Voices of the Fraternity with Maanda Mashego

“If you’re going to do something inherently difficult [like working in corporate], the least you can do is do it as yourself” - these are some of the wise words Ziningi Hlophe empathetically shared with us in this raw episode of the VOTF, and I was particularly struck by these words because they ring true for almost individual trying to make a name for themselves in a different or challenging environment while balancing the need for acceptance and assimilation. I’m convinced that if there was a global ambassador role for authenticity, Ziningi would be the proud mascot - you don’t have to meet her in real life to get the sense that she is the epitome of walking and living in your truth - no matter what. But she also gently extends so much grace to herself and others who aren’t able to fully tap into their authenticity early in their career because she recognizes that sometimes you need to learn an environment and prioritise your survival before you can safely lean into your authenticity. She recounts three years of her life where she was inauthentic because she admits that at that time all she was trying to do was survive and learn the “currency” of her new environment- which was vastly different from her environment back home in Durban (where she says she was a surfer girl, who listened to punk and rock and really only had dreams of being a lawyer so that she could fund her surfer girl lifestyle).If you’ve ever been curious about (i) when the right time is to leave practice as a legal professional, (ii) how one can tap into their authenticity and ease into who they  truly are when no one is watching, (iii) how to build and nurture meaningful connections and networks, this is the episode for you.Ziningi is truly a fountain of wisdom and joy, you will laugh just as much as you will take notes because she shares things that will undoubtedly make you reevaluate your life.This episode reminded me that one of the things that make this world and the people in it so interesting is the fact that there’s always an opportunity to learn something new, whether or not that thing may appear novel or obvious. I’ve known Ziningi for years (and maybe I subconsciously thought that I knew everything there was to know about her), but I found myself marvelling and learning something new with every word she spoke. I hope you enjoy drinking from the fountain of Ziningi’s wisdom as much as I did.Thank you for listening, liking and engaging in the comments section 🫶🏽

In today’s episode we meet Thandekile Mbatha, a proud Zulu girl born and bred in the Free State, where she proudly says she learnt how to fluently speak SeSotho before her mother tongue. What immediately stands out about Thandekile, as you listen to her share her life story, is her quiet self confidence and the deep self awareness she possesses, she appears to be one of those people who have always been certain of the path that she would ultimately walk - which is interesting because quite often her chosen paths were “the paths less travelled”.  Her story is one of courage, patience, the importance of being grounded in your values and perhaps most importantly the power of community building wherever you are - after all we are the sum of the people we surround ourselves with and often the only way to survive the obstacles of this life is through the lifelines we are given by those closest to us. I hope you enjoyed this episode, as much as I did.

In this episode, we are reminded of the age old saying “it takes a village” - and in my view, not only “to raise a child” but also to keep adult humans alive and thriving. If I could sum up Kgalis interview into a sentence it would probably read as follows: “this is a moment of gratitude to the people along the path”. From the moment the interview began, Kgali made a point to sing praises of gratitude to the men and women who have affirmed her, pushed her, told her the uncomfortable truths, asked her compelling questions and inspired her not to settle even when she was in the depths of her disappointment. She shares her journey from being one of (four) kids to two loving parents in Leondale to ultimately overcoming self doubt and feelings of unworthiness and other institutional / systemic obstacles like a lack of higher education funding in order to become a first generation graduate in the Modibedi family. Kgali’s story is truly a testimony of how even unorthodox journeys can still lead you to the life of your dreams, and I’m absolutely certain that it will have an impact on anyone who watches / listens to it.This episode was an absolute treat, not only did I get to sit across and reminisce with someone I did life with for a solid two  years but I was also reminded of the wealth of wisdom the people in close proximity to us hold, and maybe sometimes because they are so close to us, we fall prey to the trap of familiarity. A big thank you to Kgali for her sheer honesty, and of course all the laughs

In this episode our guest, Kutlwano Mositi,  shares his remarkable life journey that has been marked by resilience and personal growth. He begins with sharing stories of his mischievous childhood, and how he unexpectedly turned this around by beginning to excel in his academic and eventual leadership roles in varsity that helped him build a strong network that would later be pivotal in defining moments in his career. After landing a coveted position at a top law firm in South Africa, Kutlwano opens up about facing the infamous imposter syndrome, that made him feel like he was not suited for the corporate environment. His life plans were devastated when he experienced a challenging period of unemployment after he wasn’t retained following his contract of articles. Kutlwano shares how during this time, his girlfriend (now wife) was a source of support, and inspiration - when he came back from work after he had been informed that he wouldn’t be offered a permanent position at his dream firm, his wife told him “a dream delayed, is not a dream denied” words that kept him going as he navigated unemployment. He shares this and many more! His story is truly one of redemption and how we are the authors of our stories and are not defined by rejection or even delayed dreams