all from Stellenbosch University . Throughout my educational journey , I conducted research in the disciplines of medical microbiology , conservation ecology and wine biotechnology .
You shared that this milestone was ground-breaking for you – can you tell us why ?
Becoming Dr Smart was a childhood dream of mine and I pursued it for no other reason than for myself . Yes , I have heard things like “ You are academically exhausted ” and “ You are not capable of completing a PhD ” along the way , but I have realised that it was never the opinion of other people that would determine what I was destined for . The many pre-determined constraints that declared what I could not be , inspired me to pursue my studies . It was a childhood dream and took selfdetermination to embark on this journey , overcoming every obstacle that stood in my way of getting to where I am today . As a result of my educational journey , I was the first person in my family to earn a degree , let alone a PhD .
How did you hear about PPS ?
As vice-president of the Golden Key Stellenbosch Chapter before the COVID-19 pandemic , I got to know about PPS . These two societies built a strong professional relationship and collaborated on numerous Money Matters workshops at
Stellenbosch University . The workshops provide students with an introduction to financial planning that is both interactive and educational . Later , when I became the president of the Golden Key Western Cape Alumni Executive Committee , I continued relations with PPS , which led to more collaboration efforts .
In your PhD , you focused on vineyard cover crop applications . This is worlds apart from what PPS does . How do you explain this ?
Many individuals are perplexed as to what a microbiologist has to do with life insurance . People should know that when I was an undergraduate , I was inspired and determined to become a microbiologist , thus the PhD . I feel that a degree is the key to unlocking many more opportunities than you could have imagined or prepared for .
As much as I wanted to be a microbiologist , I also wanted to extend my horizons and learn about the corporate world . Yes , the two differ quite a bit , but it is not impossible to bridge the gap . My journey is quite exciting so far . I now know a lot more about financial planning than I did before .
Where to from here ?
Aside from being Dr Smart , I have some very exciting goals for this year , both personally and professionally . Not to give too much away , my desire to serve will always be an aspiration , with some international aspirations thrown in for good measure .
What are the most important financial lessons you have learned so far ?
Budgeting is essential . I have discovered that downloading your bank statement monthly to review your actual costs is an important exercise . This provides you with a pretty good sense of how you spent your money and where you might make improvements . As an exciting challenge , attempt to spend less than you did the previous month until you can no longer . After all deductions , put away your savings first and then live off the remaining sum .
What are your biggest tips for other young professionals ?
We are living in unprecedented times , with no idea what the future holds . Therefore , it is vital to safeguard your earning potential in the case of an unforeseen event such as illness , disability or death . Having life insurance is crucial for your financial strategy , especially if you are a young professional who would profit the most should you start earlier . As a result , you will be financially secure in the future and able to provide for your family .
24