the pod(CA)st journal

Tracy Kraus
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Exploring the human stories behind the CA(SA) designation

Episodes

  1. Oct 5

    JE#4: Khaya Sithole - A CA Voice in National Conversations

    What happens when a career you never planned becomes the platform from which you help shape national conversations? Khaya Sithole describes accounting as “the greatest accident of my life.” Growing up in rural KwaZulu-Natal with very limited financial and family support, his path through school and university depended on determination, resourcefulness and a series of people who stepped forward at critical moments. Khaya originally dreamed of studying English literature at Oxford and becoming a teacher. Instead, the availability of funding led him towards accounting and ultimately to qualifying as a CA(SA). Yet his career would extend far beyond the traditional boundaries of the profession. In this episode, Khaya shares how his interests in education, writing and social justice drew him into academia, student activism, public policy and the media. He reflects on helping struggling accounting students realise their potential, becoming deeply involved in the Fees Must Fall movement, and using accounting skills to develop an evidence-based model that contributed to the current R350,000 NASFAS household-income threshold. Khaya’s story demonstrates what can happen when professional skills meet curiosity, courage and a commitment to public purpose. It is also a powerful reminder that a career does not need to follow a conventional path to make a meaningful contribution. Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: HOGWJQPD0FADQYMG, L5CRJUMNPKXW1CQG

  2. Sep 21

    JE#1: Ruando van Rooi - From Kathu to Canada

    My inaugural guest is Ruando van Rooi, who I know from his time as a student and academic trainee at Milpark Education. Ruando grew up in a small town in the Northern Cape, Kathu, and shares about his journey from there, to now working with PWC in Winnipeg, Canada. Along the way he encountered financial obstacles, health challenges and academic setback, but has overcome them all and completed the journey to CA(SA). Enjoy this first journal entry!

  3. Sep 21

    JE#2: Mark Tipping - From Giving Up to Qualifying

    In this journal entry, I sit down with Mark Tipping. He shares about his 17 year journey to become a CA(SA), starting straight out of school, but then giving up after being unsuccessful twice in CTA, which resulted in him believing that he would only ever fail. After volunteering for several years as a paramedic, an unexpected Facebook post lead to him return to CA studies on the Milpark Education half workload and eventually realise his dream. He shares about how he now enjoys taking on hard things and conquering them!

  4. Sep 21

    JE#3: Ali Andersen - Good at Finance; Called to Something Else

    What happens when you are good at your work—but slowly realise it may not be the right work for you? Ali Andersen never had a master plan to become a CA(SA). She followed a path that made sense, qualified through EY and built an international career spanning Cape Town, New York and London. Yet despite being capable in finance, she began to recognise that it was not where she felt most fulfilled. A perceptive manager and a set of psychometric assessments eventually gave language to what Ali had been feeling: she was a square peg in a round hole. In this episode, Ali shares how she moved from corporate finance into entrepreneurship, learning and development, leadership development at Allan Gray, and ultimately her current role as Director of the Executive MBA programme at IMD in Switzerland. We discuss: The difference between being good at something and being energised by itWhy Ali has no regrets about becoming a CA(SA), despite leaving traditional financeTaking the leap from corporate employment into her own businessHow the CA(SA) qualification became a foundation for a very different careerReturning to corporate life as a working motherStarting over professionally in a new countryWhy you do not need to have your entire career figured outThe value of curiosity, coaching and learning from every experience Ali’s story is a thoughtful reminder that a career does not have to follow a predetermined path—and that finding the right fit may begin with getting to know yourself better.

  5. Sep 7

    the pod(CA)st journal - Trailer

    What does it take to become a Chartered Accountant? And once you get there, what does it mean to actually be one? These two questions are at the heart of the pod(CA)st journal, an upcoming independent podcast, in which we explore the human stories behind the CA(SA) designation, hosted by Tracy Kraus. The first episodes will be released on 21 September, so subscribe now!

  • 5 Episodes

About

Exploring the human stories behind the CA(SA) designation

Information

  • Creator
    Tracy Kraus
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    5
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Tracy Kraus
  • Show Website
    the pod(CA)st journal

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