The young Dr. Nhlakanipho Mahagane takes us through his journey to success

“I wasn’t driven by money to study medicine, I want to save lives.”

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uring the early days when he started schooling at the age of six, when asked by his teacher what he wants to become when he grows up, he stated he wanted to become a doctor. He says for the mere fact that his name Nhlakanipho means wisdom, he felt he had to work hard in order to live up to it, hence his reason for becoming an academically oriented person.

He has always been competitive, in 2003 while in grade 3, he represented his district in Maths Numeracy. “I was competing with kids from multi-racial schools and that’s when I realized we were left behind, from then I started reading a lot to improve my English and knowledge,” he says. The book that motivated him the most when he was young is ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens’ by Sean Covey.

The 24-year-old doctor hails from Soshanguve Block Y and is the fourth child in a family of six children. He believes he owes his success to his parents who instilled in him the discipline to make education his first priority. “My dad always wanted us to be the best because he didn’t get the chance to go to school. My mom was our pillar, she did everything possible to raise us hence my siblings and I are successful today,” says Dr Mahagane.

Now serving at Jubilee Hospital in Hamanskraal as an intern doctor, amongst some of the things Dr. Mahagane likes about his career is assisting a mother to bring a child to the world. “For the first time assisting in a surgical procedure, I couldn’t sleep at night because of the excitement and that’s when I knew that it is my calling,” he says with a smile.

When asked who or what inspired him to become a doctor, he said his dad drew that idea in his mind. He also states that on TV doctors seemed like respectable people because they save lives and that was it, he was quite clueless about the healthcare sector. “I’m not money driven, I don’t want to be the richest man out there, I just want to do good and save lives. I don’t want to be mediocre, just like Beyoncé I want people to know that I was here,” he states.

Just like most teenagers, when Dr Mahagane was in secondary school, he was involved in the wrong crowd, fortunately, he didn’t lose it all as he was the white sheep of the group. “I mixed up with friends that smoked and gambled but I didn’t do those things because I knew my dad would whip me if I participated. I was the one who assisted them with assignments and homework instead so I would benefit with street credibility and I received protection,” he says giggling.

In grade 8 one of his teachers saw leadership capabilities in him, which Dr Mahagane believes he received from his father who is a community leader. The teacher then advised him to become part of the representative council of learners (RCL) where he wasn’t successful in his first attempt. However, with a never say die attitude, he ran again the following year where he became RCL president. He also became president in high school, a member of the district RCL executive committee. In university he was a class rep from first to forth year, secretary-general of the student representative council (SRC), head mentor and also part of the first-year welcoming team.

In every school and grade, he was in, he collected high performer certificates and trophies while also leaving a mark. When he was in secondary school, he established a magazine which got him into trouble. “In the gossip column, I wrote an article about guys who went to the mountain/initiation school to reclaim their manhood and I was threatened, for that moment my life was a nightmare,” he recalls. He participated in the eco-green competitions where the school won gardening equipment and dustbins, in high school he formed a science club.

There were days when he would go to school without lunch money, that’s when they initiated betting games with his friends, they would bet 50 cents each and the person with the highest marks would win. Nhlakanipho made sure he won every bet so he wouldn’t go hungry.

He did the same in varsity, he took on every odd student job he came across to generate income. “The was a time when I was a campus taxi driver, I drove students to malls and I got paid well,” he states. He adds that young people in varsity must live a lifestyle they can afford and not forget why they came to varsity. “Academics can be difficult but they don’t take your entire life, working on the side might be a good distraction so you do not stress about academics, however, don’t compromise your studies,” he states.

Even though he passed matric with five distinctions, Dr. Mahagane’s application to study medicine at the University of Pretoria was rejected due to his grade 11 results. He was accepted at Stellenbosch University where he mentions that the main challenge was the language barrier. “That was a different world for me, mind you in high school my English teacher was Zulu so we hardly spoke English and I wasn’t familiar with Afrikaans. It was a first time for everything, from being away from home to the cultural shift, however, as time went by, I grew in it,” he states. In the same year he was diagnosed with an eye problem.

To balance academics and his social life, he claims to have done almost everything any normal student does.

For a lot of us, medicine is a scary career, even Dr. Mahagane had his episodes. “When we did anatomy for the first time using a dead body, I couldn’t sleep at night, I was so scared to a point where I saw the guy’s face in my dreams,” he says. He also adds that he believed his spirit was with him but he eventually got used to it.

In his last year of studies, his academics gave him a lot of pressure to the point where he reached rock bottom and almost gave up on his studies. However, his friends reminded him of how much his parents look up to him and he regained the power to pick himself up. “Amongst other things that picked me up when I was at my lowest are Mlindo the Vocalist’s songs Imoto and Egoli, I would advise young people to listen to the lyrics attentively,” he states.

According to the new doctor, the greatest attribute in order for one to become a doctor is to be academically strong, be willing to sacrifice so much so that they can enjoy later and they must be people orientated. “If you want to be a millionaire don’t come to medicine because you will be horrible at it,” he states.

Dr. Mahagane does not only save lives but also kicks the ball. “I love playing soccer and I like watching it.” For fun, he likes playing with gadgets.

His future endeavors include going back to school and undertaking a specialization. He would like to make a change in the health system because he believes that people who are in public hospitals don’t get the same treatment as those in private hospitals. He believes that people should be treated the same not according to their social status.

Lastly, he advises young people to work hard, be willing to sweat and spend sleepless nights and stop looking for instant success.

Young trailblazer making waves in corporate circles

Zesimdumise Ndwandwe Nxumalo, popularly known as Ze in corporate circles is a rising star making a name for himself in the country’s biggest boardrooms. He is the owner of an investment company, Zig Holdings. Companies Ze has consulted Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) listed companies such as Blue Label Telecoms and EOH. He has found himself on the board of Richmark Holdings. He has also been involved in advisory work on some of Cell C’s biggest campaigns.

The 26-year-old entrepreneur was born in northern Johannesburg and spent most of his life in Durban. He has managed to squeeze us into his very tight schedule where he unpacked the secret behind his success.

Why did you decide to go to the transport route?

In 2014 I stopped swimming so I could focus on my studies, 3 months later I got bored so I decided it would be a good idea to create a revenue stream to supplement the little pocket money I was receiving from home. An opportunity I deemed fit while I was studying was ridesharing platform, Uber after a friend had introduced it to me. He informed me about getting a car and placing it on the platform where a driver could get requests from passengers and all I need to do was manage the driver and source a car. I couldn’t let this pass me by because upon realizing it would teach me to be a manager as I was expected to manage a car, driver, and passengers. It was a great start.

How did you manage to get funding?

I did not have funding to source a car so I went to a car dealership where I made them a proposal that if they give me a car I can make money for both of us. They agreed and we went 50/50 and it went well. After some time, I got practical business experience and realized I had what it takes to make it in the business world so I requested my dad to get a car on my behalf, which he agreed to so we went from one car to four. Funding is a huge challenge that needs to be addressed for young entrepreneurs.

Where did you get your business acumen?

Whilst I was in boarding school, I used to purchase and resell KFC to the boys who’d actually buy because it was a luxury back then in our setup. My father taught me from an early age that there is nothing for free and I recall that when I asked for pocket money for the movies he would actually make me work for it. He taught me the skill of doing business from a young age.

Do you believe that entrepreneurship is something you are born with is a process that you have to learn?

Nobody is born a star, entrepreneurs are created through mentorship and the skill comes from education, hard work, resilience, determination, and ambition. My discipline and hard work came from an early age and it is all thanks to my strict parents for that, who also come from a swimming background and ensured I had a very tight schedule that I had to follow.

Did you come across any challenges on your entrepreneurship journey?

It was fun when I started out but I encountered challenges when I tried to expand. I made mistakes and if you regard those mistakes as lessons then you can forge forward during the hard times. Entrepreneurship and not depending on a set salary is hard but it can be done.

What is the one lesson you can take away from hardship?

Throughout hardship, you must never give up.

What has been your highlight in your entrepreneurship journey?

You should celebrate as many stepping stones as possible, you need to be proud of each and every achievement, and I’m saying by throwing a party. You need to only look back and acknowledge your journey and what you have overcome. My highlight is the appointment to Richmark Holdings’ board at such a tender age, I am actually the youngest director.

How did you manage to build a name for yourself?

I introduced something directors and shareholders from other companies have never witnessed before. I believe the world is ever-changing, technological advancements and social media have social relevance in the industry so I can balance my professional skills with a social element. People often focus on the corporate side of things but never take it to social implications. I come to these companies to focus on the social relevance.

What advice can you give to the up and coming entrepreneurs?   

Never give up, always try to better yourself, they must be willing to learn and be mentored because there’s nothing as depressing as an individual unwilling to take advice. I encourage them to take lots of advice and put that into practice.When you’ve got business ideas, approach government, private institutions and SETAS funding small businesses. Seek advice from entrepreneurs running businesses similar to yours and learn to market yourself.

How do you balance work and social life?

It's all about getting your priorities right and knowing where you want to be in 10 years. I had to cut down on a lot of social aspects in my life, I can’t go out and party a lot. People need to learn how to get out of a 9 to 5 mentality, especially if you aspire to be an entrepreneur. You need 6 hours sleep and the rest equaling 18 hours, you need to better yourself. Go to work, after work read a lot, perform research and attend courses and conferences. Make use of online publications to empower yourself.

Which books would you recommend?

33 strategies of war and The 44 lessons of power by Robert Green

I urge young people to read more biographies so they can understand how others have made it.

Has being young ever come as a disadvantage for you?

Definitely, people tend to undermine you when you are very young and therefore you need to go the extra mile to prove yourself. I believe young people need to be presentable in order to be taken seriously by their business partners or potential sponsors. Professionalism is key and people need to be careful with their approach, they shouldn’t use slang and men should wear suits.

To what do you owe your success?

I owe it to a number of factors, certain events and people who have been in my life. I was groomed to be a better person. I owe it all to God for being with me through the hard times. I also owe it to the company I keep. However, do not undermine people or make them feel like you are better than them, you need need to surround yourself with successful people.

Young people need to be wary of people they hang around with.

Joburg women manufacture reusable pads & encourage the switch from disposal pads

It is unfortunate that a girl child will miss school or drop out as a result of her menstrual cycle. Palesa Pads, a social enterprise operating out of Germiston was founded in the year 2017 with the sole purpose of assisting young girls who often missed school. They manufacture and supply females in South Africa and Namibia with reusable sanitary pads with the aim of keeping young women in school.

Did you know that a woman use will use up to 16,800 disposable pads and tampons during her lifetime? So, what happens after using them and how much does she spend on buying them?

The answer is that disposable menstrual products are created using unwanted waste and profit at the expense of women’s health and the environment. Studies suggest that the chemical used in Ultra Napkins can convert liquid into gel and that can cause cancer in the bladder and uterus. “Having identified the disadvantages associated with dispensary pads, I was unhappy and decided to make my own sanitary towels,” says Shérie de Wet, founder and CEO of Palesa Pads. They have four different sizes and they are waterproof. Similar to dispensary pads, their reusable pads have wings and come with instructions.

Shérie claims it is highly recommended for women to utilize pads made out of cotton. Some of the advantages of using Palesa Pads include the elimination of unpleasant odour, they last up to five years and not only do they save you lots of money but they contribute towards environmental sustainability.

Numeral females without the means or access to menstrual products substitute this with rags in the foam of mattress fabric and toilet paper, which poses a great risk to their health. “With Palesa Pads, women can avoid embarrassing situations such as leaks or infections,” says Omphemetse, the company’s business development director.

Shérie has sacrificed her home as they make use of her garage as a manufacturing factory. They are assisting in creating employment opportunities in South Africa and they currently have 8 employees working in the business. Palesa Pads’ management team does not only sell sanitary towels but they go to schools where they present on personal hygiene associated with pads.

Palesa Pads can be worn up to 12 hours and offer great comfort, every pack consists of four pads, a set of instructions and a plastic bag to keep used pads before washing. If you are interested in purchasing Palesa Pads, you can order via WhatsApp using the number 066 006 6359 or send them an email at info@palesapads.com

Sibusiso Khwinana’s memorial service: mourners pay tribute to Matwetwe star
“Do not sleep when you are tired, sleep when you are done”

The community of Soshanguve, as well as acquaintances and fans, came in their numbers to support the family and celebrate the life of a young man who moved from Soshanguve to the international stage, Sibusiso Khwinana. He was murdered outside Sterland Cinema in Pretoria during an altercation over his cellphone on Friday, 1 March. It was reported that the 25-year-old from Block M Soshanguve, died on the spot. His emotional memorial service was held on Thursday, 7 March at AFM Hilltop Restoration Center.

Sibusiso played Lefa in the local movie Matwetwe: The Lizard which was recently directed by Kagiso Lediga and co-produced by Black Coffee.

At his memorial service, friends and family remembered him as a person who was ambitious, humble and not talkative but would let his work do the talking, and as a foodie. They said he was passionate about theatre and also lived his life with passion, determination, and focus to achieve his dreams.

Before the memorial service, Gauteng Premier, David Makhura conveyed his condolences to the Khwinana family and mentioned that three murder suspects had been identified. “Our province has been robbed a great talent who was a true inspiration to the youth of Soshanguve. We are coming for his killers and we plead with those who have information on their whereabouts to come forward with information so we can put them behind bars,” he said.

At the memorial service, MEC for Community Safety, Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane confirmed that they had identified the murderers, however, arrests had not been made as yet. She believes there are people harboring these killers but she promised the family they would leave no stone unturned as they bring justice for Sibusiso.

Khalo Khwinana, the family spokesperson also pleaded with his cousin’s killers to turn themselves into the police so the family could find closure. She stated that Sibusiso often told them to watch the space because he was working on his legacy. They didn’t expect he would be brutally taken away from them so fast.

In his tribute, Lediga mentioned that he was honoured to have worked with Sibusiso. He said due to his talent, if he was given the chance to forget the Saftas, we would have seen him at the Oscars and Emmys. Lediga also stated that he’s happy that he got to meet Khwinana and was part of his dream coming together somehow.

One of Sibusiso’s friends mentioned that the late actor was always a fan of Black Coffee. He said his friend spent hours listening to his music not knowing that he would one day work with him.

During the service, the Matwetwe cast, as well as other attendees, sang Sibusiso’s favorite songs including As’phelelanga by Vusi Nova.

Khwinana was laid to rest on March 9 after a funeral service at AFM Hilltop Restoration Centre in Soshanguve Block K.

Q & A with Tshepiso:  On her queer sexuality and career

Tshepiso Leyoola Leola is a transsexual who happened to be leading a double life. Through Yim’Lo, a reality show on Mzansi Magic, she recently informed her family that she is gay. Leeyola acted like a straight man when home but puts on long hair and make-up when away from her family. Campus Connect had the opportunity to have an exclusive interview with the 27-year-old.

Tell us about your experience during your childhood.

I had quite an interesting childhood. Growing up I was a very inquisitive child, a little too smart and a bit ahead of my age. Spent most of it with my elder brother but always enjoyed brushing dolls hair and making their clothes when he played with his toy cars.

At what age did you realize that you are queer and how did you realize it?

As early as five I knew I was different from the other boys but I obviously had no idea of what it was called because of my tender young age. Today I’d like to believe I am more informed about gender and sexuality and understand myself a whole lot better.

Did you face any kind of hardships like most queer people face? 

Yes, definitely. I believe every queer person goes through such challenges as a result of society believing being homosexual, transsexual or bisexual is unnatural and taboo. I’ve had my fair share of insults, attacks, and discrimination. However, all of this has made me a strong, confident person I am today. I am now fearless, stronger and unapologetic about who I am. Nothing gets to me now, I understand myself better, I keep a distance from the noise and I choose my battles wisely.

What it's like to live life as queer? 

Besides the hate, judgement, discrimination, and attraction to people of the same sex or both, it’s no different from everyone else, it’s normal.
What piece of advice can you give to young people who are struggling to come out? 

Don’t be in a rush to come out, take your time. Do it right and you’ll live freely and happily ever after.

What advice can you give to people who feel they are queer but they don’t know how to express themselves? 

Surround yourself with people who bring out the best in you, that help you discover and understand yourself more and make you see yourself in a more positive light. 

Now, let’s talk about your career as a make-up artist. Where and when did you learn to be a make-up artist? 

I am a self-taught makeup artist. I started doing makeup professionally after registering my company, Blaq Pout Faces in March 2017. I am currently working for The Morning Show on eTV and still running Blaq Pout Faces. 

Can you name a couple of people you have worked with? 

I’m currently working on a TV Show so I meet interesting people from different walks of life.  I have obviously worked with celebrities including Kelly Khumalo, Babes Wodumo, Gail Mabalane, Sonia Mbhele, Sjava and Cici to mention a few. 
What are the exciting things you like about your career? 

The transformation, arts, and creativity behind it all and of course, the different people that I meet every day and their different personalities. 

How do you entertain yourself? 

I am a very social person. I love dressing up, going out and engaging with smart people over drinks. 
How do you like to be referred to as? 

I am transsexual, so it only makes sense to be referred to as a "she". I am gorgeous after all. Lol. 
How can our readers book your services as a make-up artist? 

Through calls on 0749048469 or send me an email on blaqpout@gmail.com or a DM on social media on @iamleeyola/@blaqpoutfaces.

The founder & CEO of Bathu shoes shares his highs and lows

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ailing all the way from Phake near Hammanskraal, 28-year-old Theo Baloyi identified a gap in the shoe retail industry which prompted him to pursue his vision to build a shoe brand Africans could relate to. His vision was turned to reality as Bathu is the new sneaker brand covering South African celebrities’ feet.

The name Bathu is derived from the township slang word for shoe. Baloyi says his choice of name was based on its roots in the Sophiatown days and he wanted something ordinary South Africans could relate to.

In order to establish his business, Baloyi claims he saved up his salary. “I am an accountant by profession and have spent five years at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) where I put away my savings which enabled me to start this venture,” he says.

Theo honed his business skills in his second year of BCom Accounting studies where he made door to door perfume sales. This is where he got to learn a lot about business and had his skills further enhanced in the corporate world.

The fashion guru believes entrepreneurship is something you are born with and needs to be nurtured over time. He says some people are born entrepreneurs and others learn about identifying and solving problems as they grow.

Baloyi does not believe in giving up, he was declined 16 times by the factory prior to them approving their flagship design and all of this is due to passion and persistence.

Baloyi’s greatest highlight in his entrepreneurship journey is the recognition he received before being afforded the opportunity to work with well-established brands such as Forbes Africa, J&B Hive, Cape Town City FC, Baroka FC, and others. He built his brand reputation through networking and putting in the work on a daily basis and also by having a strong team behind his vision.

The biggest piece of advice he can give to up and coming entrepreneurs is patience is a virtue. “Patience is life can make people reach for the stars and with it, you can avoid making hasty decisions,” he explains. Baloyi also said he owes his success to God, his parents, mentors and most importantly the customers.

His business consists of a wide range of brightly colored mesh sneakers with a blue, white and red sole, produced in Durban.

If you are interested in slaying with Bathu shoes you can order at www.bathu.co.za or 071 854 7323 (WhatsApp & calls).

Movie review: What Men Want

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hen I saw the title of the movie ‘What Men Want’, I thought they were going to give us an idea of the things men really want in terms of relationships and life goals. However, it was a bit different. This fantasy comedy features Taraji P Henson, who plays the role of Ali Davis, a woman in her 40s determined to get a partnership at her workplace. She works as a sports agent, so she is surrounded by men who always make her feel inferior. She doesn’t let them keep her down and she resorts to protecting herself as she likes to be in control.

When she doesn’t get a partnership at her workplace, it pisses her off. She meets a hot chocolate barman who ends up being her one-night stand because she doesn’t necessarily get along with men. In order to help her connect with men, her friends take her to a psychic who makes her drink tea which gives her the power to read men’s inner thoughts.

Ali takes advantage of her new superpowers to get the partnership at work and to sign the next basketball superstar, Jamal Barry (Shane Paul McGhie). Jamal’s dad (Tracy Morgan) was against the idea of having an agent who happens to be single because he believes ‘traditionally, a woman’s entire livelihood is dependent on the man she is married to’, which is so not true. Ali almost loses it as she uses her one-night stand who has a kid to meet Joe’s expectations. She pretends they are married and are a happy family. When her one-night stand learns that he was being used, he calls it off and regardless of the efforts she has made to sign the NBA player, she loses him to another agent.

Ali also loses her friends after revealing their husbands’ infidelities and on top of that, she also loses her superpowers. However, she eventually manages to get her friends back and opts to decline the partnership offer as she establishes her own company. Fortunately, she ends up living her happily ever after as she gets back with her boyfriend.

I am a big fan of Taraji P Henson, however, while playing a smart and funny woman, I don’t think it was her best character. Nevertheless, her outfits are the best. Another character that stood out for me was Erica Badoo who plays Sister, she nails her role as a freaky psychic that sells weed.

There are lessons to be learned from this movie, they highlight the experience of women who work in a male-dominated environment. While this movie was fun to watch, it felt too long. Please note that this movie has material of a sexual nature which makes it for adults. The production is directed by Adam Shankman, and because I laughed so much, I rate it 3 out of 5.

Against all odds, a young female pilot reaches the stars

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26-year-old Boitumelo Katisi was brought up by a single mother in Pimville, Soweto and later moved to Sunninghill in the north of Johannesburg. She recently obtained her commercial pilot license and now pursuing an instructor’s rating qualification at Loutzavia Flight School at the Wonderboom Airport in Pretoria. Growing up, Tumi had not encountered any pilots, in fact, she had no knowledge of the aviation industry until grade 10. She recalls her class being sent on an assignment to their desired future workplaces. She went to South African Airways (SAA), to inquire about how the airline industry works.

Tumi got bored and was not interested in the admin side of the airline and her aunt decided to take her to the airline pilot section. Tumi says the first items she noticed were the pilot caps and jackets lined up and that got her excited. “I saw pilots walking in and out but they were only males,” she said. Tumi was told there were only ten female pilots at the SAA at the time and they were actually looking to recruit more. She fell in love with the aviation industry and spent her spare time at the SAA during school holidays.

When the time came for Tumi to further her studies, she encountered financial challenges which were compounded by the limited bursary opportunities in aviation. The qualification was costly and her mother could only afford to pay for her flying account when she could which meant when her flying account ran low she had to sit at home for 2/3 weeks. This caused an inconvenience as she struggled to keep up.

Having wasted so much time, she took it upon herself to research every company that could fund her studies. Tumi says she drafted a motivational letter, investigated every company she could think of and sent emails hoping for a positive response. “Unfortunately, the responses weren’t so great and I could tell some hadn’t bothered to read the letter while some responded with a simple no,” she explains.

Very close to giving up, Tumi received a call from the supermarket chain, Pick n Pay and they wanted to fund her studies the following year. Within the same week after the windfall from Pick n Pay, a Swiss luxury watchmaker, Breitling made contact with her.  They presented her with an R80, 000 watch she could giveaway subsequent to a raffle draw. She had 600 tickets she could sell R100 each. Tumi managed to sell over 300 tickets before receiving a call from the National Lottery requesting her to abolish the ruffle competition because it was deemed illegal and she had to return the money she had received from hopeful participants. Fortunately for her, about 98% of the ticket holders identified with her cause and told her to keep the money. With her never say die attitude, Tumi managed to auction off the watch and raise half of its monetary value.

With the proceeds received, Tumi went on to attend a girl camp where females in the aviation industry were invited; it was at this camp where she met her friend Beejal Govan from SAA. Beejal shared Tumi’s story on 94.7 FM and to the latter’s surprise, mining giant Anglo American and E Oppenheimer & sons sponsored her pursuit for a commercial license. The following year Tumi received her private pilot license and commenced with her Commercial pilot license training. However, she wanted to get a multi-engine license so she applied for funds at the Transport Education Training Authority (TETA) and got a positive response and contribution. As a result of the financial issues, it took Tumi four years to complete her qualification. Tumi says she is goal driven and when she puts her mind to something, she will achieve it. “There are young kids looking up to me so no matter how hard it became I simply couldn’t give up, I told myself I’d obtain that license even if it took me 16 years,” she states.

When describing her first solo flight, a big smile appears in her faces as she explains that it was her best experience and the scariest as well. “Landing is the most difficult part when it comes to flying, anyone can take off with a plane but not everyone can land it,” she explains.

“Landing was the most difficult part, everyone can take off but it’s not everyone who can land but I did it,” she explains.

Tumi believes the dismal black female pilot representation is influenced by the fact that lots of women believe aviation is a field reserved for men. Another factor is the lack of information about aviation.

When Tumi was asked if she had advice for girls who would like to follow in her footsteps, she said they should chase the passion and not the money. “Money will somehow follow you if you are doing something you are passionate about,” she states.

Tumi says in order to be a pilot, you have to be passionate because the aviation career is not easy and when you are passionate about something you won’t give up regardless of the difficulties you have to endure. “Flying is not for the faint-hearted so it’s important to be passionate about it, have a vision and make sure you achieve your goal,” she explains.

Tumi and her colleagues visit rural and township schools where they share information about the aviation industry.

Photo: Instagram