Interview with Mashokane Mahlo
Born and raised in Johannesburg is something special to Mashokane; she calls herself ‘the Mayor of the City’ as she is convinced that she must be the City of Gold’s most heartfelt ambassador! With an engaging clarity, Mashokane has set her sights very high – she aims to create and own an African media empire. With August being woman’s month, we got the privilege to interview her and get her to share a bit more about herself with us. Do enjoy.
YV: What did you want to be as a child?
MM: Weirdly enough, I wanted to be a spy for the government intelligence until my uncle told me that when you retire as a spy, the government sends another spy to assassinate you as you know too much.
YV: What interests you?
MM: I’m a creative person. I live vicariously through the arts: music, visual arts, poetry and travel. In addition, I love meeting new people that are from different backgrounds and cultures.
YV: Why study a commerce degree if you want to branch into media?
MM: My thought process was distinctive. I had a funny notion that the best cooks did not go to cooking school (Laughs). Therefore, I believed that being creative is something that I was born with and I did not want to learn how to think differently/creatively. The knowledge of business, economics, accounting and how to manage a sustainable business I was not born with. Hence, I pursued a degree in commerce. I knew that I always wanted to build the media platforms and not necessarily be the journalist, writer, director, copywriter etc. on the platform.
YV: Who do you look up to in the industry?
MM: I look up to any black woman that is leading in any industry and is in control of her own destiny. I look up to her even more, if she uses her leaderships positions to open doors for more woman. Woman like Wendy Luhabe, Khanyi Dhlomo, Phumzile-Mlambo Ngcuka and my mother, Sibongile Mahlo come to mind in this regard and there are many more women to name.
YV: What is the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation about?
MM: Allan Gray Orbis Foundation is a Foundation that identifies young individuals who they believe will become the continent’s high impact leaders in the years to come. It then places these individuals through an entrepreneurial and leadership programme where the young individuals can develop their entrepreneurial spirit and acumen as well as support. The Foundation does all this whilst providing a full scholarship towards the tertiary education of the selected young individuals. I have been tremendously blessed to have been selected to be a part of such a valuable community especially following the path that I have selected – the path less travelled. It is has been significant in shaping my course as a young black female aspiring entrepreneur.
YV: Who is your mentor?
MM: I am an interesting kid (laughs), I don’t just have one mentor but I have a number of mentors. My mentors include:
– Khanyi Dhlomo: MD of Ndalo Media and Editor of Destiny Magazine
– Tshepo Phakathi: CEO of Phakathi Holdings
– Pip Wheaton: CEO of Enke Non-profit organisation
– Sello Moloko: Group Chairman of Alexander Forbes
– Silas Zimu: Former MD of City Power, Current CEO of Suzlon
YV: What have you learned from your mentor and how do you plan on implementing that into your career?
MM: There is so much to learn from these great people. I have learnt many different things and aspects of business from my different mentors:
– Khanyi Dhlomo: Media and organizational structure
– Tshepo Phakathi: Importance of Business Model
– Pip Wheaton: Sustainability and Social Impact
– Sello Moloko: Taking giant steps and thinking bigger
– Silas Zimu: Research
YV: Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
MM: – I see myself in the next 5 years as a global leader in the world. Not only representing African young woman and but pan-African thought. I see myself partnering with African government and business leaders to shape intervention, policy, African media and the entrepreneurial landscape on the continent so that young people may be economically active
YV: What other organisations are you affiliated with?
MM: I am affiliated with Enke, GIBS SOY, AIESEC, Innovation Summit, UCT Black Management Forum and Golden Key International Honours Society
YV: What is a typical day like for you?
MM: The unique thing about being an entrepreneur is that I don’t have a typical day. Every day and every week is different to every other day and every other week. It’s a dynamic working lifestyle.
YV: What’s the best thing about you career, and what’s the worst?
MM: – The best: working in a creative space with creative minds – always exciting, fascinating to be able to design, create and produce innovative ideas
– The worst: trying to mitigate tight-knit media relationships to do business
YV: How do you balance school, work, and your other activities?
MM: We always hear about this balance, but is there ever a balance? Deep down, I don’t truly believe that there ever is. I have yet to get to a point where I can confidently say that I live a balanced life. I live a fruitful life, yes! I make it work. It’s easier to find time for work, family, relationship, God and friendships when you are committed to everything that makes you happy. Those elements of my life mean a lot to me and contribute to my livelihood and mental state. I am one to dedicate time, rather than make time.
YV: What can you contribute to the media industry that isn’t already there?
MM: The media industry in South Africa lacks youth empowering content. Two determinant questions arise when one thinks of youth empowerment, youth development and youth motivation:
– Are young people’s minds, thoughts, behaviours and aspirations shaped by the media?
– Or, is it that media merely exhibits the way that the youth of today think, behave and consequently, the leaders that they will eventually become?
This is a question of much tension and controversy. Regardless of which theory one may subscribe to, media is the number one tool to gain the attention of and transmit information to the youth of South Africa. And I see that there is a need to use this existing platform to change mindsets, facilitate learning and promote leadership, innovative, entrepreneurship and empowerment – especially to a population, the youth, that is affected the most by unemployment and HIV/Aids.
Young Entrepreneurs Media platform sees this gap and is going to fill it whilst promoting pan-Africanism i.e. putting an African face to African media.
YV: Considering all that you do, what do you do to relax?
MM: I am a social creature: friends, church and family help me relax and stay grounded. The odd social event makes for a good distressing tool once in every while. Lastly, I’m a film-lover so watching a really film movie is always a fantastic way that I use to escape the madness. I don’t have a favourite genre though, it must just be a good script, a great story-line and incredible actors to carry me through.
YV: What keeps you focused?
MM: The state of my country and continent keeps me focused. The poverty and seeing people discouraged by their socio-economic circumstance plus assessing the opportunities that I have received, truly makes believe that I have purpose and most importantly, the responsibility to use my advantage, skills, ideas and knowledge to change my country and continent for the better. In addition, the anxiety of not amounting to anything in life is motivation enough to keep pushing myself to fully realize my potential. I am here for a reason and when I get to heaven one day and God asks me where are my talents, I want to say that I used them all.
YV: Would you take the initiative to mentor others as you were mentored?
MM: Yes, I am an enthusiastic advocate for mentorship. I know not one successful person that did not have some form of mentorship. It may not be officially called mentorship, but all the great people that we celebrate have had someone impart some value in their journey, be it knowledge, wisdom, advice, resources, finances or networks. We all need someone to help us reach our next level and the place of opportunity.
Mbali Radebe
