Kerusha Naidu’s journey from a Durban call centre to managing multi-megawatt solar projects is a testament to grit, reinvention and impact. At 15, Kerusha’s schooling was abruptly interrupted, and self-doubt crept in during a long period of isolation. But at 20, she made a life-changing decision: she homeschooled herself, passed matric, and reignited her ambition to make a difference. Her career began modestly — stacking shelves in a mall, answering phones — but her tenacity never waned. She earned 23 distinctions during her BBA at Mancosa, graduating top of her class, and went on to win the DHL GradStar Top 10 award. Kerusha, 29, is a project manager at Terra Firma Solutions, where she leads the delivery of large-scale solar energy systems for major industrial clients. She has overseen more than 900 residential solar installations and delivered a multi-megawatt commercial system ahead of schedule. A TransUnion Rising Star finalist, she also mentors students, supports retrenched professionals, and helps families in need. Kerusha’s definition of success is simple: show up, stay the course, and lift others as you rise.
I have drawn strength and direction from four voices whose journeys resonate deeply with my own — and from the hero I am still chasing: myself, ten years down the road. Nelson Mandela showed me that true change demands stubborn hope. When I was pulled from school at fifteen and battling self-doubt, his mantra — “It always seems impossible until it is done” — reminded me that every late-night study session and every sunrise call-centre shift was a brick in the bridge to something greater. Matthew McConaughey’s Oscar speech redefined role models for me. He told the world that his hero is “me in 10 years”, and I realised the most powerful inspiration lives just out of reach. So each day — whether I am negotiating contracts, mentoring students or piloting my MBA studies — I am driven by that ever-advancing version of myself, the one I will celebrate a decade from now. Ursula Burns inspires me with her rise from public housing to Fortune 500 CEO. Her story proves that where you start does not determine where you finish — and that education, grit and clarity of purpose can shatter any ceiling. And Jim Carrey, who quipped that even as a two-time Golden Globe winner he would still dream of becoming a three-time winner, taught me the bittersweet truth about external accolades: they matter, but they can never replace the unseen hours of craft, empathy and perseverance behind the scenes. His humour reminds me to celebrate milestones without mistaking them for the finish line. I have not had a single mentor steer every step — instead, these four exemplars and the reflection of my future self have guided me. Their combined wisdom fuels my conviction that purpose is not a destination but a relentless pursuit: to innovate amid constraints and uplift every team I join.