Page 7 - MC14326 all pages
P. 7
KPMG Alumni | 5
I have decided to focus
my energy on education
because of its ripple effect
“This is probably my 100th and sustainability she wants
cup of coffee today.” She is to leave for
exaggerating, of course. But it is in eradicating
not difficult to conclude that she the next
has had a tough day, but thanks poverty. meeting.
to the coffee, she is still pressing Instead, her
on. As cliché as it may sound,
Andronicca Masemola is a hard eyes tell a
working Head of Internal Audit at
Barloworld Limited. While she was accountants and others are taking different
working for KPMG as Director, part in the same programme to story: she has so much to share
and Leader of the Public Sector continue driving positive change. It that she wishes we were only five
Practice, her former colleagues still is such achievements and strides minutes into the interview. But
sing praises of her commitment that motivate her: seeing her that’s not the case. Guided by that
to both growing the Public actions and work translated into a gesture, we proceed to the last
Sector Practice and providing positive impact on ordinary people. question: the biggest challenge for
solutions to the government in the generation behind her.
order to improve governance and
performance efficiency. While her mother’s courage “When I look at the shocking
and hard work has been her first statistics of the disengaged youth
Born and bred in Bela Bela, a small inspiration, Masemola is also who are unemployed and not
town in the Limpopo Province, inspired by people who are actively highly educated, I have no doubt
Masemola believes in the proverb working to make South Africa a that income equality and poverty
that says ‘it takes the whole village better place through championing will be a bigger issue for the next
to raise a child.’ She is convinced economic, social and environmental generation. To avoid that, it should
that she turned-out to be the challenges – not only for their be every leader’s imperative to
person she is today because of benefit, but for others as well. “For influence our organisations to
the role her family and community me,” she says, “that’s the kind actively tackle these challenges
played in her life. of leadership needed to bring a head-on,” she says.
positive change. In her leadership
“It is my turn to give back. I have journey she is guided by the notion In her concluding remarks she says
decided to focus my energy that leadership is not about power that since people spend most of
on education because of its and authority but is about serving their time at work, it is essential to
ripple effect and sustainability in and transforming others.” find meaning in what they do.
eradicating poverty,” she says.
Annually, Masemola goes out in Particularly significant to Masemola She rises, sips whatever is left of
search of students who deserve as well is the balance between her coffee and says: “I’ve come to
to further their studies at a tertiary work and life priorities. “In a male- realise that success does not come
level, but are unable to do so due to dominated world, we (women) by chance. It is through a concerted
lack of funding. She either provides have to work extra hard to prove effort to make a positive chance
funding herself or present their ourselves that we can do the same that you are successful. So, set
cases to bigger corporates who are job, and then go home to take care goals, work hard and continuously
able to assist on a more sustainable of our families. There are times reflect on the positive impact you
basis. The results are evident when things don’t go as planned, are making.”
because some of these students but I just pick-up the pieces and try
are now qualified chartered harder next time.” She says her goodbyes and leaves.
All along, the boardroom door has
While the conversation is flowing, been open. Whoever walked by
Masemola looks at her watch. But undoubtedly got a glimpse of the rise
the way she does not indicate that and rise of Andronicca Masemola…
