Rosemary Mokoena, 31, has always been interested in economics and financial markets and this led her to pursuing a career in this field. She now works at the JSE as an analyst where she regulates listed companies on the stock exchange. This means she has to approve placing documents for new products and financial instruments issued on the debt market, and ensure that listed companies comply with the listing requirements at the JSE. Through her work, Rosemary seeks to steer the economy forward and develop the financial sector. Her life’s greatest achievement was completing her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in accounting with a total of 17 distinctions. Rosemary never tires of learning, and plans to obtain an advanced Diploma in Financial Markets next. Although she lives in Johannesburg, she runs a nonprofit organisation called U-turn, a programme for children in her hometown in Limpopo. The initiative provides extramural activities to prevent young people from being led astray. She says her community has been marred by issues of teenage pregnancy and drug abuse, and her initiative is a way to keep young people on the right track.
B.com Honours in Accounting, University of Johannesburg
Advanced Diploma in Accounting, University of Johannesburg
Diploma in Accounting, University of Johannesburg
One of my biggest achievements was being one of the University of Johannesburg’s first-year top achievers and completing both my undergraduate and postgraduate studies with 17 distinctions. There was a lot happening in my life when I was in matric, which affected my results, but once I got accepted at the University of Johannesburg, I told myself I am going to work hard and indeed I did work hard.
My mother is my mentor. She is such a phenomenal woman. A woman of integrity, a woman of honour and such a respectable person in society. I have seen how she portrays herself and how she continues to grow as a person. She has taught me great values, especially respect. No matter what one’s social status is, respect is so important. My mom was an educator, and I am inspired to see how far her qualifications got her. I know the only way for me to make it in life is to go to school.