“I wish all women understood that it’s okay to take a break” – Khatija Jeewa

Khatija Jeewa, an administrator in the Department of Financial Management in the University of Pretoria’s (UP) Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, says her BCom (Hons) degree in Human Resource Management (HR) aligns directly with her love of working with people. Her decade-long role sees her going well beyond applying her HR knowledge when engaging with staff members.

What does your job entail?

My role as a departmental administrator involves various responsibilities and duties, some as complex as solving problems for lecturers and others as simple as figuring out printer errors, helping to settle new staff members in on their first day, or simply listening and providing support to a colleague who’s having a bad day. The list is endless. Administrators are the ‘jacks of all trades’ or the ‘answer bot’ to all the questions. My job involves several aspects that I have learnt over time. I hope that everyone here knows that they can come to me for anything; I will always try my best to help.

How long have you served in your current role?

This will be my 10^th year at the University – where has the time gone? I’ve found my work family in our department, and really feel inspired working in the academic environment.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I thoroughly enjoy being around people and the social interaction with my colleagues. My job allows me to learn interesting aspects about staff members, offer advice and build relationships. When I’m able to find solutions to challenges in the department, it gives me a great sense of accomplishment.

What sort of challenges have you encountered in your career, and how did you navigate them?

I’ve encountered several challenges thus far. It’s daunting making decisions and choices that ultimately affect the direction of my career. Then there’s the mental load of always having a goal in mind and continuously working to achieve it. It’s also difficult to prioritise my own needs over what society expects of me. Being exposed to many external factors makes it easy to get distracted, but I need to remind myself of what’s important and to focus on myself.

Finally, one of the greatest challenges is having to choose between sacrificing time for my family and moving up the career ladder. I’ve come to realise that being content in my current space, enjoying this time I have with them and exploring other interests that give more meaning to life is just as important as career progression. In the end, it all comes down to knowing who you are and what it is that you want out of life.

Aside from your role at UP, what other activities/roles are you involved in?

I find immense joy in spending time with my family, especially my children. I also love playing social netball with old school friends over the weekend. I love the outdoors and any kind of physical activity; it rejuvenates me and gives me the strength to get through the stress of everyday life. I’d love to live somewhere near the ocean.

Any special skills or hidden talents?

I ‘m good at baking sweet treats – you’ll always find homemade goodies on my kitchen counter. I’m also pretty decent at playing netball. I played netball throughout my school days and have continued now on a social level. My position is centre or wing attack. I can also be very competitive and love a good challenge.

What are you most passionate about?

At the workplace, being the best I can be to provide excellent service. I give my all in everything I do. At home, to be a person of good character and to instil those values in my children. What I teach them today I hope will encourage the leaders of tomorrow in making a difference in people’s lives.

What is your source of motivation?

I draw motivation from my family, especially my mother. In today’s world, it’s a fight to reach the top. My mom has always been humble and had an appreciation for life without any complaint. My parents worked very hard to bring us up and give us all the opportunities that we had. We are only because of them. 

My husband has also been by my side through it all. We got married young, and he’s been my best friend and greatest supporter. I also have a great support system of friends, who I’ve known all my life who have always been there, pushing me to be the best version of myself. What motivates each of us is unique, but for me, my faith and spirituality give me hope and a sense of true peace that only prayer can offer.

What are your ambitions and hopes for women in South Africa?

I would like women to be free of fear, to live in a society that is 100% safe, free of violence, abuse and discrimination.

I’d also like to see the creation of a wider platform and more avenues that allow women to strike a better balance between work, family and their personal lives. And there needs to be more awareness about the many responsibilities that women juggle, emphasising the importance of prioritising mental health and well-being – I wish all women understood that it’s okay to take a break.

Additionally, it’s important to leverage education to their benefit – gaining knowledge fosters a sense of empowerment. Finally, there needs to be more availability of hygiene products for every single female, especially those in underprivileged areas.

What impact do you wish to make on society?

I wish I could get women to empower other women, whether in the workplace or among family and friends. Inspire and give hope to each other. Lift each other up instead of bringing each other down. I’d also love to encourage women to develop their skills and talents, to break the barriers of low self-esteem and change our mindsets at home and in the workplace.

Can you share a moment when you felt empowered as a woman?

Working and studying was not easy as it required a lot of planning, perseverance and dedication. I had to keep my goal in mind. After completing my degree, trying to find a job with no experience was a tough process. I had to stand tall and demonstrate confidence to acquire my first job as an HR officer. As a woman in the world of work, this proved to be a milestone that I was extremely thankful for. It was an achievement that I’d worked so hard for. I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it.

I believe that to empower is to be able to learn and teach, to accept mistakes and try different routes to find the best way. This is how we move forward and grow. Every step towards achieving your goal is a step closer towards investing in yourself.

Which life lesson/motto has shaped you into the person that you are today?

A life lesson that I follow without question is having faith and trust that what is due to you will come to you – we call it ‘tawakkul’ in Arabic. Use all the means that you have at your disposal righteously, and your efforts will be successful. The world is changing and revolving; we need to adjust and adapt to it, but always remember to stay true to our roots.