As we navigate life, balancing work, relationships, and personal growth, there are often insights we wish we had known sooner. In honour of Youth Month, we’ve enlisted the help of Millennials to share some valuable advice with Gen Z. You’re invited to glean insights from those who have walked a similar path before you.
Welcome to a conversation bridging the generational gap and fostering mutual understanding and growth.
Entrepreneur and CEO of Drink Nil, Ayanda Mvandaba SA(CA)
People often ask me if I would change the decisions I’ve made throughout my life. While I hesitate to alter the past, there are fundamental principles I wish I’d embraced earlier. These truths would have transformed my experiences.
Embracing vulnerabilities
I vividly recall a meeting where I openly admitted a strategic misstep. This vulnerability, which in the past might have been seen as weakness, resonated with the team. It fostered trust and encouraged open communication. Brené Brown’s message struck a chord: “vulnerability is not weakness: It’s actually courage in action.” In the corporate world, there’s often an unspoken expectation that women leaders need to be tough and unemotional, however, I’ve come to realise that our unique strengths, including vulnerability and empathy, are valuable assets. When leaders create a safe space where vulnerabilities are not weaponised, it empowers everyone to be authentic and contribute their best selves. This fosters a more collaborative and ultimately, a more successful team.
Navigating financial shame
Many of us grow up in households where finances are a tightrope walk. Dinner table conversations about budgeting, saving, and investing are a privilege some never experience. Becoming a financial professional comes with the assumption you have all the answers as well as money, but the truth is, we all make mistakes. The pressure to appear perfect can be suffocating, especially when you’re in a power suit and heels, dreading the question of “weekend plans?” and knowing your bank account is running on fumes. There’s also an unspoken shame around money struggles, despite the prevalence of credit card debt, living paycheck to paycheck, and the constant need for a financial bridge until payday. This is why open communication about money is crucial. I wish we’d had conversations with older professionals, with peers, about navigating personal finance and building wealth for future generations. These conversations should never be once-off, they’re the foundation of a healthy relationship with money. We need to do away with financial shame.
Self-worth and relationships
After many years, I’ve finally learned the invaluable lesson of not tying my worth to a relationship. This applies to everything from romantic partnerships to friendships and even family dynamics. It took therapy, heartbreak, and countless instances of “doing the work” to truly internalise this. In the past, I’d settle for breadcrumbs of affection, ignore glaring red flags (mistaking them for a thrilling carnival!), and twist myself into contortions to fit into relationships. But now, I’ve arrived at a place of deep self-appreciation. I recognise that I am a complete and worthy individual, more than enough on my own. This means appreciating that boundaries are for the protection of both individuals within a relationship, that “no” is a full sentence and that the only person whose affirmation is most important is my own. This newfound sense of self-worth empowers me to cultivate healthy, fulfilling connections built on mutual respect and genuine care.
Forging my own path
“Just because you feel good doesn’t mean that you are in the right place. You have to remember that motion isn’t always progress.” Malanda Jean-Claude hits the nail on the head in making me question this notion of “always moving forward”. Initially, I thought I’d found my path just because the jobs I pursued seemed like logical steps for my degree. Yet, beneath the prestige and the bonuses, I was deeply unfulfilled. After years of chasing the next promotion, I realised that my qualification didn’t confine me – it was a passport to explore and learn. I was empowered to follow my passions, leading me to the far more fulfilling world of entrepreneurship, social justice, and beyond. In a world that glorifies overworking and burnout, it’s easy to forget that our primary responsibility is to ourselves.
Let your mantra be self-preservation. Self-preservation isn’t just an option; it’s a necessary act of defiance against unsustainable expectations. It is an act of survival. The journey of self-discovery is a never-ending process. While I can’t go back in time, these lessons have fundamentally shaped shaped the person I am today.
These realisations empower me to forge ahead with greater self-awareness, embracing authenticity, and building a life that reflects my truest values. Remember, it’s never too late to learn, to grow, and to transform. That, in itself, is a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit.
Client Success Manager at Alkemi Collective and “elder millennial”, Marisa Calvert
As a millennial who has navigated their 20s and 30s, I’ve learned more than a few hard-won life lessons along the way. While every person’s journey is different, I hope my experiences and perspectives can provide some guidance and wisdom as you forge your own path and create your own destiny. We’ve heard our parents and grandparents say life is tough, but at the end of the day, you have to be tougher and realise that you must take the good with the bad.
Protect your heart
Finding a life partner is not as simple as movies make it seem. There will be heartbreaks and disappointments before you meet the right person. You will find yourself at the age of 22 crying buckets, only to realise that he wasn’t the love of your life and that there are much better fish in the sea. Unfortunately, you have to feel like your heart has been ripped out of your chest to realise you’re not the cold- hearted bitch he made you out to be. You actually have feelings and you simply outgrew one another. Better will come along so don’t settle or bend over backwards for someone who doesn’t treat you with the love and respect you deserve. More importantly, be the kind-hearted and respectful person you’d like to date too. Develop a strong sense of self-worth first (but in all honesty, this will only come in your 30s). When the right person comes along, you’ll know because they will enhance your life, not complicate it.
Start travelling
When you get the chance to pack a suitcase and see the world, do it! Take the risks of a gap year if you have the means. See the world, date the men, and remain focussed on becoming the rich aunty who only comes home for the holidays. This will teach you selfishness. And as women, we need to be a little more selfish.
Career shifts
On the career front, don’t be afraid to take risks and follow your passion. My biggest regret was staying in an uninspiring job for too long out of convenience and comfort. Life is too short for that. Have the courage to change paths when your heart isn’t in it anymore. Your career will zig-zag more than you expect, but that’s normal in today’s world. Roll with it and be open to new opportunities.
Never stop learning
Our 20s are a time of immense growth and self-discovery. Embrace that open- minded beginner’s mindset for decades to come. Be curious, keep developing new skills, and don’t let yourself become intellectually stagnant. Life will throw you curveballs, guaranteed. When those inevitable challenges arise, dig deep and rely on your grit and resilience. You are tougher than you think. These are just a few insights from the other side of youth. Your turn is coming to experience the wild ride of early adulthood. It’s a beautiful mess full of learnings if you keep your eyes, mind, and heart open. And by the way, once you hit 35, you’re going to start running marathons if you haven’t already.
Head of TransUnion GCC Africa and Winner of 2023 BPESA Alchemy Top Women in GBS Leadership Award, Shobana Maikoo
Navigating life and work for me comes down to a few principles — it is about taking risks, stepping outside of your comfort zone and living authentically while trusting your instincts. By trying different things, working hard and keeping yourself open to connecting with like-minded people and learning opportunities, everything eventually comes together and leads you to your passion and subsequently a life of fulfilment. Looking back at my life and career journey, they’ve been very closely interlinked. My career journey started when I took the risk to leave Durban for Johannesburg and found work as a waitress. Through my desire to deeply connect with people and continuously learn, I would eventually go on to become a store manager, sales coordinator, to people engagement while furthering my studies and adapting very quickly to my changing roles and industries. This all led to today, where I head TransUnion’s GCC in Africa, an organisation with just over 800 employees.
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