POLOKWANE – From Polokwane in Limpopo to the US capital in the Northern Hemisphere is a long way to go, but if you are an upcoming mover and shaker the world is your oyster.
Mowele Mohlala Causey, Miss Polokwane 2005, has made Washington DC her permanent home after she got a career break to experience the Yankee life firsthand and found and married the love of her life.
Born and bred in Polokwane, Mohwele is now a resident in the famous city where she is working and has made a home after tying the knot with her loving and supportive husband in December 2012.
The 32-year-old charted accountant first moved to the neighbouring state of New Jersey in 2010 for a two-year programme at KPMG.
During this time she met her future husband and felt her life has really just began and that God gave her something she has been praying for.
“When the time came for me to go home I couldn’t leave all these blessings behind and asked for a transfer to offices in New Jersey to continue working for KPMG,” she says.
Career opportunities
In 2013 she got an opportunity to work at the prestigious International Monetary Fund (IMF) and grabbed the chance with both hands.
Mowele completed a degree in accounting at the University of Witwatersrand and after winning the Miss Polokwane title went back to university to study for an honours degree in accounting as she believes education unlocks all doors.
During her stint in the US she also qualified for a certificate in public accounting to be in line with the laws and regulations of accounting there.
“Every country’s specific elements differ, so I had to study further to be licensed and registered as an accountant in the US,” she explains.
She adds her family and husband have been supportive of her career, and her parents also encouraged her to widen her horizons and experience other countries in order to grow professionally as well.
Mowele is concerned with the rising unemployment rate in South Africa.
Message to young people in SA
“I wish young people can be more serious about education. Hopefully the government can assist with better access to education such as libraries especially in rural areas.”
She believes her “go get it attitude” has helped her to be where she is today, and she didn’t let anything or anyone stop her on the way. “Most people fail because they don’t want to try new things, they use their fear of failure as an excuse. Never define yourself by your failures in life, you won’t achieve anything by not trying,” is her sound advice.
Mowele gives back to the community
Mowele is the first born of three children and wants to set a good example and be a role model for her siblings. She says as part of giving back to the community, she is involved in the South African Washington International Programme (SAWIP), a youth service and leadership development programme which recruits emerging leaders across all disciplines and differences in South Africa from the universities of Cape Town, Western Cape and Stellenbosch. Students participate in a seven-month service and development experience with a six-week global exposure and professional opportunity component in Washington DC.
Mowele is a strong advocate of finding a way to be involved with your community through money or time. She is involved in the Advancement of Black Accounting Students Association (ABASA) to promote vocational training and technical education in the accounting profession and in the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA).
She has always enjoyed travelling but misses her African meals when she is in Washington. “Our foods are more organic, and fruit and vegetables are very costly that side,” she explains.
“I sometimes miss speaking in my language when I’m overseas, I have no one to speak Sepedi to there but I come home more than once in a year to see my family and friends,” she concludes.
