'I'm not afraid to talk about money anymore'

Nthabiseng's story is one that many South Africans will recognise.

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It's a story shaped by strong women, financial lessons learned early and a quiet determination to do better with each generation. As a mother of three, and the executive head of integrated marketing and experience at Nedbank, Nthabiseng is someone who has taken the time to understand her relationship with money.

In her interview, Nthabiseng proves that financial growth isn't just about numbers — it's about values, habits and the willingness to keep learning.

The mother of three teenagers, she's someone who has been on a real journey with money, starting from what she saw in her childhood home to how she now teaches her own children. "I learned from my grandmother," she says. "She had this ability to stretch her salary. She knew how to make her salary feed a whole family by being a great bargain shopper. She was really disciplined, always saving, always delaying gratification until it was worth it."

One memory stands out.

"When I was at university, she bought me my first cellphone. I hadn't asked for it, she had just quietly saved up for it and surprised me. That taught me that a little, saved consistently, can go a long way."

But there were also harder lessons.

Her family was known for being generous, and while that came from a good place, it wasn't always met with the same energy. "We gave a lot, to relatives and even strangers. Over time, I saw how that generosity could be taken advantage of."