If Thandiwe Mathibela ever lost her voice “it’d be a problem,” she says with a laugh. The 40-year-old brand public relations specialist at South African Tourism loves to talk and connect with people, and is this why she’s in the communications and media space, via the tourism industry.

Mathibela, who hails from Tembisa, is a driven and talented woman who has worked at SA Tourism for the past decade. Her portfolio has undergone several changes, but her mandate remains to provide a narrative about South Africa that showcases the beautiful and multifaceted country we live in.

I was hired at SA Tourism the year before 2010 — it was exciting to influence narratives about perceptions of South Africa, and it was a huge honour. It’s a great job as you do work for your country, and the content is appealing. I have been in the media since I started my career, and I was excited to explore a new industry, namely public relations.

The Rhodes University graduate studied journalism and economics, and specialised in writing. After her first year, Monty Cooper, an ex-lecturer at the university, urged Mathibela to apply for an exchange programme to the Netherlands. She took the opportunity, and got to grips with how important communication and journalism is on a global scale.

At university she interned at The Sunday Times, and then slowly worked her way into the cognate field of public relations and communications specialisation. Mathibela hasn’t stopped studying since finding her niche and has obtained a plethora of qualifications. These include an advanced diploma in business administration and a certificate in customer centricity from the University of Johannesburg, and an MBA from Milpark Education.

Mathibela unwinds by running and making time for her daughter, who has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy. “Often, people ask me how I manage my job and a daughter with special needs. As a mom, it requires a huge balancing act,” she says. Part of that is making sure that she’s engaging in self-care practices. She’s recently become vegetarian and wants to take a more holistic approach to life.

“Often, I see women becoming hardened in their careers because, maybe, they’re responsible for high-profile and demanding work, but it’s okay to be vulnerable. Most important to me is for women to embrace their multi-layered-ness,” she concludes.

— Youlendree Appasamy

Twitter: @thandsmathibela