Theo Tshanga
I am in my early 30’s and like most women very career driven, passionate and a go getter.
I started my career at varsity while I was doing my final year and my work involved a bit of lecturing and assisting lecturers with administration work, such as marking student test papers etc. I loved my job and I was fulfilled. I would receive very good feedback from students after lecturing, that’s when I discovered my passion, it was clear that I was born to talk.
I then moved to a large corporation immediately after my contract with the varsity ended, I got offered a job on a 1 year contract as a graduate trainee in my professional field. I just came straight out of varsity with just theory and had no corporate experience. At the time I did a lot of administration, background work. I remember at some point I felt very demotivated, I wanted to get to the core of my profession, little did I know that everything has a beginning and that I had to start somewhere. Through my work I built a very strong relationship with my senior at the time.
At the end of that year, I was offered a permanent position at one of the regional offices as a junior practitioner which I rejected. Many of my friends even my mother wondered how come I rejected the offer as this was a large known corporation, but I had a vision which no one knew about. I moved on to another small sized German company. My move was motivated by the fact that the company was highly unionised and I needed the exposure to work closely with the unions, NUMSA at the time. I was there for 1 year 7 months, and after that stint I got another offer with a medium sized company to look after one of the regions. During my 6 years with this company, I had been promoted 4 times and when I left, I was occupying a senior management position.
Fast forward to today, I have recently been offered a Directorship position and it has always been a vision of mine that when I’m 30 years I want to be in a directorship position. A dream I have now achieved.
I know and understand that most career women would like to know how to climb the corporate ladder, and I'd like to share how I did it:
A vision is a mental picture of the future. It is an idea of what the future can hold but has not yet happened. Vision guides us and it creates a desire to grow and improve. Vision is important because it shows us where we are headed, helps us to keep moving through obstacles, it provides focus and gives us a meaning and purpose to what we do. Remember Oprah Winfrey at the age of 22 was fired from her job as a television reporter because she was “unfit for TV” nevertheless she had a vision that no one else understood. I had a vision that when I was 30 I wanted to be in a directorship position, yes I did not achieve this at 30, but now in my early 30’s I have achieved it.
Having a vision does not mean that the road will be smooth sailing. In your journey you will experience roadblocks, hurdles and detours but what is imperative is that you know where you are heading, that’s fulfilment. It is important that you understand where you are going so that you can map out a plan on how you will get there. Very few things happen by chance, most are planned. I always advice that one keeps a vision board and continuously check if you’re on the right track. You vision will inform all the decisions that you can make in your career. Sometimes you will be offered positions/ promotional opportunities, but if those positions do not align with your vision, reject them.
2. Surround yourself with likeminded people
It is true that you are the company you keep. You need to surround yourself with people that are positive and motivate you to be great and do great. People that understand your vision. Not everyone will understand your vision and it is okay, the few that do, keep them close. Surround yourself with people that are driven so that you are able to share each other success stories, not people who will drain your energy. Networking is very important. Most good network provides support.
I have been lucky as I have met exceptional people in my career who later became friends. They are my support structure. There were those I had met but later had to drop, that is okay. When relationships no longer serve you and your interest, you may exit. By doing this you are creating space for new, fresh, vibrant energies from other people to enter your life. At work it is always important that you are professional at all times and you keep a very few colleagues close to you. In fact if all possible, I would advise against having friends at work. This can be destructive to your work and what you need to achieve. Give yourself time to know and understand your boss.
Build a solid work relationship with your boss. If possible, allow your boss to guide you into achieving your goals. In that way both you and the organisation are benefiting, you give your utmost best and you receive coaching in return.
3. Know your talent and skills
This is very important. Know what you are capable of and what you can do. Understand your talent and skills set and leverage on them. There’s power in knowing your talent and knowing what makes you unique. What you can offer that no one else can, is your competitive advantage. There a saying that goes “Everyone is talent; some leverage it better than others”, this is true. In a workplace there are different people, with different skills set and everyone is viewed as talented, I guess that’s why they were hired the first place. If you don’t have anything that differentiates you from the rest, it is now time to explore and discover it. I always say when I do the career sessions at work, it is important that in the workplace you act and behave like an entrepreneur. Act as if this is your business and that at the end of the financial year end you need to assess whether you have made a profit or a loss. Treat your work as if you are the CEO and you are steering it into a certain direction in order to achieve your goals. This way you will be different. That is my recipe and I’m always trying to stick with it.
4. Acknowledge your weaknesses
My personal weaknesses are procrastination and administration. I hate administration, but with each and every job come administration. It does not matter even if you are an executive, there will always be an element of administration with each and every job out there. The earlier you identify these areas of improvement (as they are called) the better it is for you to derive strategies on how to deal with them. When you have weaknesses, it’s a sign that you are doing something and that you need to improve on it. It’s actually a sign that you are moving. Remember most of the people at work are not your friends; sometimes they will be abrupt in informing you of your weaknesses. If you have identified them earlier, you will not feel like you are being criticised, instead you will appreciate them to better yourself.
5. Find a mentor
This will sound so cliché, but finding a mentor is the step in the right direction. Why not shorten the learning curve and find someone who has been there and done that and will guide you through challenges that you may come across. A mentor can connect you with some other influential people. Typical development areas, a mentor can help with their time, stress management, prioritising and communication skills to name but a few.
These are the typical benefits of getting yourself a mentor:
Climbing the corporate ladder is not only about promotions. It is also about acquiring a new skill through multi-skilling and working in a totally different department. Sometimes you are so great in your job that you are a specialist. That is okay, as not all of us are meant to be leaders. Leading people is a skill that is learned over time. Promotion into a leadership role is learned through experience, it does not happen overnight.
Remember, the only person that has a key to drive your career is yourself, no one else. Always be positive and persevere.
Directorship in your early 30s?! You definitely are goals *in cool kid speak*. To be serious though, love the article. Very practical tips, especially the part about setting a personal vision. It's very true; have an idea of the milestones you want to achieve and when you want to achieve them and work your *ss off to do so. It's very encouraging to see young ladies doing it. Thank you for the article Theo
Thank you Vuyi...personal vision is so important! If you don't know where you're going, I guess any road will take you there. I'm impressed by what I read in your profile...so much wealth! It's such an honour to be associated with young ladies like you.
This is definitely something i needed to read especially when it comes to having a vision, because im currently feeling stagnant but knowing where you want to go helps very much. Thank you Xx
The mentor bit so hard. Its not always easy identifying one that can help you align your vision correctly, who has time to be a mentor. All the sads
You'll be amazed how many people are willing to mentor...obviously depending on what you need mentoring for. In most cases we need mentoring without knowing why and for what?
This is so inspiring. Well done.
lol hahahahahahaha
Girl!!! Directorship in your 30s???
Jonga! I want to be like you when I grow up...
On a serious note though, I am truly inspired by your article, Theo. Thank you so much for sharing your personal journey with us.
I'm humbled. Thank you ladies...watch this space for more inspiring stories from ladies doing exceptional work.
Wooow! Firstly; I would like to thank you for sharing your story it has really enlightened me and assured me that I am indeed on the right path. You are a BOMB Young lady!!! Am very proud of you! A bomb that gives us no choice but to look into the positive and know that whatever one sets their mind at they can achieve it. I feel like I am meeting you for the first time... I thank God for blessing me with you in life you are one of the rare friends I truly look up to. Thanks Alime, in this case I will use the definition of planting; continue to plant seeds of progress in my life. Thank you and love you!
Hmmmmmm I am so blessed that I get this impartation on a personal basis each time we get together, you are one of a kind Theo, so inspirational , so wise and full of humanity you story inspires me all the time and you are a God's gift to woman empowerment....more blessings my darling.
Thank you Mpho...More inspiring stories from exceptional women across the board to come!! Keep glued to CHICA!
I'm currently stuck in a work environment I do not like. I have not as yet been in a position for the career I studied for. It's been 3 years now and still no luck on my dream job.
My chosen career is something I am very passionate about and love. The challenges of finding the perfect job almost made me doubt if it was the right choice. I do not want to settle and I know what I want. So thank you so much for this article, it has helped me look at my situation differently and gave me some hope. Look forward to reading more of your posts
Wow your track record is quite impressive Theo. Congratulations on all that you have achieved. You are so inspirational and are testament to the fact that a woman can truly have it all: Career, Family & Love. This article is great. I personally have not always gone the 'having a vision' route because I believe I am being led but goals are neccessary. I am about to make a jump in my career and will def keep referring to this article for tips & inspiration. Looking forward to reading more of these articles. You are a powerhouse!!
Thank you Nothando, I'm glad you were able to take something out of the article. To get to your story, I'm happy for the fact that your chosen career is something that you are passionate about and something that you love doing. That's a step in the right direction. However, I've also worked in work environments that I did not like but I believe that every environment is meant to teach you something, no matter how small it is. You need to channel your energies in what you do best, the rest will follow. Set yourself apart and leave the negative energies behind. Think positive, be positive and persevere.
Thank you my sweet Lerato...I'm so blessed to be working with such amazing women like yourself. Young, dedicated and positive I'm sure guaranteed to learn a lot from each of my team. Team CHICA! YEY!
Oh my Gosh I am soo inspired by your article.I soo needed to read something positive today.
Congratulations Theo,I am so inspired and happy for you.you always had a vision and discipline since your high school days,at one stage you were doing modeling,playing sport and you were strong on academics.Keep up the Good Work and Thank you for representing PE.
@Zee...welcome! let's engage, motivate and inspire each other. It's a long road, however I believe that as women we can do it.
@Vuyosi...you humble me everyday, we have always supported each other. it is because of people like you in my life that make it all worthwhile.
Ladies, keep glued and connect with us, there's more inspiring stories from exceptional women that we are going to feature.
Much LOVE!
THANK YOU so much for these tips. I am encouraged. I have an 18 month for my career and personal goals. I ask myself two questions: 1. How can I improve internally ( attend continuous career advancement course, register for a course in drafting as I'm struggling with that, attend church, connect with like minded people) 2. How can I improve externally (to meet & exceed targets, give myself 24 hours to attend to matters on my desk, to make meaningful connections, to play the corporate game in ways that benefit me,etc).
Over all I love your drive and focus. It inspires me forward. Well done
Hi Naki...I'm so glad that you feel inspired about this article. As women we need to push boundaries and I think because there's a lot that is expected of us from society, but mainly we need to do it for ourselves. You are definitely on the right track when it comes to your career and personal goals and I like that you are taking charge of your career. Please continue to engage with us and let us know how it goes and what you are challenged with. All the best.
Loved the article. I want to know, I work in a male dominated field (Engineering) and it is so difficult to compete in this situation because of the aggressive personality that males have whenever they pursue things. How does one maintain their femininity but still pursue all their goals in the workplace. On the other hand, I also would like to start a family one day, but if I do that, I'm afraid my career will take a huge blow. There are only 2 females in my office and we are each other's support structure, so it's hard not to be friends. We are both in our late twenties and it feels like everyday is a fight, and the idea of starting families has taken a serious back seat. I try not to think about this as it is a very sensitive subject to both of us.
Hi Jamaicanblaq...thank you for sharing your story with us. I can imagine how challenging it is to work in a male dominated environment. But I believe with each environment, you've got to put your best foot forward and push. It may not easier, but if you are great in what you do, someone in your workplace will recognise you. Trust me, you don't have to be aggressive, it never solves anything. You can have your voice heard without being aggressive. You just need to be assertive and be knowledgeable in your profession. Once they see that you are knowledgeable, they will trust you. You don't need to compete, your work will speak for itself. You need to remain yourself all the time. On the starting a family journey. I had my first child mid 20's. I had just started my career, but that did not stop me...I think when my elder son was around 2 years, I registered, studies and graduated in record time. Even when I was pregnant with my 2nd child, I was studying...I can still remember how big I was during graduation. So it's possible, as long as you have the right support structure at home. It's okay to have friends at work, but let them not destruct you on your everyday deliverables. All the best with your career and starting a family in future. Please do let us know how it goes. We are here to share experiences.
Wow.... This is what our country needs right now, we the youth of this lovely nation tend to shift focus on what is really important and focus more on what is not.
I wish to express my gratitude to you for sharing knowledge, and expertise. Your obvious enthusiasm has inspired me..
Thank you Norma...it's women like you that makes it worthwhile.
Wow! I had to share this with my colleagues. I cannot unpack in details how much this has encouraged me to get up and action on my vision. You have always been this determined & focused. Thank you so much for this enriching article. You are a blessing to SOUTH AFRICA!!
Thank you Nomawethu. please share with your colleagues and let's chat and fun in this platform.
My goodness Theo #Wooouuwww this is what us as young woman need to hear. This is sooooo you, I am very inspired by your hardworking spirit. I personally can say all of these steps have worked and still working for me even today, I've learned them from you and ke uyaziphila wena. You've always been determined and ambitious, lol you make one to want to see things happening. And you speak life to people's lives like they have no other choice but to be successful. I love and respect Woman of God, Thank you for always sharing your secrets in your career path, and your successes. Keep up the good work and stay blessed.
Thank you VMash...I could not have done it without the support of other women such as you.
Wow Theo, its so true that you are the company you keep, hence I'm keeping you closer. Your article is so inspiring , such enriching articles we need to read them more often. I took tips/notes on your article(*hides) , I'm conducting a career guidance for high school kids on Sunday.
Thank you for connecting with us Urah. Good luck for Sunday.