How an infrastructure investor from South Africa learned to look after herself while giving back to the community
Tshegofatso Sekgwele, CFA, Mphil, knows what it’s like to grow up without easy access to basic infrastructure. Having experienced water shortages and power cuts as a child in rural South Africa, she wanted a career that combined her interests in investment management, sustainability and infrastructure development. Now an investment manager at AgDevCo, a social impact investor and project developer, Tshegofatso explains how she overcame the challenges of moving to a big city by focusing on her mental health. If she could, she would tell her younger self to be kinder to herself and focus on the things that really matter.
Growing up in a rural village near Pretoria, we didn't have a lot of access to a lot of things, like electricity and water at some point. There was always community and you always had someone to talk to about whatever situation you were dealing with.
I wanted to start being involved in infrastructure. I was looking for a role that would combine my love for the investment space and infrastructure, especially when it's sustainable. We didn't have a lot of access to infrastructure to make lives better. I wanted to do something that would give back.
Entering a world of work, coming from a rural area presented some challenges. When I was in a new job in a new city I needed to have a balance between what's happening at home and what's happening at work. I realized that I need to put mental health first. Going into therapy and having a psychologist really helped get to a place where I could set boundaries to prioritize meaningful relationships, especially in the workplace.
Growing up in a community that I grew up in I wanted to rise above. I wanted to achieve more than what I knew was possible. Prioritizing your self-care means that you're looking after yourself. Whatever you're going to do is going to be coming from your fullness.
The advice I'd give to my younger self is to be gentle and be kinder to myself. Think about what matters to you and what's important to you. Self-worth is determined by you.
A letter to my younger self
What advice do you wish you had heard before starting your career in finance? In this series of personal stories, CFA® Charterholders from different backgrounds discuss the insights they have gained during their career journey and the pivotal moments that shaped their professional paths. What would you write in a letter to your younger self?
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