Prof Ntsekhe is a cardiologist and Cardiology Head of Department at Groote Schuur Hospital. He grew up and went to school in Lusaka, Zambia (pre-primary & primary) where his parents were in exile and Maseru, Lesotho (primary and high school). 

1. How old were you when you decided to pursue your current career path and what inspired you?

Important to remember that life is not a race. I didn’t plan to become a doctor until I was already at University (Brown) studying for a BA degree. I only decided to be a specialist physician during my clinical years at medical school (Columbia University) and I only fell in love with Cardiology while I was training to be a physician (Groote Schuur Hospital). 

My biggest inspiration was my father who died just before I turned 12. He was a Wits and London trained Psychiatrist, mental health activist and dedicated public servant who made a tremendous contribution and impact to mental health in sub Saharan Africa. 

2. Did you ever get help with career guidance? Any mentor(s) & what role did they play?

When I was growing up, like most kids I had dreams about being many different things including a professional footballer, a pilot and a politician. Early on in my University years I began to better understand and appreciate how much of an impact my father had made through his work in mental health. As I learned more, my desire to emulate him grew as did the choice of medicine as a great vehicle for me to also serve society and make an impact. 

While my father was my biggest inspiration, my biggest motivator was my Mother; watching her go to great lengths to provide for me (us), including working two jobs at great personal strain,   after the sudden loss of my father, pushed me to try my best in all that I did. 

I did not have specific career guidance per say, but I was very fortunate to have people around me, like teachers and coaches, who believed in me and my potential and who pushed and encouraged me to work hard and dream big.

3. What challenges did you face (or are facing) / had to overcome in your journey?

The biggest setback and challenge that I faced growing up was the death of my father shortly before I turned 12. That age is a critical time for most young boy’s sense of identity and self-worth and his death was a big loss. Although we were not materially wealthy when he was alive, we had a decent government home, with hot water, electricity, space, and I could say we were fairly comfortable.

Suddenly, all of that changed after he died. Our large family of 9 had to split up, my mother had to work two jobs to make ends meet, and life was not as straightforward as it once seemed. Tough as it was, in hindsight I recognize that this phase of my life was crucial to building and developing many of the character traits and values that helped and continue to help me navigate the many challenges that are almost an inevitable part of all of our lives. 

4. What has been your biggest driver/motivator?

Being grateful for what has become of my life and wanting to repay my gratitude by making a difference in the lives and livelihood of others. I am very conscious of the fact that at many points in my journey, things could have turned out very differently and my life could have been very different. Mohamed Ali was one of my childhood heroes and one of his most famous quotes was: “service to others is the rent we must all pay for our room here on earth.” This simple but important concept has resonated with me and has motivated me to do what I do and try to be the person I strive to be.  

In a country and continent like ours where historical and structural inequity and injustice are such a major determinant of one’s opportunities, outlook, and destiny, it is crucially important that we each contribute to positive change in whatever way we can if we are to realize our great collective potential. 

5. What advice or key learning points from your journey would you like people to take on to theirs?

Challenges, obstacles and difficult circumstances are an inevitable part of life that we cannot wish away. How we look at them, think about them and see them will determine how we respond to them. No challenge no matter how big is insurmountable. No circumstance not matter how difficult or dire cannot be overcome. And It is how we choose to respond to our challenges that will determine whether or not we are able to persevere and succeed, and not the adversities themselves. Put another way our attitude, fortitude and effort that determine our altitude

6. Any advice for a young person from a rural area / township who currently has no clue where to even start when choosing a career path?      

First of all I think it’s important for us all NOT to buy into a narrative of deprivation and disadvantage that says “I am from the township or a rural area and therefore somehow I cannot BE what I want to be, and cannot achieve what I want to achieve”. While poverty and geography matter, one should not allow those things to define who we are or limit what we think we can be. Simplistic as it sounds, armed with the right attitude and willingness to put in the required effort, opportunities and breaks will follow. Although being prepared and in position to seize opportunities does not guarantee anything. Not being prepared almost certainly guarantees that you will not be able to seize them when they do arise and the choice to prepare, or not, is ours.