Shantel Mandere’s path to success in the corporate world

According to any accounting student, the CTA year is brutal. For Shantel, it was both her lowest and most transformative year. “I funded my own studies and worked full-time. I’d wake up before sunrise, log into lectures and then head to the office. During CTA you don’t sleep – you nap.”

Her toughest moment was when she experienced her first-ever academic fail:“Failing was foreign to me. It was my first real fail in life. I cried, I questioned everything. It was a wake-up call that this is the real deal now, we’re doing big-girl work!”

Shantel realised she never wanted to feel that way again and that mindset shift changed everything. She was truly motivated to succeed. Her Microsoft Teams study sessions were on 24/7: “You can’t do CTA alone. You need support. I had study groups, accountability partners and a strong support system: my family, my brother, my church, even my dog kept me sane!”

Her proudest moment was passing CTA: “In that moment… nothing else I’ve been through counted; it was pure joy. My first real academic challenge and I overcame it.”

As a trainee accountant, Shantel saw her studies come alive in her work. Her dedication paid off when she was selected to join the Specialised Valuations Credit Group, a rare opportunity for a trainee in the corporate world. “That was a highlight. It showed me that hard work and persistence always pay off.”

Managing the double load of work and study taught her priceless lessons in time management and mental discipline: “If I can give eight hours to someone else’s goals, I can give eight to my own. Whenever I felt tired, I’d tell myself, ‘If this were a work deadline, you wouldn’t make excuses.’ That’s the discipline work taught me, a bit of tough love, but it worked for me.”

Shantel believes that her CTA experience was a wake-up call that humbled her in ways that she needed: “It was a reminder that I am human, not a robot. CTA is tough, but if it were easy, everyone would do it. However, the growth you experience, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, is worth every late night.”

She also started focusing less on comparison and more on consistency: “I realised that this is my journey. It doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s.”

Her mantra throughout the programme became: Competency over completion. “Do not just finish, understand! It’s not about rushing to tick a box. It’s about really grasping what you’re learning so you can use it later.”

When she looks back at the young girl who once stood on the JSE floor in awe, Shantel smiles: “I am living the dream that started back then. Not fully there, but I am on my way.”

Having conquered her CTA and having passed her first board exam, Shantel now looks ahead to completing her second board and possibly pursuing a master’s degree in Investments through Milpark. She dreams of one day becoming an executive or sitting on company boards. “I am living proof that determination and the right education can take you anywhere. I don’t want to just count numbers; I want to create value.”

Do not let entry requirements hold you back, Shantel sure did not! Milpark’s Bridging Programme is your first step toward becoming a Chartered Accountant. If you do meet the requirements and envision yourself as a corporate CA, then check out Milpark’s CTA course: the Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting, your gateway into the corporate world.