Young Difference Makers S03 Ep 03 Empowering Communities: Senzo Ndlangamandla's Advocacy for a Better Future

What if you held the key to transforming your community, one person at a time? Join us as we hear from Senzo Ndlangamandla, the inspiring head of the Department of Accounting Sciences at Walter Sisulu University. Senzo's journey from a hopeful auditor to an award-winning chartered accountant is a testament to the power of mentorship and quality education. He credits his high school teacher for setting him on a path that balances professional excellence with community service. Senzo's commitment shines through his work with students from disadvantaged backgrounds in rural South Africa, empowering them to become future stars in the accounting profession. Recognised as SAICA's Top 35 Under 35, Senzo is not just an educator but a beacon of hope and change.

We dive into the profound impact of personal responsibility in community change. Senzo shares his belief that no matter our job or status, we all have the power to create positive ripples in the lives of others. He inspires young professionals to take actionable steps, emphasising that focusing on uplifting one individual can lead to monumental change over time. As the accounting landscape evolves, Senzo envisions a future where Chartered Accountants are versatile, collaborative, and technologically savvy. This conversation is filled with motivation and practical insights, offering a blueprint for those eager to contribute to a more equitable world.

Chapters

• 0:00 Transforming Communities Through Education and Collaboration
• 7:46 Personal Responsibility for Community Change

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

We all have a part to play in transforming the world and make it really a better place to live in, one step at a time, obviously, hi, my name is Senzo Ndlangamandla. I'm currently a senior lecturer and head of Department of Accounting Sciences at Walter C Sulu University in South Africa. My journey to becoming a child accountant actually started in an unplanned way, in the sense that I actually wanted to be an auditor, but my high school teacher advised me that in South Africa, of course back at the time, for one to become an auditor, they needed to be a trade accountant. So then that's how I then pursued the trade accountant's career, which then enabled me to then become an auditor. But of course, I mean, I've seen that there's so much value in actually just becoming a trade accountant, regardless of what else you can then do outside of that profession. So how I'm currently making a difference in my community and profession. So, number one, I am in the community. I currently lecture at a university that's in a rural community, and for me, sacrificing a good life in big cities and actually be in that rural space, I take that as community work, so we are able to, you know, have students coming from really disadvantaged communities coming into the university and we are able to transform them and see them become child accountants as well. So yeah, for me that's my big community work that I believe I'm doing outside of other small activities that I also participate in and in the profession. I do participate in the marking of one of the professional examinations that candidates get to write post-university and in other activities within the professional body, psych-r.

Speaker 1: 2:42

I think I've always had a passion of imparting knowledge, which started from way back in high school. I remember you know there'll be days when one of the teachers perhaps is not at school and I would actually go in front and start teaching. You know that particular subject. But even when I was at university I was a tutor, I did mark for certain modules and I think that's when I realized that I actually have a passion for developing another human being. That's when then I decided, immediately after becoming a trial accountant, that I need to go back to that space where I can contribute to one's obtaining of education. So SAICA has various awards and one of them is Top 35 Under 35, where they recognize the top 35 trial accountants under the age of 35. So one colleague of mine nominated me into that and there's various stages in the process, where you submit a portfolio of evidence, there's adjudication by the judges, you, you get invited, you know, for a judging day where you make a presentation and, um, you know, there's that session and then there's a ceremony where they then announce the overall winner and I was, was fortunate enough, or even privileged and honored, to be then named, you know, the overall winner of that top 35, under 35 competition, and one of the prizes of being the overall winner is, you know, being able to come and attend this prestigious summit.

Speaker 1: 4:55

In terms of where I see myself in the next 10 years, near future, you know, I never just see myself outside of that, the space where I'm currently at, which is the university and that specific university. But whether or not, you know, I'll stay there forever, that's another question, you know. I guess you know time will tell, but as things stand, I remain very committed in that space. But I do also want to engage in other community projects, especially those that are looking at addressing inequality. I know we usually look at inequality from probably just the aspect of gender, but I am of the view that inequality is very broad and those are the aspects where I really just want to, you know, engage in and make my contribution in addressing that. I do think that if we fix things at a foundational level, regardless of your background, if you can get good quality education, I think that positions you well, you are able to compete equally with your peers, and if we can get that right, I do think that we will live in a better world.

Speaker 1: 6:33

I think some of the critical skills that future accountants require. Number one is being versatile and not want to do things the same way we've been doing things. So that's one, but number two, I think the ability to collaborate personally, that you know when you bring in other people in what you're doing, you know the impact is then far greater than wanting to. You know own that space where you you are participating. So I think the ability to collaborate with, with others, um, I think, yeah, those are the two skills that just come at the top of my head. Of course, technology, I mean we really need to embrace it. We need to really upskill ourselves, you know, and be aware of all the latest technologies and see how we can bring them in to enable us to be more effective and efficiently in what we do.

Speaker 1: 7:46

Creating a change in our communities is everyone's responsibility, regardless of who you are, the level at which you are, you know your profession. I think each one of us has a responsibility to make an impact on someone else's life, has a responsibility to make an impact on someone else's life. So my advice would really be for young professionals to really own to that responsibility. I mean it can be, you know, just identifying someone within your community that you can see that probably is struggling and see how you can support, you know that particular person. You know, because sometimes I know we want to. You know, do big things, but you can just start small, just one person at a time. I think you know over time then you know the impact would be far greater. We all have a part to play in transforming the world and make it really a better place to live in, one step at a time, obviously.