Confidence-builder
Portia Dlamini didn’t want to just get a degree, go straight into work, and stick to one career path. She wanted more from life—to go on adventures and open herself up to new possibilities. That’s how she found the Forward program.
A native of Johannesburg, South Africa, Portia was scrolling through Facebook when a post about Forward caught her eye. The free online skill-building program for individuals had just launched across Africa, the Middle East, Pakistan, Türkiye, and Azerbaijan.
At the time, Portia was running a cleaning business and serving as a trainee auditor. From the township of Sebokeng—one of the historically segregated neighborhoods established during apartheid—she was also the first in her family to graduate from university.
She became a junior lecturer in management accounting at North-West University. But she wanted more. “I felt like I didn’t know which avenue I wanted to explore, and I wanted to find order to what I was doing,” says Portia. “The Forward program’s language about being agile, a self-leader—that really spoke to me. I decided to go for it.”
A toolbox for any situation
Portia describes herself as shy, often finding it challenging to assert herself in professional situations. She knew she had “more to offer but struggled to find her confidence and the ‘soft skills’ needed in the workplace.”
In Forward, she was able to shape her understanding and application of communication skills and problem-solving skills. She also learned about delivering and receiving feedback, becoming more efficient, and building networks.
“The program gave me a toolbox that I can draw from in any situation,” says Portia. “And it gave me structure. I didn’t have a framework for how I presented myself, how I interacted with people, how to advocate for myself. [With Forward,] I started to notice I was able to think on my feet and voice my ideas.”
New ways of thinking
Portia remembers teaching a management accounting module—a notoriously difficult subject—where the students were ambivalent about the course. She knew getting through to them would be a challenge, especially given her shy nature. But she found a new approach in communicating with her students, realizing that a fear of failing the course was holding them back. She set out to put them at ease.
“I started with being empathetic and just debunking myths around management accounting, taking time to talk with them about the field, and answering questions. I called these ‘social classes,’” she says. These informal classes weren’t on the syllabus, but she convinced her manager of the approach and got the green light.
Portia saw a notable increase in exam scores throughout the semester. “I was someone who would never have done that before joining Forward. I would have stuck to the rules, went to class, taught, and been scared to speak up,” she says.
Through Forward, she’s also decided on her next adventure: chartered accountancy. It will require completing graduate school and board exams, something she admittedly “never thought could be done.” But now, she’s assured of her abilities.
“It's a beautiful thing to walk in confidence, especially if you didn't have it before,” she says. “I can’t overstate the impact Forward has had on my life.”