The peace that comes with showing up fully as yourself
- Refilwe
- Aug 29
- 6 min read
From Limpopo, South Africa to the world. Khodani's journey is a reflection of what it means to believe in oneself, to have support, the power of mentorship and a spirit of #nevergiveup! As an engineer, wife, mom, adventurer and founder of an empowering digital platform, she wears many hats with conflicting schedules. But how does she do it all?
In this feature, Khodani shares how she's breaking generational patterns, making her mark in a male-dominated industry (add foreign country to that mix) and pursuing her passion whilst raising a family.
Meet...
Khodani Hlatshwayo, Founder: Career and Corporate Hub
What about being a woman makes you tick?
Emotional Intelligence. It helps me navigate spaces with empathy, read the room with sensitivity, and lead in a way that balances both intuition and intention. In male-dominated environments, this quality has quietly helped me build trust, foster collaboration, and earn respect, not by force, but through connection and understanding.
Who inspires you and why?
I draw inspiration from people who boldly challenge the status quo and those who want to make the world a better place. People who refuse to do things simply because “that’s how it’s always been done.” Those who think differently, lead boldly, and create new paths, even when it’s uncomfortable or unpopular, remind me that true change begins with courage.
It takes boldness to break generational patterns, redefine norms, and lead from a place of purpose instead of pressure. That kind of bravery inspires me every day.
You’ve moved across continents to build something for yourself and your family. How has the transition been?
The transition was incredibly tough. From navigating culture shock to suddenly managing all aspects of parenting, including homework and school routines, without the full-time help I was used to - it was overwhelming. The language barrier added another layer of the challenge, especially when everything around me was written in characters I couldn’t read including the apps to buy food.
At one point, I was doing so much that I came close to burnout. I had to pause on Career and Corporate hub and declare this season as one of learning and adjusting. That decision allowed me to fully immerse myself in the new culture, learn the dynamics of my new environment, and grow both professionally and personally. I am now more self-aware, more grounded, and definitely more adaptable.
Reinventing oneself can be hard and challenging, what has been your greatest lesson?
Be comfortable with being uncomfortable. Growth never happens in comfort zones. The moment you start stretching yourself, mentally, emotionally, even geographically, that’s when real transformation begins.
If you’re still comfortable, it means you haven’t even begun to tap into your highest potential.
You speak a lot about your early days when you struggled with self-confidence and esteem, what flipped the coin for you?
What changed was my mindset. I stopped waiting for confidence to arrive and started building it, brick by brick. I gave myself permission to start with what I had, even if it wasn’t perfect. I allowed myself to make mistakes, to receive feedback, and to grow from it. I treat my personal growth like a continuous improvement project. I set small goals for who I want to become, then practice, reflect, and keep showing up until I reach that version of myself. “We practice what we want to become” this is my motto.
What are some of the things you’ve had to overcome, unlearn and grow from? How have you navigated your healing journey?
Nobody cares about you, even the people you love the most. Everyone is on their own journey. If you fail, they might feel sorry for you… and move on. If you succeed, they’ll clap… and still move on. That's when I realised: everything I do has to be for me, for my healing, my purpose, and my peace.
I had to unlearn people-pleasing. I had to release relationships that no longer aligned with my growth, even if it hurt. Some of the people I loved most were unknowingly blocking me from stepping into my full potential.
Letting go made space for me to rebuild a relationship with myself, to choose things that fuel me, fill my cup, and reflect the woman I’m becoming. My healing journey is far from over, but with God at the center, I’ve learned to stay grounded, positive, and purpose-driven. I’m still navigating my childhood wounds which still make me question my identity sometimes.
Your cooking attempt narrations always give me a good laugh. Besides the humour, they always prompt me to reflect on traditional notions about the role of a woman in the household. What’s your take on this?
Gender roles are shifting at work, however society is still stuck to the outdated expectations, like women 'belonging in the kitchen.' My husband and I are both engineers, equally tired after work as we work from 7 to 7, yet I once pressured myself to cook everyday because 'that’s what wives do', according the societal standards. And honestly, I don’t enjoy or excel at it.
Through open conversations, my husband understood we both deserve rest. I still care, I cook when I can, but our shared goals require teamwork. Women should redefine what being a good wife or mother means on their own terms, prioritising what works over pressure. For those who are married mutual respect and shared responsibility matter most.
Breaking stereotypes is something you are doing well. What inspires you to do the work you do via the Career Hub, in addition to your day job, a wife and mom to two busy boys?
What truly inspires me is the idea that every person has a superpower, however most people never get the chance to activate it because they’re stuck in environments that suppress rather than support growth.
In one of my previous leadership roles, I saw this firsthand: I led people who were sitting on gold mines of potential.
All it took was one intentional conversation, asking the right questions, giving honest feedback, helping them connect the dots, and suddenly they were reignited. That moment? It changed them and it also impacted the business positively. This is the heart of Career and Corporate Hub creating a safe space to unlock people’s brilliance.
As a wife and mom of two energetic boys, time is limited, but passion fuels me. Whether I’m attending school events, managing projects at work, or creating mentorship content, I stay fully present in each role. My strategy is presence over perfection, purpose over pressure.I’m also deeply grateful for how the Career and Corporate Hub has sparked a ripple effect: people I’ve mentored are now mentoring others. That, to me, is generational impact.
With everything you’ve experienced and have seen, what would you say is your superpower?
Seeing the gold in others and helping them see it too. I naturally ask questions that open doors for people: "where are you now?" and "where do you want to be?"
These questions have led people to breakthroughs they didn’t expect because the answers often remind them that their dreams are still valid, and their potential is still waiting to be explored.
My superpower is triggering belief. And once people believe in themselves, everything else becomes possible.
Reflecting on the year thus far, what are you most grateful for?
Staying grounded and present, even in chaos. This year brought big changes: moving abroad, adapting to new parenting, work dynamics, and a new culture.
Through it all, I’ve learned to anchor myself in what truly matters - my values, family, and purpose. I no longer rush at the pace of pressure; I move at the pace of intention.
Letting go of unnecessary pressures (like obsessing over daily step counts, because of the steps trend that was going around) has been freeing. Growth isn’t about keeping up, it’s about showing up, as I am.
What’s your message to women?
If you want to see change in a space where society says it’s not possible,
BE THE CHANGE, TAKE THE LEAD.
Don’t wait for permission. Don’t shrink to fit the mold. Lead with a strong “why” and back it with an execution plan. Change doesn’t happen in silence it happens when you stand boldly and become both the advocate and executor of your vision.
What are you working on right now?
Right now, my focus is on personal growth and development, doing the inner work while aligning the bigger vision for Career and Corporate Hub. Something exciting is in the pipeline, and I’ll be sharing more soon. In the meantime, we’re running Season 3 of the Career and Corporate Hub podcast, featuring powerful conversations with professionals working abroad.
Stay connected with Khodani here:
Instagram: Khodani Hlatshwayo
LinkedIn: Khodani Hlatshwayo
YouTube: Career and Corporate Hub
TikTok: Career and Corporate hub
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