Graduate Shares 5 Tips for Academic Success

Mapule Phathela: From Struggle to Success on the Path to Chartered Accountant
Mapule Phathela has an impressive academic and professional portfolio: a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration (PGDBA), a Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting (PGDA), and an MBA. She is now preparing to qualify as a chartered accountant (CA(SA)) despite facing personal tragedies and academic challenges along the way.

At 31, Mapule is determined to have CIMA, MBA, and CA(SA) credentials before turning 35. She earned her CIMA (ACMA) and CGMA designations in 2021 and completed her MBA in 2020. Since joining Ernst & Young in 2018 as a senior associate, she successfully passed her PGDA in 2022 and is now focused on her board exams.

Overcoming Challenges
Mapule’s journey wasn’t smooth — she faced family losses and self-doubt. However, with perseverance and smart study strategies, she stayed on course. Here are her top tips:

1. Have a Timetable — For Everything
Mapule stresses the importance of a detailed schedule. She used a giant desk calendar to plan every day, including breaks. This approach helps reduce stress by making workloads manageable and improving productivity.

2. Reward Yourself
Celebrating small achievements keeps motivation high. Mapule set weekly goals with rewards, like a massage if she met her targets. Psychologists explain that rewards release dopamine, making success feel good and encouraging repeat efforts.

3. Reach Out to Others
When struggling, Mapule shared her challenges on social media and sought support from family and professional counselors. Talking openly helped her process grief and stay motivated. Self-awareness and stress management are key to academic success.

4. Keep a Journal
Writing daily goals and reflections helped Mapule set a positive mindset each morning. Journaling is known to reduce stress and emotional pain by allowing expression and release of negative feelings.

5. Don’t Aim for Perfection
Mapule learned to manage exam time by allocating specific minutes per question, moving on rather than getting stuck trying to perfect one answer. This shift in mindset helped her pass tests without overwhelming pressure.

Looking Ahead
Mapule’s final academic goal is to pass her CA(SA) board exams. Beyond that, she plans to consult with firms and support small businesses, driven by her passion:

“Empowering others to improve their financial expertise is my real passion – that’s what really drives me.”