Phathutshedzo Ramakhanya is a Christian woman, a first-born child of two—born and raised in Soweto, but originally from Limpopo, Venda. She currently works as a data analyst, using her analytical skills to make a meaningful impact. Her faith plays a big role in who she is, guiding her in every aspect of life, and she strives to support others in their growth, both professionally and personally. She also has a deep passion for empowering others through data-driven insights.
When she came across the Umuzi link, she wasn't sure what she wanted to do. Then she saw data science as one of the programs offered, and it was the only thing that resonated with what she had studied. So, she decided to go for gold, even though she had no idea what it was at the time. While traveling to Limpopo with her dad, she decided to take the aptitude test on the way. She enjoys aptitude tests, and it was fun to do it during that drive. Shortly after, she got a call for an interview, went through the boot camp, and the rest is history.
Fast forward a couple of years to this month, where winning Yes Top 35 Under 35 is incredibly meaningful to a shining young star. It represents not only recognition of her hard work but also validation of her journey and the challenges she has overcome. More importantly, it's a reminder that her purpose extends beyond personal achievement—it's about empowering others and making a lasting impact in my community. This recognition fuels her passion to keep growing, learning, and giving back, especially to the next generation of leaders.
The journey to winning Top 35 Under 35 was quite an interesting one. “I had no idea there were about 3,000 alumni who entered the competition. I came across the link— probably on LinkedIn—calling alumni to participate, and I thought, 'Why not?'“ she says.
At that point, she was incredibly proud of herself and her career journey. These were her words to summarize the competition journey:
“I was reflecting on my career journey and went ahead to submit an entry to the competition.
I made it through to the second round, which required recording a video about my journey. I was nervous because vlogging isn't my strength, but I managed to do it. It was a 90-second video where I spoke about my journey, and to my surprise, I made it to the third round! They requested some documentation to support our stories, and then I later got an email congratulating me for making it into the YES Top 35 Under 35!.”
When it comes to fueling her passion, her faith in Jesus inspires her every day. She believes that she was placed in this role for a purpose, and that motivates her to approach each day with gratitude and determination. In her work as a Data Analyst, she is driven by the power of data to make a difference-whether it's helping organizations make better decisions or empowering people through insights. The impact she can have on others, especially through mentorship and service, fuels her passion to keep growing and giving back.
Umuzi has taught her to approach challenges with curiosity and resilience, and to see data not just as numbers, but as a powerful tool for creating impact. The program emphasized the importance of collaboration and paying it forward, which has driven her to contribute to empowering others, especially in underserved communities. Through Umuzi, she learned that with the right mindset and skills, we can drive change and make meaningful contributions, no matter the obstacles we face.
Phathu’s future professional goals include transitioning into leadership roles and roles of influence, where she can shape strategies and drive impactful decisions through data. She wants to continue building her expertise in data science, while also leading teams and fostering collaboration to solve complex challenges. Ultimately, she aims to use her influence to inspire others and create meaningful change, both within organizations and in the broader community.