A WOMAN CRUSH WEDNESDAY...... MEET MIKATEKO MTSETWENI A WOMAN - WIFE AND MOTHER - A CHARTED ACCOUNTANT.

To have been a young girl, a teenager and to blosoom into a seasoned woman.
To have had goals and to have fulfilled them is something to be celebrated.

Meet a beautiful woman, wife and mother from Malamulele.

Mikateko and her husband.

Read along as she shares parts of herself with us.

What keeps me glowing?

I choose to cherish the simple pleasures. I try to love with all my heart always and laugh all the time, at myself sometimes (you've met my husband, this is easy for me).

I also see myself as an eternal optimist, I believe and see the good in people and the world and that is what I celebrate, But I do realise that it is very tough to remain positive with all that is happening in the world today - injustice, abuse, crime, discrimination, violence, racism, you name it...these things evoke emotions that I don’t know how to deal with - sit,stand,be silent? Lash out and at who!?

In the midst of it all, I do believe in second chances, and continue to hope for a better day ahead. But simply - My entire family and friends are the reason I am able wake up and smile every day and remain grateful to God for yet another day.

Advice to young girls on following my chosen career path...

This profession has given me that "yes I can" feeling, that "black child it is possible” vigour, so what I would say to anybody wishing to pursue a career in accountancy and be a CHARTED ACCOUNTANT - yes you can! I believe many women (and men) before you have walked the same path and have seen the light at the end of the tunnel. It Is a great career choice, with plenty of opportunities.

Like most career paths, it will always require hard work, so you need to keep at it.

This career has meant financial freedom for me, it is challenging intellectually, I've enjoyed most of what I get to do!

It has truly opened doors and I still remain open to learning every day and I think that is the one thing that should remain true for any young professional, a desire to learn.

I must just add, "you can have it all, you just have to define what that means for you" I read this recently and it made sense to me in that a career is great but make time for all the other stuff you love, things that bring you joy.

Create the balance you desire for your life.

My passion.....
My mom has always made very little go a long way (I've always wondered how she does it, I still do), black women are BOSS like that! And thats the kind of woman I try to be, especially with my finances. People live beyond their means,flashy lifestyles (va khotha), get rich quick schemes and dodgy investment opportunities and people being taken advantage of due to lack of financial know-how or sometimes just pure desperation.

Finances are a personal matter, people don't like being told how to spend their hard earned cash.
But.... financial literacy plays a big role in how we break the cycle of poverty and we have a duty to caution and support one another to make smart decisions with our finances, we have to break the cycle...

I also love kids, in another life,  I run a day care centre for 2-5 year olds, we sing, dance in the rain on sunny days, sleep, play, get hurt,cry, wipe our tears and continue.

I get to experience this every now and again when I am at home (lots of kids in my street), little kids make my heart dance, I envy their innocence.

ABOVE IT ALL, My own kids!!!
They have become MY life,they came and rearranged everything, I didnt see it coming I tell you.

They have given me so much purpose in this life and most of what I do, I have them in mind and heart.

I always thought, I'd give birth and be done, get back to "my life" and pursue "my dreams"... little did I know, they would become my biggest dreams, my life! I do feel they are the greatest gift and I try my best to do right by them. I feel truly blessed to be able to watch them grow like this...It really is the little things that make life so BEAUTIFUL!!!

Thank you Homegirl for sharing your life with us - to follow her on IG - @mikatekomtsetweni