"Living in America" with special guest Nomtha Makhosana

Shift and Pivot Podcast

This week's episode of the Shift and Pivot Podcast - Elliot and Erika interviews Nomtha Makhosana. Nomtha shares with us several critical life events that shaped the most instrumental shifts and pivots of her life, the secrets to her happy life, and most importantly, the unbeatable power of perseverance, which she holds on to even today.
Nomtha also opens up about her different experiences living and working in two continents, including facing racism, the many kinds and sides of corporate life, life in different American cities as a person of color, and her love for travel. In the end, Nomtha says, it all boils down to your priorities in life. Create for yourself a life you enjoy.

We have tons of laughs, moments of inspiration, and a lot of general life introspection in store for you on the episode -- have fun tuning in!

Timestamps:

[00:00] Intro

[02:14] Meet our guest, Nomtha Makhosana

[04:11] The prejudices faced when growing up as a person of color in Cape Town

[08:06] The experience living in a racist environment

[11:00] The path to accounting and finance

[13:30] Nomtha’s South African friends in Cape Town and the paths they took in life

[15:04] Pursuing Accounting from the University of Cape Town

[17:42] What Nomtha thinks she could have experienced in college that she did not when studying there?

[19:21] Joining a big 4 corporate consulting company in Johannesburg

[22:11] Working for a big 4 company straight out of college

[24:35] Slowing down amid the fast and tough corporate rat race and why quitting has never been an option for Nomtha

[26:56] Nomtha’s plans for her career moving forward

[28:19] Did Nomtha have a plan for her career starting out right after college?

[30:22]Preparing herself to start afresh in America

[33:08] Being open to opportunities and new possibilities

[39:27] Two years of living in Atlanta: traveling, exploring places, making the best out of opportunities

[41:48] The experience heading back to Cape Town after living in US and the differences in pursuing an Accounting career in US as compared to South Africa

[45:03] Going back home to Cape Town with no plans absolutely about her career and founding a consulting company there before landing a good job

[53:58] The perks of living in a city familiar to you and why Nomtha headed back to Cape Town, quitting her job in America

[54:58] Nomtha’s future career plans

[57:45] What Nomtha wants you to remember from this conversation

[59:48] Waiting is different from not giving up

[01:01:15] Nomtha’s place of refuge in Cape Town

[01:01:31] Nomtha’s guilty pleasure

[01:01:47] The one person Nomtha would have a conversation with if she could go back in time

[01:02:01] The conversation Nomtha would have with herself if she could go back in time

[01:02:16] The one thing Nomtha would do if she had the opportunity to have absolutely anything in the world

[01:03:08] Nomtha’s favorite food combo

Connect with Nomtha Makhosana

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nomtham/