Dr Nokwethemba Mtshali-Hadebe (32), CEO of the Bertha Gxowa Hospital, juggles being a wife, mother and the youngest CEO in South Africa on a daily basis.
This year her continuous hard work has been recognised and she has been nominated for Youth Leader of the Year in the South African of The Year Awards, to be held in November.
Her journey, in both the private and public healthcare sectors, began when she was a student at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. There she became the first female president of the medical school’s SRC.
After completing her bachelor of medicine and bachelor of surgery, she went on to do her community service at the Helen Joseph Hospital and her internship at Kwa-Mhlanga.
Her interaction with the patients over the two years was proof enough of her calling and was motivation for her life-long dream of helping others.
Her bold and daring personality made her stand out and she sharpened her people skills and learnt the importance of teamwork and collective efforts through her work at Helen Joseph and her internship, skills she now uses as CEO.
Mtshali-Hadebe also spent time working at Sakhiwo Health Solutions, as a marketing and stakeholder manager, Metropolitan Health Risk Management, as a medical advisor and as clinical manager at Far East Rand Hospital, during which time she studied a masters in business administration at the University of the Witwatersrand Business School.
All this paved her way to 2015 when she was requested by the HOD of Health in Gauteng to act in the position of CEO at the Bertha Gxowa Hospital.
Although daunting, Mtshali-Hadebe grabbed the opportunity with both hands.
The young CEO, avid reader and series fan, hopes her story and her nomination will inspire the youth, especially young women, to never stop trying to reach the top, as hard work and dedication do pay off.
To vote for Mtshali- Hadebe in the South African of The Year Awards, SMS “Youth 5” to 43043 or email “Youth 5” to satyvoting@ann7.com.
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