In celebration of Women’s Month, we spotlight economic analyst Kagiso Mamabolo’s journey from the lecture halls of UP to the corridors of the Parliamentary Budget Office. Her story serves as a powerful reminder of the transformative power of education.

Meet Kagiso Mamabolo, an economic analyst in the Parliamentary Budget Office of South Africa, whose academic journey at the University of Pretoria (UP) played a pivotal role in shaping her impressive career. Born and raised in Soweto, Johannesburg, Mamabolo’s path to success was characterised by a relentless pursuit of education. After obtaining a National Diploma in Accounting from the Tshwane University of Technology, she set her sights on UP, where she would lay the foundation for her future in economics.

“Growing up in a middle- to low-income community, I have always been deeply aware of the socio-economic disparities that exist in society,” she says. “I was motivated to study economics because I wanted to understand the root causes of poverty and inequality.”

Mamabolo, who began her professional career at Genesis Analytics, was recently named one of the Mail & Guardian’s top 200 Young South Africans for 2024 in the Governance category. She sees her success as a beacon for other young women, especially black women from similar backgrounds, as it enables them to see that “being acknowledged can be the rule rather than the exception”.

At UP, Mamabolo pursued both a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) and Master’s in Economics. These programmes not only provided her with a robust understanding of economic principles, but also opened doors to international opportunities that would broaden her perspective. During her honours year at UP, she seized a unique opportunity that would set her apart when she participated in the Emerging Markets and Country Risk Analysis exchange programme, a collaboration between UP and Fordham University in the US; this gave Mamabolo her first taste of international economics education.

The global exposure didn’t stop there. Her time at UP paved the way for further international studies, including an MS in Global Management. This programme, known as the Three-Continent Master of Global Management, is a collaboration between the Gabelli School of Business in the US, Antwerp Management School in Belgium and the Xavier Institute of Management in India.

Looking towards the future, Mamabolo aims to leverage her expertise to tackle broader challenges in her field. Her ultimate goal is to transform key aspects of economic and public policy while inspiring future generations.

Her advice to young women who are considering following in her footsteps is this: “Embrace redirection – don’t be afraid when your path changes direction. Life is not a linear upward climb for some. Also, reinvent yourself – the goal is to embody the highest version of yourself – and keep showing up, no matter how mundane a task may seem, and give it your best. You also need to be disciplined as each effort you make in any task is building the foundation for your future. Finally, take up space unapologetically – let your voice be heard, because your ideas and questions are valuable. Never shrink yourself for the comfort of others; stand tall, speak confidently, command your space and do not play small.”

By Noluthando Buthelezi