Wellness in the Workplace

I recently sat down with newly published author and returning guest to the podcast, Dr Ngao Motsei to talk about her latest offering, her book, “Building Psychologically Safe Spaces: Safeguarding Your Workplace Against Bullying”. In our conversation, Dr Ngao Motsei and I delved into the different ways that bullying manifests in the workplace and covered the following aspects of workplace bullying: - Understanding what constitutes workplace bullying in the South African context; - Understanding the different tactics that workplace bullies use on their targets and the different types of workplace bullies; - Understanding the key role players in workplace bullying; - Understanding how individuals and organisations work to bully-proof themselves. And so much more.

On this episode of #MyCareerStory, I sat down with development economist and career coach, Sibahle Magadla to talk to her about how she has built a sustainable career as a development economist. Sibahle's career has been filled with many teachable moments, one of them involved her learning about the realities of the corporate world the hard way. After adjusting to a life in corporate, she worked with a career coach to discover her true north and align her profession, passion and purpose to do meaningful work Her academic background and international exposure makes her a force to be reckoned with as a development economist on the African continent. Sibahle is also a career coach who helps her clients take concrete steps to propel their careers forward. You can follow her on Instagram @sibasselah and on LinkedIn - Sibahle Magadla. You can also send her an email on abismagadla@gmail.com to schedule a complimentary consultation for her career coaching services.

And we're back! Season 3 of the podcast continues with our latest series #MyCareerStory. On the first episode of the new season, I sat down with newly published author Fulufhelani Mashaba to talk about her personal finance journey and her new title "Mind Your Cents: A Practical Guide to Financial Wellness". Growing up as an A-student and later a record-setting matriculant in the Limpopo in 2015, Fulufhelani shares how this identity was challenged when she was pursuing her studies in Actuarial Sciences at the University of Cape Town and as she later transitioned into the world of work. She highlights the importance of having a strong support system, citing her family, friends and mentors as key contributors to her academic success. Her book dotes lessons from her own personal finance journey and shares her passion for financial wellness and education. Fulufhelani is an actuarial specialist, personal finance content creator and a One Young World ambassador.

As we close out season 2 of #MyCareerStory, I sat down with award-winning Clinical Psychologist and Founder of Journal Cue, a platform dedicated to providing mental health tools for everyday wellness. On this episode, Asanda talks about her career journey as a practising clinical psychologist and how this psychology has been both a calling and a vocation for her. She also shares how journaling is a helpful tool to develop a healthy relationship with your emotions and promote overall wellness in different areas of your life. Asanda won the 2021 Nedbank YouthX Award and 2022 BFH Titanium Award for her contribution to the mental healthcare profession.

On this week's episode of #MyCareerStory, I sat down with seasoned corporate affairs leader and sustainable development practitioner, Mandisa Mathobela. Mandisa holds a Masters degree in International Trade and Investment Policy and is passionate about socio-economic transformation, realizing the SDGs and the critical role of public-private partnerships. On this episode, Mandisa talks about how she has transitioned from financial services in private sector and into the NPO space, working as a Partnerships Manager for Unicef. She speaks about her diverse career background and how her passion for sustainable impact has led to the various pivots in her journey.

On this week's episode of My Career Story, I sat down with Fellow of the Actuarial Society of South Africa (FASSA) and a Chartered Enterprise Risk Actuary (CERA), Kelefilwe Kungwane. Kelefilwe has nearly a decade of life insurance experience in the financial services industry and has been recognised for exceptional performance and strong technical & interpersonal skills throughout her career. On this episode, Kelefilwe speaks about how she has navigated a career in a white-male dominated industry as a young black woman in actuarial sciences. We talk about the fallacy of imposter syndrome, breaking barriers and making a difference for those that come after us.

On this week's episode of My Career Story, I sat down with admitted attorney and founder of Sister in Law, Tebello Motshwane. Tebello founded Sister in Law with the aim to empower black women by providing access to the law through legal education. On this episode, she shares her career story and how she pivoted into the world of entrepreneurship following a brief period in corporate legal space. Tebello uses her voice through her online presence and is invested in mentoring female law students to create an environment for them to learn, network and have access to professional and self-development opportunities.

Introducing 'My Career Story" I’m excited share a brand new series on the podcast called ‘My Career Story’. Over the next few episodes, I’ll be profiling women from different walks of life and they will be sharing their career journeys - from where they started, to some of the challenges they have had to overcome and how they got to where they are today. We’ll be hearing some key lessons on managing imposter syndrome, finding your own voice, climbing corporate ladder, building strong networks and professional relationships all while staying true to yourself.Our first guest is Onkgopotse Khumalo and she is the Founder of The Pocket Couch - a platform dedicated to making mental healthcare more accessible and affordable for all. Onkgopotse has a management consulting background and worked in the financial services industry before venturing into social entrepreneurship. She is a mother, a social entrepreneur and what she calls “a chronic problem solver” who seeks to use technology to democratise mental healthcare.

I have to admit that I was quite intimidated when She Speaks SA approached me to speak on “How to get to the top” for their women in the workplace webinar series. My initial thoughts were that I am not near where I would imagine the top to be so how I could I possibly have insight on what this is. Surely, one can only speak about the top once they have “made it” and have the title, position and track record to back it up. Amid all the questioning, this reflection prompted me to think deeply about what this concept of “the top” means and if conventional ideas of this elusive place resonate with me. Listen to my talk with Talitha van Wyk from She Speaks SA as we talk about our experiences as women in the workplace.

The ending of every employee journey in an organisation looks different. Some exits are voluntary, and others are unfortunately involuntary. On the final episode of our series, we discuss what it means to leave on a good note - whether it is through resignations, dismissals, retrenchments, and end of contracts. Our 5-part series has delved into different HR-related topics to help new and experienced professionals take charge of their careers. These topics cover the employee lifecycle from recruitment to termination. Boniwe Dunster is an HR Specialist, Facilitator, Coach and Founder of Blue Eagle Human Capital.

The conversation of promotions and career advancement is important particularly where one prioritises career progression and has aspirations to climb the corporate ladder. Because let's face it - not everyone wants to be an entrepreneur. On the fourth episode of our series, we talk about how you can prepare yourself to land a promotion and advance your career. This episode highlights the importance of career planning and how it is an importance exercise if you plan to climb up the ranks of corporate. This 5-part series delves into different HR-related topics to help new and experienced professionals take charge of their careers. These topics cover the employee lifecycle from recruitment to termination. Boniwe Dunster is an HR Specialist, Facilitator, Coach and Founder of Blue Eagle Human Capital.

Let’s talk about money! On the third episode of our series titled "The HR Perspective with Boniwe Dunster", we talk about salary negotiations, salary increases and how to have that difficult money conversation with your employer. This 5-part series delves into different HR-related topics to help new and experienced professionals take charge of their careers. These topics cover the employee lifecycle from recruitment to termination. Boniwe Dunster is an HR Specialist, Facilitator, Coach and Founder of Blue Eagle Human Capital.

Employee contracts establish a working relationship between you and your employer, so it is imperative for you to know what you're signing up for. On the second episode of "The HR Perspective with Boniwe Dunster", we discuss the do’s and don’ts of signing an employee contract. We talk about some of the key things to consider before signing an employment contract to ensure that you are protected and that you get the best out of your exchange of services with your employer. This 5-part series delves into different HR-related topics to help new and experienced professionals take charge of their careers. These topics cover the employee lifecycle from recruitment to termination. Boniwe Dunster is an HR Specialist, Facilitator, Coach and Founder of Blue Eagle Human Capital.

Welcome to Season 2 of Wellness in the Workplace! We kick off the second season of the podcast with a series called "The HR Perspective with Boniwe Dunster." This 5-part series delves into different HR-related topics to help new and experienced professionals take charge of their careers. These topics cover the employee lifecycle from recruitment to termination and on this episode, we talk about how to job search the right way. We talk about CV writing, the relevance of cover letters, how to stand out in your job search and what exactly recruiters & hiring managers actually look for when interviewing potential candidates. Boniwe Dunster is an HR Specialist, Facilitator, Coach and Founder of Blue Eagle Human Capital.

I decided to conclude the first season of Wellness in the Workplace with a Q&A where I asked followers on IG to submit some career and workplace related questions. Join me as I respond to these questions in a detailed Q&A session.

On this episode of the podcast, we chat about managing your personal finances as a young professional. Financial wellness is a key aspect of one’s overall wellness in the workplace and on this episode we discuss key elements of personal finances and creating a healthy relationship with money with Manoka Mathye CA(SA). Manoka is a qualified chartered accountant, career & business coach, corporate speaker and the founder & of Your Corporate Hustle, a community for professionals to learn about how to navigate their careers more effectively and productively.

On this episode, I sat down with Dr. Samke J. Ngcobo, founder of Vocal Mentality and Sisters For Mental Health to talk about her journey with mental illness and how she has navigated the workplace with Bipolar Disorder. Dr. Samke is a medical doctor, author, keynote speaker and she has been living with Bipolar Disorder Type 1 since the tender age of 14years old. She is passionate about mental health advocacy and about the development of an empathetic and compassionate understanding about the lives of those who struggle with their mental health.

In this episode of Wellness In The Workplace, I sat down with Dr. Ngao Motsei to talk about her extensive work as a workplace bullying practitioner and how intentional leadership is at the centre of re-humanising the workplace. Dr Ngao Motsei is a scholar, coach, and thought leader. She is passionate about creating healthy, respectful, and bully-free environments as well as positive workplace cultures. She serves on the board of the International Association on Workplace Bullying and Harassment (IAWBH), a global membership organization of academics, researchers and practitioners in workplace bullying and harassment.

We’re wrapping up Women’s Month with a new episode featuring our guest Angela Qithi. Angela is a Technologist, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) leader at a global technology company. On this episode, we talk about intergenerational dynamics in the workplace and unpack the concept of ageism, which she considers to be an integral part of dismantling generational stereotypes that are present in multigenerational environments.

On this episode, I sat down with Public Policy & Development Advisor, Mbali Motsoeneng to chat about the importance of building authentic networking skills to advance in your career. Mbali shares how building a solid network of connections has helped her traverse various roles in different industries throughout her expansive career. She considers networking to be a strategic tool for both personal and professional development and believes that one can strike a balance between building authentic connections and deriving value from those connections for your advancement. Mbali is a public policy and development professional, with work experience in government, private sector, and international development organisations. Her areas of work have spanned from public financial management in Africa, public healthcare advisory in municipalities and globally, digital literacy, climate resilience in Africa and establishing public-private partnerships for public good. She holds a Master of Management from the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. Currently she is abroad pursuing a Master of Public Policy at Hertie School of Governance in Berlin, and a semester exchange in the Master of Transnational Governance in Florence.