In this episode, I sit down with my former classmate Matshidiso Tladi, now a Principal Technical Solution Architect, to retrace her journey from uncertainty after matric to leading high-stakes technology teams.

She opens up about quitting nursing after a month, dropping psychology, and spending years feeling lost before a learnership finally introduced her to tech. From hardware support to software development, consulting, banking and now architecture, her story is one of courage, curiosity and choosing purpose even when the path felt unclear.

We talk about imposter syndrome, being a highly technical Black woman in male-dominated rooms, the constant pressure to prove yourself, and how she anchors herself through competence, consistency and giving herself grace. She also shares the toughest chapter in her career, the moment she knew she truly belonged in tech, and what keeps her grounded today.

We close the episode with a beautiful letter she reads to her 10-year-old self… a reminder that you don’t need to have everything figured out to build a meaningful and impactful life.

• How she discovered tech after years of uncertainty
• Moving from hardware to software and finding her passion
• Consulting, banking and navigating high-pressure technology environments
• Transitioning into architecture and leading technical teams
• Managing imposter syndrome and documenting her achievements
• Being a woman of color in technical leadership spaces
• Her advice for young women entering tech
• The emotional letter to her younger self

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