more inspiring content and resources tailored for young professionals in Africa, connect with Young Professional Africa:
- Young Professional Africa on Linktr.ee
Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review to support the podcast! 🎙️
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In this episode, we introduce Elizabeth, an inspiring Scrum Master and visionary leader, whose journey in digital product development is shaped by the dynamic fusion of Scrum, Design Thinking, and Lean Startup principles. Learn how her career thrived through unwavering openness to change. Beyond her professional achievements, Elizabeth founded Masiz Pamoja International, a pioneering initiative empowering young women in sexual and reproductive health and rights. Join us as we delve into the transformative impact of grassroots initiatives and the significance of continuous learning.
Learn more about Scrum: https://www.scrum.org/
Connect with Elizabeth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-a-504556174/
Check out Elizabeth's initiative Masiz Pamoja: https://vc4a.com/ventures/masiz-pamoja-international/
Connect with Annah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annah-ruwanika-mashonganyika-21193042/
Connect with Young Professional Africa: https://linktr.ee/YoungProfessional
Support the show
Introducing our Guest Host for Season 4!
Annah is an accomplished Inclusive Communications and Culture Expert, currently serving as a manager at a world-leading logistics company. In 2019, Annah was selected for the prestigious Mandela Washington Fellowship program, a testament to her dedication to civic leadership and positive change. She continues to contribute to the program as a Fellowship Applications Reader, ensuring the selection of deserving candidates for future cohorts.
In addition to her professional achievements, Annah is an active member of Lions Clubs International. Through her involvement, Annah passionately volunteers with Special Olympics, the world's largest sports organization for individuals with disabilities. Her dedication to this cause has taken her to various countries, including Zimbabwe, South Africa, Japan, Austria, the US, and Germany.
Annah's educational background includes a Master of Science degree in Marketing from Edinburgh Business School (Heriot-Watt University) and an Honors in Business Management from the University of Free State.
Connect with Annah:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annah-ruwanika-mashonganyika-21193042/
Stay updated with Jonathan & Shaneil, our dedicated hosts:
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jonathan-ruwanika-ca-sa-b1b6b155
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaneil-moodley-6973b5a9/
For more inspiring content and resources tailored for young professionals in Africa, connect with Young Professional Africa:
- Linktr.ee/YoungProfessional
Tune in and empower yourself with the knowledge that will shape our future!"
Support the show
"In this engaging episode, we sit down with Alex Pryor, a distinguished author, tech speaker, and corporate innovator currently leading Digital Innovation at one of Africa’s largest IT companies. With her expert insights, Alex demystifies complex emerging tech concepts, making them accessible to everyone. What sets this conversation apart is Alex's unique ability to shed light on the practical applications of these concepts, especially within the African context.
If you're keen to delve deeper into the world of emerging technologies, don't miss Alex's groundbreaking book, 'Risking Irrelevance,' available for purchase at these links:
- SA Print: Burble Online
- Amazon (Kindle or Print): Amazon
Connect with Alex Pryor:
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ajkpryor
- Website: alexpryor.co
Stay updated with Jonathan, our dedicated host:
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jonathan-ruwanika-ca-sa-b1b6b155
For more inspiring content and resources tailored for young professionals in Africa, connect with Young Professional Africa:
- Linktr.ee/YoungProfessional
Tune in and empower yourself with the knowledge that will shape our future!"
Support the show
Chiara Kunnie is a social impact practitioner in the tech for good space. She started her career in investment banking before pivoting to a career at the intersection of development and technology.
She has a Bachelor of Business Science in Actuarial Science (Quantitative Finance) and an MBA from the University of Cambridge.
In today's episode, we speak to Rumbi Mtsambiwa , a deputy regional implementation manager at a leading global social enterprise that improves lives via mobile technologies. Rumbi also hosts the 55 spaces podcast a women empowerment concept that sheds light on African women in and outside Africa.
She has a BA in Economics, Finance, and Banking from Nottingham Trent University and a Masters of Science in Economics and Finance for development from the University of Bradford.
In today's episode, we speak to Belardina Zunguza. Belardina is an alumni student of the Moshal foundation and currently works as a business development manager for Unilever. She joined Unilever on their young leader's program and had the opportunity to rotate within the company.
The conversation is centered around how the foundation has impacted her life post-university, and we unpack an honest retrospective of the program, from its opportunities to its shortcomings.
In today's episode we chat to Lwando Melamane. Lwando Melamane was raised by his mother in a township called Masiphumelele in FishHoek. Despite growing up in challenging circumstances, he managed to rise above the odds and matriculate from Masiphumelele high school with distinctions in all his subjects. He was then accepted by the Moshal Scholarship Program after applying through Ikamva Youth. Lwando was fascinated by Engineering and everything electronic. This led him to apply for a Bsc in Mechanical and Mechatronic engineering at the University of Cape Town. Today he is doing his third year with a first class cumulative grade average and has been included in the UCT Engineering Dean's List
In today's episode, we chat with Israa Devraj. Israa will form part 1 of 3 of our coverage of the Moshal scholarship. A scholarship funded by South African philanthropist, Martin Moshal.
The role of the scholarship is to support highly-motivated and tenacious students to access and complete their university education so that they will get good jobs and improve their financial situation, that of their families, and hopefully that of their communities one day.
The Moshal scholarship is a generous gift that has allowed Israa to study a BSc in Computer Science at Wits University. An opportunity that would not be viable without it.
On the show today we have Fidelis Bonaventure Uzoma and Annah Ruwanika.
Annah is a marketing and communications professional with experience in the Financial Services sector. She holds a master’s degree and a postgraduate diploma in Marketing from Edinburgh Business School. She is a Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni under the Civic Engagement Track where she studied at Indiana University and holds certificates in Fundraising and Leadership.
Fidelis is a Human Development and Social Impact Professional
Fidelis has work and leadership experience as an international development practitioner. He has received many leadership awards, fellowships, and service with world-class organizations including the Obama Foundation, Aspen Institute, British Council, Tony Elumelu Foundation, U.S Department of State Atlas Corps, American Express, World Bank, Crans Montana, and the United Nations.
Fidelis has a Masters's in Diplomacy and Strategic Studies from the University of Lagos and a Bachelors's in Philosophy from the University of Ibadan.
In today's episode, we chat with Vincent Maposa. Vincent is the CEO and Founder of Wetility. Wetility is a solar energy technology company focusing on rooftop solar under one Megawatt in South Africa with links to other parts of Southern Africa.
Vincent studied a BSC in Mathematics and Statistical Science at the University of Zimbabwe. He has also completed the CFA level 2 exam. Vincent started his journey with Frost & Sullivan as a Research Intern and progressed through the ranks to Industry Analyst and then a management consultant for Deloitte consulting. He is passionate about the industrialization of Africa and seeks to have affordable renewable energy in every household on the continent.
In today's episode, we chat with Gerald Maveve. Gerald is currently the Head of Strategy at one of the biggest insurance companies in Africa. He is a fully qualified actuary and completed all his board exams by the age of 25.
He holds a bachelor's degree in Actuarial Science and mathematical statistics and an honors degree in Actuarial Science from Wits and recently completed a post-graduate diploma in future studies with the Stellenbosch business school.
Jerusha Meldrum is a senior people advisor for one of the biggest professional services firms in the world.
Jerusha started out her career in Human Resources in her home country of South Africa. She has a bachelors degree in social sciences, with an honors degree in commerce, which she completed whilst working.
In today's episode, we learn more about Jerusha's move from a stable job in South Africa, to a new position in the United Kingdom. The transition was not easy, especially during covid. She shares some of the challenges that she faced whilst moving, and unpacks some of the insights that she learnt along the way. This episode is all about perseverance, being agile, and adapting to change to achieve your end goal
In today's episode, Jonathan and Shaneil unpack the demise of Kodak and the lessons we can learn.
Jonathan and Shaneil unpack Episodes 5, 6 and 7 offering their insights and lessons they extracted.
In today's episode, we chat to Dr. Shaheem de Vries, a medical doctor with nearly 18-years of experience in prehospital Emergency Care. As both the Chief Executive Officer (2013 – current) and the medical director of the Western Cape Government Health Emergency Medical Services, Dr. De Vries provides oversight and governance of all ambulance, rescue, aeromedical, and patient transport services for Western Cape Government Health, South Africa.
He holds an MBChB, Master’s in Emergency Medicine, and an MBA from the University of Cape Town. He is currently completing his Ph.D. at the Graduate School of Business where he is exploring a re-imagined civil service.
In todays episode, we chat to Natania Botha.
Proudly rooted in her home country of South Africa, Natania Botha is a passionate
environmental and social change activist.
Natania currently serves as the Content Development and Knowledge Generation
Coordinator for Indalo Inclusive South Africa NPC. Indalo Inclusive is a Not-for-Profit company established with a mandate to support and promote social, green, inclusive, and responsible entrepreneurship in South Africa. She is also an Enterprise Mentor for several new entrepreneurial ventures.
Natania’s commitment and passion for social and sustainable environmental change takes her to the smallest of communities in South Africa, as well as International platforms such as the United Nations. In 2018 Natania was selected by the UN Environment Programme to represent South Africa at the Africa Youth Conference hosted in Kenya, upon her return she advocated and formalised a Sustainable Development Goals Classroom in a South African context.
In today's episode, we chat with Maia Matshikiza. The Chief Network Officer at Africa's foremost institution for training young African leaders.
Maia has had a fruitful career working in management and operations consulting, engaging corporate clients in various initiatives. Being bilingual has allowed Maia to work in various parts of Anglophone and Francophone Africa on projects in the Mining, Manufacturing, and Oil & Gas industries.
Maia graduated from the University of Cape Town with an MSc (Chemical Pathology) (2003) and completed an MBA at the Copenhagen Business School (2011).
Jonathan and Shaneil unpack Episodes 1, 2 and 3 offering their insights and lessons they extracted.
In todays episode, we chat to Shadrack Kubyane.
Shadrack Kubyane is the co-founder of Coronet Blockchain. An agile: supply chain digital infrastructure leveraging blockchain technology to evolve Africa’s supply chains into equitable see-through supply chains for inclusive growth.
He is among the leading Blockchain voices & adoption advocates on the continent. He is called upon by governments, universities & the private sector to inform the configuration of practical solutions to meet the Africa Continental Free Trade (AfCFTA) 2035 priorities.
His Corporate track-record includes spearheading specialist business development task teams that moved a new venture from a zero-balance-sheet position to a ZAR 5 billion front foot position. He is part of the National Working Committee Group on Data Science: curating 4th Industrial Revolution curriculum alignment to enable South Africa to compete on the global landscape.
In today's episode, we chat with Michael Macklin the CEO of Vendigo, the best Point of Sale lending solution in Europe. Before Vendigo, Michael worked at McKinsey & Company in their London and Johannesburg offices, focusing on Strategy & Growth topics in Financial Services, taking just three years to be promoted from a Business Analyst to Engagement Manager.
Michael has a Bachelors's in History and English Literature from UCT and a Hons from Wits. He is a two-time South African National debate Champion.
Welcome back for season 3! We are all about taking things to the next level, and our guest Kovini Moodley has not only uplifted herself via her platform, but thousands of other woman across her social media platform!
Kovini Moodley is the founder and CEO of Boss Babes of South Africa. Boss babes is a digital women empowerment platform aimed at celebrating authentic, multi-faceted women of South Africa who are breaking barriers and changing narratives. The platform is used for women to share their skills, knowledge and stories of struggle as well as success.
Consequently, the platform is used to help small businesses through empowerment and upliftment.
In this episode, Jonathan and Shaneil reflect on a great second season. They focus on some of the interesting highlights from the season and give us a sneak peak on what they have in store for Season 3 .
In todays episode Jonathan and Shaneil chat about their experience relating to landing your first job, and the differences that exist between a university leaving CV and a mid career CV.
The episode is a detailed discussion about the different elements that make up a CV, and highlights the most important points when drafting a CV. They also discuss the different tools and templates available to help structure your CV in an easy to understand manner.
Further to this, the discussion pivots to building your digital brand (building your brand on LinkedIn). The hosts look at the importance of building your digital brand, and how best to use LinkedIn as a tool to connect directly with future employers.
In today's episode, we chat with Fadimatou Bello an advocate for social media for change and women empowerment. Fady is currently Head of Digital at a Senegal-based venture studio that assists purpose drive companies.
She holds a bachelor's degree in Social Sciences from the Catholic University of Central Africa, a Masters's in International Business and Supply chain management from the ESSEC Business School in Douala, and a Masters's in Digital Marketing and Brand content from Digital Campus.
In today's episode, Jonathan and Shaneil strike up a casual conversation around the following themes:
- Salary expectations (Chartered Accountants, Commerce Graduates).
- Breaking down pay checks.
- The impact of a manager on your career in different contexts (Big Four/Consulting vs Industry).
- Whether changing jobs consistently is good for you.
In today's episode we chat to Kgosi Dube. Kgosi is a 21-year-old award nominated entrepreneur who was born and raised in Pretoria and is currently running a 6-figure company providing software engineering & marketing solutions in the entertainment industry.
We came across Kgosi's profile via a LinkedIn post of him purchasing his first home in Johannesburg. The post included video footage of Kgosi showing his mother his property for the first time. She was so proud that her son from the township had made it.
During this interview, we learn more about Kgosi and his entrepreneurial journey but more so we seek to understand the context behind the video, and why it was such a major milestone for Kgosi and his mother.
An inspiring story that captures the heart and essence of what it means to be living the "African Dream."
In todays episode we chat with Peter Akpan.
Peter is a 20-year-old award-winning Chartered Accountant; Student member of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute and a First-Class Graduate of Accounting with a career path in Finance and Investment banking.
Peter qualified as a Chartered Accountant of the prestigious Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) at the age of eighteen (18), emerging as one of the youngest Chartered Accountants in the history of Nigeria and Africa. He is a two-times award winner of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and a Scholarship recipient of the CFA Institute.
Peter is also passionate about quality education in Africa and has coached and mentored over 200 students in becoming Chartered Accountants in Nigeria.
Peter is testament that age is nothing but a number.
In today's episode, Jonathan and Shaneil speak to Engaisi Peter, the founder, and host of @Work with Engaisi.
In our first cross over collaboration with another podcast, we chat about learning and development as a professional and a personal development tool. Jonathan, Shaneil, and Engaisi delve into their own professional experiences and the different African contexts that have been exposed to.
In today's episode, Jonathan and Shaneil speak to Engaisi Peter, the founder, and host of @Work with Engaisi.
In our first cross over collaboration with another podcast, we chat about learning and development as a professional and a personal development tool. Jonathan, Shaneil, and Engaisi delve into their own professional experiences and the different African contexts that have been exposed to.
In today's episode, Jonathan and Shaneil speak to Farirai Sanyika, the founder of Gophari.com.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to travel the world and get paid for it? Well, thats exactly what Farirai does. Gophari.com started out as a travel blog which then developed into a trip planning service for women.
In this episode we discuss how a chemical engineer transitioned into a full time travel entrepreneur and how the business has further developed during covid. Looking to spot new opportunities in the market? Give this episode a listen as we discuss the 'secret sauce' to Gophari's success.
Kundai Khuleya is a final year Law student at the University of Sydney, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce in 2018. Additionally, she has attended summer schools at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, respectively.
Kundai is also the Co-Founder of I Am Zimbabwean, an NGO that assists students in rural Zimbabwe in improving their tech literacy, as well as the Founder and Editor of The Legal Plug, an online platform dedicated to assisting Australian law students on their journey’s to a legal career.
In this episode, we talked about:
- Her experience as a foreign student studying in Australia.
- An honest discussion on applying for top universities and scholarships, highlighting structural issues.
- Her experience of running a start-up as a student.
In today's episode, we chat with Romi Sumaria the CEO and Co-Founder of The Oblique Life. Oblique life is a company that brings people together and connects them through a curated global community.
Before founding Oblique life, Romi worked as an Associate in the Debt and Capital markets division at HSBC. Romi has a bachelors of Science in Economics and Geography from the University College London.
In this episode Shaneil and Jonathan interivew Kamailoudini Tagba, a passionate journalist and entrepreneur.
The discussion ranges from the economic and social setting in Togo, to understanding and unpacking the different motives of an African entrepreneur in relation to a first world entrepreneur.
The show highlights a lot of parallels between Togo and the rest of Africa, and explores why the context is so similar, and how this could potentially play to our strengths as Africans.
In today’s episode, we have a conversation about mental health and mental illness and its impact on young professionals. We also hear from clinical psychologist Jordan Mongie, who attempts to demystify the topic.
In today's episode we chat to Larissa du Preez, a manager within Deloitte consulting who heads up the consulting infinity graduate programme.
The discussion looks at the overall value chain of a graduate programme (the strategy, the purpose, the vision, and the selection criteria). We unpack how young aspiring graduates can best improve their CV/interviewing skills to ensure that they are selected for this graduate programme (and many others).
If you have been struggling to land a graduate programme offer, or if you would like some insight into what you can expect from a graduate programme, don't miss out on this episode.
In today's episode, we chat with Rutendo Chigora, who is currently working for a premier asset management firm in New York. Previously she worked as a consultant at McKinsey & Company & the Rwanda Development Board on its private sector development initiatives.
Rutendo completed a Master of Public Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government and an MBA at the Said Business School at the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- the experience of African's working in the diaspora.
- importance of peer mentorship.
- what a liberal education system entails.
- how drive and resilience can be shaped by our experiences.
In today's episode, we chat with Taiwo Okwor a Vice President at a pan-African Multilateral Development Finance Institution , and founder of Femme Minty an educational platform that is focused on promoting financial education for women.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- Importance of focusing on honing new skills at the early stage of a career.
- how she landed in the field of development finance.
- The importance of financial education particularly for women.
Shenai Bridglall is the founder of SB Holdings, a women-led global luxury group, and The EssBee Foundation, a non-profit organisation that aims to reduce the gender inequality gap in South Africa. Shenai received a Bachelor and Master of Business Science from the University of Cape Town. She is a former model, Miss South Africa 2017 finalist, and worked at Google in South Africa and Singapore before launching her companies.
She is passionate about gender inequality and strives to address these issues through her different companies at a global and local level.
In today's episode, we chat with Shreya Shah, a Business Process Manager at a Kenyan insurer. She is also the founder of Concise, an innovative start-up attempting to bring curated and concise news on the African continent.
Shreya has a Bachelors's in Business Science with a focus on economics and statistics from the University of Cape Town.
In today's episode, we chat with Jessica Ronaasen, Founder and host of the podcast, Relate Your Research, an online platform for social workers and researchers to share their unique experiences.
Jessica is an internationally published researcher and Social Worker with experience and expertise in NGO management, Early Childhood Development, and social work services.
Jessica has a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University and a Masters in Social Work from Stellenbosch University completed as a Mandela Rhodes Scholar. She is currently completing her Ph.D
In today's episode, we chat with Simon Ellis, CEO of African technology startup SmartWage.
Simon shines the spotlight on the payday poverty cycle and how SmartWage aims to give workers access to wages earned as a solution to this problem. Simon is a Stellenbosch university alumnus and trained as a Chartered Accountant with a big four firm in the United Kingdom.
In this episode, Jonathan and Shaneil reflect on a great debut season. They focus on some of the interesting highlights from the season and give us a sneak peak on what they have in store for Season 2 .
In today’s episode, we chat with Mbali Nwoko the CEO of Green Terrace Farm, which produces high-value vegetable crops for leading retailers in South Africa.
Mbali is an alumnus of the University of Johannesburg and Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) .
We chat about the opportunities for young people in agriculture and, her journey from corporate recruiter to an award winning commercial farmer.
On today's show, Jonathan and Shaneil talk about networking during lockdown. They provide some examples of what has work for them, and also highlight key things to consider on your networking journey during lockdown.
In today's episode we speak to Dean Benjamin. Dean is a CA(SA) who formed part of Investec's specialist banking practice in South Africa, London and Sydney. He was also the founder of 2 non profit organisations, and would continue to develop these initiatives over the years as well as representing South Africa and speaking at One Young World. Dean is currently pursuing an M.B.A. at the Harvard Business School with a vision to merge his commercial and impact-focused interests.
In todays episode we unpack his journey in the build up to his Harvard MBA and understand the implicit and explicit costs involved. We then delve into the Harvard MBA experience, and understand exactly what it means to walk this journey. We end off by retrospectively discussing Dean's thoughts on whether or not the MBA (from Harvard) is worth it, given the exorbitant cost and huge time commitment.
Today's episode features Gracia Munganga, a sustainable energy expert currently working at Carbon Trust at their Southern Africa office in Pretoria, focusing on delivering strategic advice and analysis for public and private sector clients in sustainable energy.
Before joining the Carbon Trust, Gracia was senior manager at The Innovation Hub, mandated with the commercialisation of clean tech innovations in the energy, water and waste sectors, in collaboration with the World Bank’s InfoDev programme. Prior to this Gracia worked on the New Horizons Waste to Energy Project - Africa’s first large scale municipal solid waste to biogas plant.
Gracia is a graduate of the University of Cape Town with a BSc and MSc in Chemical Engineering.
She takes us through her journey that started in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In today's episode we speak to Neo Maboe, stage name 'The Yze' (pronounced "the wise"). Neo is a 28 year-old Pretorian who is passionate about the African hip hop scene. Neo's day job is in the financial services sector, but he is also a recording artist, songwriter, and content producer.
We discuss the African music scene and delve deeper into some of the challenges and opportunities that exist for young aspiring artists in todays new normal. One of they key discussion points during this interview relates to how Neo has scaled his brand as a musician over the years, while still working and maintaining a steady income.
In today’s episode, we chat to Wanjiku Kimani.
Wanjiku is from Kenya and is currently completing her Masters at the London School of Economics (LSE). She is passionate about using Inclusive technologies that provide solutions for economically marginalized groups, with a special focus on women empowerment.
Wanjiku is a Mandela Rhodes scholar, as well as a Derek Cooper fellow. In today’s episode we discuss her journey, and gain some valuable insight into how she attained a scholarship to complete her local and international studies.
In todays episode Jonathan and Shaneil chat to Serisha Iyer. Serisha is a product manager for one of the biggest banks in Africa, and is also one of the youngest managers in her team.
Serisha comes from a non-traditional commerce background (having a bcom undergrad with a masters in Philosophy).
She delves into some of the insights thats she's gained from working in the industry, specifically around succeeding in the job market when you are following a non-linear career path in terms of your degree. She also opens up about the job market's perception of her degree, and goes on to explain how she was able to overcome some of these challenges by having the right attitude and work ethic.
Today's episode features Ziyanda Khumalo, a Debt Capital Markets Deal Originator at Africa's largest bank, who is currently based in London.
She has worked on some landmark deals over the years including deals for the South African and Ghaninan sovereigns, and most recently, closed the first corporate bond deal executed in Africa in the Covid-19 era.
Before a career in investment banking, Ziyanda spent three years in marketing in the fast-moving consumer goods industry before successfully pivoting. She takes us through her journey that starts in Apartheid South Africa in a small township called eNgwelezane in Northern Kwazulu Natal.
A completed CV/resume aims to impress recruiters and is sent as an application to jobs adverts or as a speculative approach to prospective companies. CVs are valuable and important because they are your first and maybe only direct communication with a potential employer.
In today's episode, Jonathan and Shaneil discuss some of the key insights that they've learnt from industry leading experts in the field regarding how to go about writing the best possible CV.
The points discussed in this episode may be the reason that you are currently being rejected for your dream job, without even getting to the interview stage.
On todays episode we have JonathanAsiamah the founder of South African insurtech start-up DentX. Dent X is disrupting the insurance space by creating a new data-driven vehicle repair pricing platform that changes the way vehicle owners and insurance partners source quotes for repairs. Jonathan shares his journey from corporate banking to starting his own start up.
In this episode we chat to Clarity Mapengo, a food scientist and innovator whose currently completing her Ph.D. at the university of Pretoria. Her research focus and work experience are centered around sustainable food engineering and food security.
Her work in the development of biopolymers contributed to the development of low-energy dense food and food ingredients and has been presented at major international conferences.
She is an active innovator and has most recently participated in the Unleash Innovation Lab 2019 that was held in China. She is also part of the Local Pathways Fellowship, which is a global youth initiative of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
Today Jonathan and Shaneil are joined by Runyararo Cassidy Nyandoro a young professional who currently works as an Executive Assistant to the Managing Director of the Pan African Bank, Bank ABC. Runyararo is passionate about finance and tech and how the two can be used to create a more inclusive society. He is the co-founder of Emerge Zim Trust an organization to improve the quality of education for disadvantaged children. He also chaired the UCT alumni chapter in Zimbabwe.
We chat about the power of a positive mindset and how young professionals can prepare for roles with greater responsibility.
Today Jonathan and Shaneil are joined by Kalé Akwei, an Investment Officer for the International Finance Corporation (IFC). Kalé shares her journey that started in the capital city of Togo, and spanned across west and east Africa, and finally, Washington DC.
We discuss her thoughts on how best to develop the continent, and what role innovation and technology should play in building the African landscape. This episode gives you a deeper understanding of investment banking, along with the nuances of development finance in an African context.
Jonathan and Shaneil dissect the common problems of planning, time management, and goal setting. They chat about how setting goals can be a powerful visualization tool that aides in self-reflection and go a bit deeper into what organizational and time management tools they use to improve on their own effectiveness. The chat also touches on how to deal with the new phenomenon of working from home and the creation of support structures.
In today's episode, Jonathan and Shaneil discuss savings culture, investments, and financial planning. They retrospect on their journey from earning their first salary to where they are now, providing insight on some of their best investment decisions, and some of their worst.
Today Jonathan and Shaneil are joined by Quincy Malope,the founder of Hello Coach K a company that helps graduates and young professionals reach their career goals.
She shares how she transitioned from a comfortable corporate job to the running a business full time. She also goes into detail about the lessons she learnt, and provides valuable advice to others that wish to start their own side hustle.
Today Jonathan and Shaneil are joined by Chido Nyandoro a Talent Business Partner, speaker, and career strategist currently based in Berlin Germany.
She shares her journey of unemployment and her thoughts on what could be useful to those currently out of work. She breaks down job hunting at a strategic level and points to why the scattergun approach is not a good strategy for job hunting. Chido goes further in highlighting the power of networking and mentors for job seekers and provides incites into her own personal experiences.
In this episode, we are introduced to our new co-host, Shaneil Moodley. Jonathan and Shaneil served on an Africa wide Advisory board together, and have now partnered to spread the gospel of information to young professionals across the continent. The episode is focused on getting to know the co-host, and understanding some of the key drivers behind his corporate success.
There is a rift between our expectations and the true realities of entry-level jobs. YP sheds more light on this issue and proceeds to suggest what one needs to do to stand out.
Just like any relationship you need to get to know each other before committing. This introductory episode shines a light on the man behind the mic.