In this episode, I sit down with Rorisang Mabogoane, a dynamic young professional who made the bold leap from strategy consulting into a managerial role in banking — all before turning 25. But her journey wasn’t without obstacles. From navigating ageism in corporate spaces to battling health challenges like COVID-19 and scoliosis, Rorisang’s story is one of unwavering resilience, faith, and purpose.
She opens up about:
- Breaking barriers as a young manager in a high-stakes industry
- The toll that chronic illness and recovery took on her personal and professional life
- The role that her faith in God played in holding everything together
For more on Rorisang's journey, follow her on her socials:
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/rorimabogoane?igsh=eXN6MjVtd3JqMG42
TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@rorimabogoane?_t=ZM-8wyP3pYVaEA&_r=1
Youtube:
https://youtube.com/@rorimabogoane?si=s_bozSHqU-x61Qxg
Press play and be inspired by a story where grace meets ambition and where setbacks make way for breakthroughs.
In South Africa, 60% of youth are currently unemployed (as of April 2025, the recording of this episode).
In this deeply personal episode, I sit down with Isabella Makhura, a bright young lawyer and social media voice of encouragement, who opens up about the silent battles so many face behind closed doors. Isabella shares her journey of navigating unemployment after completing her law degree and articles, and how this season tested more than just her patience — it tested her identity, her faith, and her emotional strength. She reminds us that being unemployed does not mean being unworthy.
Together, we unpack:
This isn’t just a story about jobs. It’s about faith in the waiting, and the courage it takes to keep showing up when life doesn’t go according to plan.
For more on Isabella's story, follow her on her socials:
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabella-makhura-437048160?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/isabellamakhura?igsh=MXZ3YXQyNmhpN3htbA==
Tiktok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@isabellamakhura?_t=ZM-8wNuGW4n91T&_r=1
In the mid-season finale episode of the podcast, I had Emmanuel KS Bope on. Emmanuel is currently a third-year Wits Medical Student and the business owner of Q Fitness. He was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa within a Congolese household, which is why his home language is French. However, he is proud of both his origins and is looking forward to making an impact in most African countries someday.
In our conversation, we spoke about Emmanuel's experience with starting two businesses while studying, his SIX-YEAR journey of getting into medicine, his experience with failure and how he dealt with that, how his family reacted to his failure and so much more!
For more on Emmanuel's story please check him out on:
1. Instagram and Twitter: @emman_bope
2. LinkedIn and Facebook: Emmanuel KS Bope
If you enjoyed this episode please let us know by sharing it on Instagram and tagging @thebreakthroughprojects!
Like this show? Please follow us on Instagram for more great content: @thebreakthroughprojects. https://www.instagram.com/thebreakthroughprojects/
If you want to send in any podcast topic requests please send them to queries.breakthrough@gmail.com.
Thanks for listening. And always remember, even if you feel the fear, do it anyways!
In this episode, I had Aphane Kgalalelo Holiness, aka Holiness Sma on. Holiness was born on the 31st of May 2001 in the Limpopo province. She is a first born in a family of five children. She's a young South African poet, a Spoken - Word Artist, a YouTuber, and is currently pursuing her 3rd-year Bachelors of Sciences degree in Agricultural Economics at the University of Limpopo
In our conversation, we spoke about Holiness' experience with failing a module in 1st year. We spoke about the struggles she faced leading up to and after she failed, how the failure impacted her life, the changes made to overcome and eventually conquer the module, and so much more.
For more on Holiness' story please check her out on:
1. Instagram:
@holiness_sma
https://instagram.com/holiness_sma?utm_medium=copy_link
2. Youtube:
Holiness Sma
https://youtube.com/channel/UCF8VoEV3BV9rng1Jy_9loVg
If you enjoyed this episode please let us know by sharing it on Instagram and tagging @thebreakthroughprojects!
Like this show? Please follow us on Instagram for more great content: @thebreakthroughprojects
https://www.instagram.com/thebreakthroughprojects/
If you want to send in any podcast topic requests please send them to queries.breakthrough@gmail.com.
Thanks for listening. And always remember, even if you feel the fear, do it anyways!
In this episode, I had Goitumetswe Pitswane on. Goitumetswe, aka Tumi, is a BCom Honours Finance and Investments Graduate from Wits who is currently working as a Real Estate Banker. She has a passion for youth development as she shines her light on employment strategies by creating content on her youtube channel. She sees herself as a go-getter and aims to inspire as many people as she can just by shining her light onto the world.
Our conversation was filled with incredible gems and insights stemming from her life at varsity. From her own experience with failing a module in first year, to gaining support from friends and family to help her get through that shock, to finding her feet again and conquering that module and subsequently attaining her degree, and so much more!
For more on Tumi's story please check her out on:
1. Youtube - Tumi Pitswane
2. Instagram - @tumipitswane
3. Twitter - @tumipitswane
4. Tiktok - @tumipitswane
If you enjoy this episode please let us know by sharing it on Instagram and tagging @thebreakthroughprojects!
Hope you love it! And always remember, even if you feel the fear, do it anyway!
In this episode, I had Precious Molepo on. Born and bred in Paulshof Johannesburg, Precious had no idea that she wanted to go the accounting route, as she was torn between following her creative side and following her academic goals. However, being raised by a single hardworking mother, she made it one of her primary goals to work on achieving a degree and postgraduate qualification, in order to embark on a stable career path and independently find financial freedom. So, Precious went on to study her Bcom Accounting degree at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) and thereafter bridged into her postgraduate year. She is currently studying her CTA, which is where she faced her biggest challenge: failure and more failure.
In our conversation, we spoke about her struggles with BCTA (bridging course for a certificate on the theory of accounting), and eventually failing her CTA (compulsory post-grad qualification on the path towards becoming a chartered accountant, or CA(SA)). We also talked about how she dealt with her failure, and how she is coping now in her 2nd attempt at CTA.
For more on Precious' story please check her out on:
1. Youtube:
Presh
https://youtube.com/channel/UC-acFwbQhcYg8G69bhOHo0g
2. Instagram:
@preciousmolepo
https://instagram.com/preshmolepo?utm_medium=copy_link
If you enjoy this episode please let us know by sharing it on Instagram and tagging @thebreakthroughprojects!
Hope you love it! And always remember, even if you feel the fear, do it anyways!
In this episode, I had Ntwanano Shitholani on. Born and bred in Shigalo village in Limpopo, Ntwanano went on to study her Mechanical Engineering degree at the University of Cape Town. She failed 3 modules and because of that, it took her six years to finish the four-year degree. But the most important thing is that she finished! And now she is currently working as a Mechanical Engineer.
Our conversation, which was a surprisingly lighthearted, laugh-at-our-pain kind of episode, took on a life of its own as we discussed the elements that led to her failures, how that impacted her life, what she learned from her failures, and how they paved the way for who she is today, and so much more!
For more on Ntwanano's story please check her out on:
1. Youtube:
Ntwanano Shitholani
https://youtube.com/c/NtwananoShitholani
2. Instagram:
@BLACKGIRLTRAVEL
https://instagram.com/ntwananoshitholani?utm_medium=copy_link
If you enjoy this episode please let us know by sharing it on Instagram and tagging @thebreakthroughprojects!
Hope you love it! And always remember, even if you feel the fear, do it anyways!
In this episode, I had Jubilee Mukosi on. Jubilee is a former University of Cape Town Accounting student and current Digital Marketing student.
Jubilee is a fun-loving, 20-something-year-old who completed Accounting in 2019, and although she tried to convince herself for years that it would end in CA(SA), she switched it up and is now studying Digital Marketing and running a Social Media Marketing agency called ndijubileemedia! Jubilee is also a natural hair enthusiast and most importantly, she’s a lover of God and His people!
In our session we spoke about her experience with failure, which came from passing all her major modules, only to unfortunately and unexpectedly fail a minor module. We also speak about how she dealt with her failure, how she supported her friends during graduation when she would've graduated, and how she eventually had her time to shine, and so much more!
For more on Jubilee's story please check her out on:
1. Youtube:
Naturally Woke
https://youtube.com/c/NaturallyWoke
2. Instagram:
@ndijubilee
https://instagram.com/ndijubilee?utm_medium=copy_link
3. Check out her side hustle!
@ndijubileemedia
https://instagram.com/ndijubileemedia?utm_medium=copy_link
Please enjoy this episode. And do let us know how this episode resonated with you by sharing it on Instagram and tagging @thebreakthroughprojects.
And no matter what, always remember: Even if you feel the fear, do it anyway!
In this episode, I had Nothando Moloi on. Nothando Moloi is an independent consultant who studied at the University of Witwatersrand pursuing her Bsc in Construction Studies and thereafter, her Honours in Quantity Surveying. Nothando has to date worked on several big projects both Nationally and Internationally and has had the privilege of being a Site Based Quantity Surveyor and a Consultant Quantity Surveyor.
In our session, Nothando takes us back to her varsity days. She shares her story of failing 1st year and the impact that had on her life. She also shares how she dealt with her failure and why her repeat year became one of the best years of her varsity life. And so much more!
If you want to follow more of Nothando's story please check her out on:
1. Youtube:
@Nothando Moloi
https://youtube.com/c/NothandoMoloi
2. Instagram:
@Nothandomoloi
https://instagram.com/nothandomoloi?utm_medium=copy_link
3. Check out her side hustle on Instagram:
@Decades_apart_plants
https://instagram.com/decades_apart_plants?utm_medium=copy_link
If you enjoyed this episode please let us know by sharing it on Instagram and tagging @thebreakthroughprojects!
Like this show? Please follow us on Instagram for more great content:
https://www.instagram.com/thebreakthroughprojects/
If you want to send in any podcast topic requests please send them to queries.breakthrough@gmail.com.
Thanks for listening. And always remember, even if you feel the fear, do it anyway!
This is it. The final episode of season 1. And in the spirit of November being thanksgiving, I decided to unpack what being thankful and showing gratitude is to me, and how being grateful helped me to develop a perspective shift during the year 2020. Seeing as though the end of the academic year is near, I also discuss the next chapter, and how important it is to be open to what the universe has in store for you, all while learning to remain patient and trusting during this time. I also reflect on past episodes and past guests who have trusted me with their stories on this incredible journey filled with breakthroughs upon breakthroughs. Finally, I express my appreciation to YOU - the listeners - who have supported me episode in and episode out. I am so grateful to each and every one of you. And I hope we will continue this journey together again in season 2, coming in February. I hope that you enjoy this episode! Please follow "the breakthrough projects" on Instagram for more great content. And remember, even when you feel the fear, do it anyways!!!!
In this episode I had the pleasure of having Mpho Segoe on, where we discussed 2 sides of varsity – being a student, and then being a lecturer. We also go into detail about other adventures that await after varsity. Mpho is a Chartered Accountant and Tax Practitioner, and she holds a Masters degree in Accounting Sciences. She is a fitness bunny, and enjoys anything that involves fitness. She also loves travelling and has visited over 20 countries! And if you think the surnames sound familiar, you're not mistaken, because Mpho also happens to be my cousin :D!! In our conversation we spoke about the struggle points that impacted her during her studies, what kept her motivated during overwhelming times in varsity, and how important it is to have a strong support system during and after university. Mpho then goes on to share her life after varsity, which includes many travels to 5 continents so far, how she overcame fears of travelling and even living in foreign countries, and so much more! I hope you enjoy every part of this episode. Please do follow “the breakthrough projects” on Instagram. And remember: Even when you feel the fear, do it anyways!
In this episode I had the pleasure of having Bongani Dlamini, and Mbali Mkhithi on, where we discussed the journey of overcoming, and not letting your fears or imposter syndrome stop you from doing what you are passionate about. Bongani is from Soweto, and is a BA Politics and International Relations student from the University of Johannesburg, a UNICEF Africa's Generation Unlimited Youth Reporter, and the Co - Founder of The Council SA - an NGO aimed at mentoring high school students through the art of debate. Mbali, also from Soweto, is an LLB student from the University of Pretoria. She was head girl at Princess High School and president of the debating team. And she is a former news editor of UP's newspaper Perdeby, now known as PDBY. She is also the Co-Founder of The Council SA, along with Bongani. Our conversation was packed full of insights and incredible gems centering around the things they wish they had known before starting varsity, how they juggle their extra curricular activities, with mentions to their journey with The Council SA, the failures that they overcame and used to their benefit, and so much more. For more on Bongani's journey you can follow him on Instagram at d_bongani07, on Twitter at d_bongani36, and on Facebook and LinkedIn as Bongani Dlamini. And you can even catch him on his YouTube channel Bongani's Story. And for more on Mbali's journey you can follow her on Instagram at lenhle_mkhithi. You can also follow their NGO The Council SA on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter at thecouncilsa. Hope you enjoy this episode! Please follow 'the breakthrough projects' on Instagram for more great content. And remember, even when you feel the fear, do it anyways!