Evolving from retail to becoming a finance professional with YES – Vuyiswa Gaba

Vuyiswa Gaba's career journey took a transformative turn when she joined the Youth Employment Service (YES) programme. Before this, she had only worked in retail but was eager to pursue a career aligned with her studies in Financial Accounting.

As she was about to complete her BCom at the University of Cape Town (UCT), Gaba received a call to join AP Moller Maersk’s YES programme within the finance space. This opportunity changed her life by allowing her to demonstrate her capabilities to potential employers.

Following her graduation from UCT, she was hired by AP Moller Maersk as a permanent full-time employee. Starting as an Assistant Financial Analyst, she was kept on after the YES programme on a fixed-term contract before becoming a permanent employee in August 2022.

Now a Finance Business Partner, Gaba continues to grow and learn every day. Her journey through different roles has helped her establish a name for herself as a well-versed professional within the company. She also manages the monthly Town Hall preparations for the Managing Director, a responsibility outside her primary finance role.

Gaba has received recognition for her contributions at Maersk. She won a "Spot Award," a cash prize for solving problems and assisting in forecasting while meeting deadlines. She has also been acknowledged for her participation in the "Strategies 4 Success" programme, designed for young women in the company seeking growth. Her achievements were highlighted in a Youth Day post on LinkedIn and on the Maersk website.

In her current role, Gaba specialises in analysing reports and data to prepare consolidated information for relevant stakeholders. This job has helped her discover her passion for management accounting. Despite being the youngest in her team and initially feeling intimidated, she overcame these challenges with guidance from her seniors. One senior manager's advice to embrace failure as part of the learning process helped her grow both personally and professionally.

The experiences and challenges Gaba faced during her time with the YES programme were instrumental in her development. Her portfolio changed every few months, providing her with a comprehensive understanding of finance and the roles of financial analysis professionals. Through perseverance and support, Gaba has successfully transitioned from retail to a thriving career in finance.