Supporting Scholars from the classroom to their career

How does a Mastercard Foundation Scholar move from the classroom to a job they call “really cool”? Fezeka Lephaila, a graduate from the 2018 cohort, shares how the programme supported her along the path to a rewarding full-time career.

Fezeka Lephaila is currently an associate consultant at Mastercard in Cape Town. The first step on her path to consultant, she carries out research for the company that helps prepare corporate clients, like big banks, for the future. 

“I do quite a bit of research, provide feedback and build presentations,” she explains. “Then I help present the work to clients that helps them better understand how to move their businesses forward.”

The work builds on the internship she did while in the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, where she was a member of the 2018 cohort, graduating with an Honour’s in Economics from the University of Cape Town (UCT).

As part of the programme’s requirements, Scholars must gain working experience in an eight-week internship. This is supported with a stipend from the programme covering costs such as travel and professional wardrobe.

“I really wanted an internship and was grateful for the programme’s support because it enabled me to get it,” says Lephaila.

She also points to the support of programme’s Careers, Internships and Opportunities Advisor, Jean Alfeld, which guided her along the way. “Jean was really helpful in giving me direction, she showed me who to talk to and how to apply for the right opportunities,” she says.

Taking that guidance paid off. Lephaila landed her first-choice internship with the Centre for Financial Regulation and Inclusion (Cenfri), where she was hired on after graduation as a full-time employee.

“With Cenfri I worked fulltime as research assistant, helping researchers with the Mastercard Foundation study the skills for a digital economy with a focus on Ghana, Kenya and Senegal,” Lephaila says.

Specifically, she helped produce a report that gave insights that would help Mastercard in its goal to create meaningful work for African youth in the digital age.

At Cenfri, Lephaila gained valuable experience, but saw her career aspirations going elsewhere. When she made the tough decision to change direction, she again called on Alfeld for help.

“It was empowering to know that when I was planning to move and I didn’t know where to go, I could go back to seek career guidance again,” she says.

Indeed, it was a combination of her own dedication and Alfeld’s support that got Lephaila her current position with Mastercard in Cape Town, where she started in February 2020.

But Lephalia’s career success is also a testament to the Mastercard Foundation’s commitment to supporting Scholars in becoming the continent’s future leaders.

“When I got my current job with Mastercard, I was impressed to see that not only do they have faith in the quality of the students they are funding, they also open these opportunities for you,” says Lephalia.

“One can have talent and potential, but without the right opportunities and support there may be nowhere to go. This programme tries to make sure that doesn’t happen.”