‘Success Is Never Just One Thing: It's Always Moving Forward'

Thabiso Mahlape, 34, is the publisher taking flight with BlackBird Books, an imprint of Jacana Media. Created when she was 31, it aims to champion black stories. ‘It’s very important for me that the voices of black women are heard,’ she says. Read on for her career lessons and advice

- Busang Senne

Always go into a situation with a solution. 

I’m a guest lecturer at the University of Pretoria and I tell my students to always be prepared when starting a new job– you must know what you can offer. When I used to prep for interviews, I’d say, ‘Working for this company will help me grow.’ I’ve since changed my mind-set – you need to go in there knowing that you can make a difference from the start.

The greatest gift women have been given are other women.