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Innovation, hard work and the power of structured support make a winning business formula

Innovation, hard work and the power of structured support make a winning business formula
Noxolo Twala. (Photo: Supplied)
Daily Maverick
By Daily Maverick
18 Sep 2024
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The Youth Employment Service is delighted to announce the inaugural YES Top 35 Under 35 Awards, proudly presented by Daily Maverick.

Molemo Mashigo: Digital business owner


Molemo Mashigo’s relationship with the YES programme began in January 2020 when she attended a workshop that taught students how to conduct themselves professionally as sports coaches.

Read more: Explore the complete “35 Under 35” hub on Daily Maverick

Many people underestimate the influence a coach has on children’s lives. Coaches help to instil morals and values, and build social skills in youngsters.

Through the workshop, Mashigo began a truly transformative journey. During the YES programme she took various modules, leading to significant personal and professional growth.

She began to see her actions with more purpose, understanding the dynamics of a community and the importance of every individual’s role. Being an injury-prone soccer player, Mashigo faced a critical moment of “what next?”

Despite her love for the game, she had to find a new way to stay connected to it. She shifted her focus to media and launched a company, Clued Up Media.

The most significant challenge was funding.

With limited resources, she found equipment to be highly expensive. Clued Up Media began as a sports show on Instagram, appreciating women in sports. Today, it has evolved into a digital business that specialises in graphics, posters, flyers, logo design, photo and video editing, event coverage, photography and videos. Now, with more than four years of industry experience, she brings creativity and innovation to every project, delivering innovative solutions that are tailored to the unique needs of her clients.

Approaching small and medium-sized enterprises, Mashigo offers professional packages that include custom logos and marketing strategies to increase sales. This approach, informed by pointers from the YES modules, has been instrumental in the company’s growth.

Her personal growth reflects the transformative impact of the YES programme. There is a lot of emphasis on personal development, community engagement and professional conduct.

Mashigo’s story is a testament to resilience, innovation and the power of structured support in achieving success.

Nyiko Nkuna: Business owner


Nyiko Nkuna began his career in the sports health and wellness environment after completing his tertiary education. At the same time, he also built a reputation for himself in environmental health and safety.

His dedication to enhancing his experience and skills in health and wellness has led him to own a successful business and brand today.

Read more: Explore the complete “35 Under 35” hub on Daily Maverick

As a YES programme alumnus, sponsored by Nedbank and hosted by YES implementation partner ORT SA, Nkuna has achieved several milestones.

He has served as a youth ambassador and helped to develop the careers of his peers. He has also received recommendations from highly recognised individuals and has been named one of the top 15 most innovative individuals in South Africa by an international company.

Additionally, he was recognised as one of the top 100 Bright Young Minds on the African continent. Personally, Nkuna is supporting young people in starting their journeys towards independence.

His business, The Cargo Waste Trolley, addresses environmental health and wellness issues and sports health and wellness, both in real time and digitally.

The core benefit of his service is to ensure access to programmes and services that create education and awareness. These services teach young people how to develop digital and real-time services for their communities and surrounding businesses.

Nkuna’s determination to start his own business stems from his desire to build a legacy and foundation for the next generation in his family.

The YES programme has been instrumental in realising this passion.

As a young business owner, Nkuna has faced challenges, particularly in accessing finance. The YES programme prepared him to understand the importance of patience and good management skills in various aspects of business.

His story highlights the impact of the YES programme in empowering young people and fostering entrepreneurship, providing essential skills and support to build successful businesses and contribute positively to their communities.

YES Noxolo Twala. (Photo: Supplied)


Noxolo Twala: HR and payroll manager


Noxolo Twala’s story is one of perseverance and hard work. After a year of being unemployed and giving birth during this time, Twala’s life changed when she joined the YES programme at Sasol’s Natref Refinery in Randvaal, Gauteng.

Living with her aunt, a street vendor, presented many challenges, especially because of the lack of available transport to Sasolburg. Twala resorted to hitchhiking and walking to work every day.

During her time at Natref, Twala worked as an HR intern, rotating between recruitment and learning. This led her to a graduate programme in payroll and HR, where she was responsible for the payroll of 100 employees.

Read more: Explore the complete “35 Under 35” hub on Daily Maverick

Her dedication and skills then earned her a position as an outsource payroll account manager and, eventually, an HR and payroll manager at a fintech payment platform organisation, where she now manages payroll for 500 employees.

In her current role, Twala ensures the payroll is run accurately and efficiently every month, leading various subsections in the company. She also oversees recruitment and helps where necessary. Her outstanding performance has earned her two Employee of the Quarter awards and client recognition for her exceptional customer service.

Twala has learnt the importance of perseverance and exceeding expectations. Despite facing challenges, she has consistently demonstrated her capabilities and dedication. Her awards and recognition reflect her experience and passion for HR and payroll.

Twala’s professional journey has also taught her valuable lessons in dealing with employees and clients, emphasising the importance of understanding and humility, as well as effective communication. She continues to develop herself personally and professionally by studying different courses related to her roles.

Twala is also a partner at an emerging payroll consultant company that provides outsourced services to various corporates.

Her story highlights how persevering through difficult times and being dedicated to professional and personal growth can result in great things. Thanks to YES giving her an enabling environment, Twala is going from strength to strength.

Phakitso Mohale: Business analyst


Before joining the Microsoft-sponsored YES programme, Phakitso Mohale was volunteering at a local high school, helping pupils with English reading and writing. She was also studying part-time at Unisa towards a marketing qualification.

However, the YES programme, hosted by Edunova, marked a significant shift in Mohale’s life. It has enabled her to support her family financially and has reduced her anxiety through stress management modules.

Professionally, Mohale gained extensive experience in technology and combined this knowledge with her marketing studies. This blend of skills built her confidence, especially in learning about software development.

Read more: Explore the complete “35 Under 35” hub on Daily Maverick

Since completing the YES programme, Mohale’s career path has been marked by educational achievements and professional development. She completed her marketing degree and, to enhance her technical skills, earned a certificate in systems support, understanding IT infrastructure and support.

Mohale is pursuing an honours degree in marketing and is learning about strategic marketing and research methodologies. Today, she combines her marketing knowledge and technology background to create a meaningful career in business analysis.

Now working at a top South African bank, Mohale has led a cyber-awareness CSI project at her former school, teaching coding and robotics to pupils and fostering a love for technology.

As a business analyst, she helps to bridge the gap between business needs and technology solutions. Even though limited work experience initially posed a challenge, she overcame this by embracing continuous learning, taking on new challenges and committing to personal growth. The YES programme provided practical exposure to a professional environment, helping her to understand workplace dynamics and the importance of teamwork.

Mentorship and guidance during the YES programme allowed Mohale to develop essential skills such as communication, problem-solving and adaptability. Furthermore, the programme’s structured approach, with its clear goals and expectations, helped her to build discipline and time management skills, setting her up for success in her career. DM

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