Wellness in the Workplace

Welcome to Season 2 of Wellness in the Workplace! We kick off the second season of the podcast with a series called "The HR Perspective with Boniwe Dunster." This 5-part series delves into different HR-related topics to help new and experienced professionals take charge of their careers. These topics cover the employee lifecycle from recruitment to termination and on this episode, we talk about how to job search the right way.  We talk about  CV writing, the relevance of cover letters, how to stand out in your job search and what exactly recruiters & hiring managers actually look for when interviewing potential candidates. Boniwe Dunster is an HR Specialist, Facilitator, Coach and Founder of Blue Eagle Human Capital. 

I decided to conclude the first season of Wellness in the Workplace with a Q&A where I asked followers on IG to submit some career and workplace related questions.  Join me as I respond to these questions in a detailed Q&A session.

On this episode of the podcast, we chat about managing your personal finances as a young professional. Financial wellness is a key aspect of one’s overall wellness in the workplace and on this episode we discuss key elements of personal finances and creating a healthy relationship with money with Manoka Mathye CA(SA).  Manoka is a qualified chartered accountant, career & business coach, corporate speaker and the founder & of Your Corporate Hustle, a community for professionals to learn about how to navigate their careers more effectively and productively.

On this episode, I sat down with Dr. Samke J. Ngcobo, founder of Vocal Mentality and Sisters For Mental Health to talk about her journey with mental illness and how she has navigated the workplace with Bipolar Disorder. Dr. Samke is a medical doctor, author, keynote speaker and she has been living with Bipolar Disorder Type 1 since the tender age of 14years old. She is passionate about mental health advocacy and about the development of an empathetic and compassionate understanding about the lives of those who struggle with their mental health.

In this episode of Wellness In The Workplace, I sat down with Dr. Ngao Motsei to talk about her extensive work as a workplace bullying practitioner and how intentional leadership is at the centre of re-humanising the workplace. Dr Ngao Motsei is a scholar, coach, and thought leader. She is passionate about creating healthy, respectful, and bully-free environments as well as positive workplace cultures. She serves on the board of the International Association on Workplace Bullying and Harassment (IAWBH), a global membership organization of academics, researchers and practitioners in workplace bullying and harassment.

We’re wrapping up Women’s Month with a new episode featuring our guest Angela Qithi. Angela is a Technologist, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) leader at a global technology company. On this episode, we talk about intergenerational dynamics in the workplace and unpack the concept of ageism, which she considers to be an integral part of dismantling generational stereotypes that are present in multigenerational environments.

On this episode, I sat down with Public Policy & Development Advisor, Mbali Motsoeneng to chat about the importance of building authentic networking skills to advance in your career. Mbali shares how building a solid network of connections has helped her traverse various roles in different industries throughout her expansive career. She considers networking to be a strategic tool for both personal and professional development and believes that one can strike a balance between building authentic connections and deriving value from those connections for your advancement.  Mbali is a public policy and development professional, with work experience in government, private sector, and international development organisations. Her areas of work have spanned from public financial management in Africa, public healthcare advisory in municipalities and globally, digital literacy, climate resilience in Africa and establishing public-private partnerships for public good. She holds a Master of Management from the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. Currently she is abroad pursuing a Master of Public Policy at Hertie School of Governance in Berlin, and a semester exchange in the Master of Transnational Governance in Florence.

Siyamtanda Mdingi is a Value Innovation and Strategy specialist with expertise in business strategy and value creation. She is the founder of @vivreconsulting established in 2020.  On this episode of Wellness in the Workplace, we discuss Siya’s transition from her 9-5 corporate job into full time entrepreneurship. Siya shares learnings from her entrepreneurship journey so far and how she’s applying some lessons from corporate in her business today.

On this episode, I decided to do a wellness check in to reflect on what wellness has looked like for me over the last six months. With it nearing the end of H1 2022, it was important for me to pause for a bit and to take stock of how I have been showing up for myself in the workplace and beyond.  I share what some of my wellness practices are across four main aspects namely: physical, emotional, spiritual and social.  I hope you see this as an invitation to also check in on yourself and reflect on how you are really doing.

In this episode, I sat down with author of 'The Black Girl's Guide to Corporate South Africa', Lindelwa Skenjana to unpack the writings of her debut book. In her offering, Lindelwa takes readers through her experience in the working world and highlights key themes such as racism, sexism, ethnic chauvinism, ageism, and sexual harassment that many young women in the workplace encounter with naivety. When technical expertise and hard work are not the issue, how do black women make the most of their efforts and support each other to success?

In this episode, I sat down with occupational therapist, Makungu Valoyi, to chat about how we can effectively manage stress in our day-to-day lives to avoid burnout and to ensure sustainable performance and success in the workplace. Makungu is a Master's candidate specialising in the Philosophy and Ethics of Mental Health. She is also the creator of @advocacy4mentalhealth, a platform dedicated to addressing stigma through mental health advocacy and mental illness awareness.

In this episode of Wellness in the Workplace, I sat down with HR specialist Boniwe Dunster to talk about how employees can empower themselves in toxic work environments. With the new Code of Good Practice on the Prevention and Elimination of Harassment in the Workplace, employees are protected from harassment in the workplace in relation to violence, physical abuse, psychological and emotional abuse including workplace bullying, sexual abuse, gender-based abuse and racial abuse. The Code became effective on 18 March 2022.

Sibongile Gangxa, better known as Sbosh, is the latest guest on Wellness in Workplace. On this episode, we speak about intellectual theft and how plagiarism in the workplace is overlooked as organisations prioritise innovation and collaboration in their teams. We discuss how being acknowledged, recognised and valued for your contributions in the workplace forms the fabric of your wellness and how when intellectual theft is left unaddressed, it affects individual contribution. Sbosh is the Commercial and Stakeholder Relations Manager at MSG Afrika Broadcasting, she’s the Chief Creative Officer at Ciko Story Concepts and founder of Safe Space, a mental health app that promotes self-healing through guided and accessible tools.  She recently joined Power FM's line-up as the host of #POWERLIFE on Sundays from 9pm - 12am.

In this episode, I speak to Mmatshepo (Tshepi) Oganne about the importance of restorative rest and how prioritising rest in our daily routines helps us show up fully in the workplace. We talk about different types of rest and how she came to be intentional about this aspect of her life. Tshepi is an advocate of holistic wellness and was recently appointed as the Deputy Director of Communications and Stakeholder Management at the City of Johannesburg.

Workplace bullying often goes undetected because we either don't have the language to articulate our experiences or we lack an understanding of what is happening to us. In this week's episode, I talk about some of the signs that were present in my experience of workplace bullying.  I hope this episode can shed some light on what you can look out for if you suspect that you are being bullied by your boss (or colleague).

In this episode of Wellness In the Workplace, I sit down with Pearl Mngomezulu, Head of Group Communications at Dimension Data, to discuss the role of mentorship in one's career development and how mentorship can be an anchor to help young professionals find their way in the corporate world.

Wellness in the Workplace is a podcast hosted by Mbali Mzinyane and aims to empower new and experienced professionals with insights and practical tools to navigate workplace dynamics with insightful and informative conversations.

In this episode, I’m joined by Khethiwe Nkuna, entrepreneur, executive leader and author of Tear Her Down: Unpacking Scarcity, Insecurity and Sisterhood in the Workplace. This conversation is a deep dive into the often unspoken dynamics between women at work where competition, comparison, and scarcity mindsets can quietly erode not just relationships, but also mental and emotional well-being.Khethiwe sheds light on how insecurity plays out in professional spaces, why we sometimes see women being pitted against each other, and how these patterns can undermine both individual growth and collective progress. But more importantly, she shares powerful insights on what it looks like to rebuild sisterhood: shifting from rivalry to collaboration, from guardedness to vulnerability, and from scarcity to abundance.We also explore the role of leadership in creating workplaces where women can thrive, support each other, and reframe “success” as something we rise into together.This episode is a call to courage, compassion, and collective wellness. Tune in to be inspired, challenged, and reminded that true wellness in the workplace begins with how we show up for ourselves and for each other.#WellnessInTheWorkplace #TearHerDown #WomenAtWork #Leadership #Sisterhood #WorkplaceWellness

In this episode of Wellness in the Workplace Podcast, we sit down with Mushambi Mutuma — tech entrepreneur, international speaker, and author of The Adaptability Code: Recoding the DNA of Future-Ready Leadership.Mushambi shares his insights on:- Why adaptability is the new superpower for leaders in a rapidly changing world- How technology and innovation are reshaping the future of work- The balance between resilience, agility, and wellness in leadership- Practical strategies for leaders to build teams that thrive amidst uncertaintyWhether you’re a business leader, entrepreneur, or professional navigating change, this conversation will inspire you to rethink what it means to be future-ready — while staying grounded in wellness.🎧 Don’t miss this transformative discussion on adaptability, leadership, and well-being in the workplace.🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on workplace wellness, leadership, and mental health.#Leadership #WellnessInTheWorkplace #Adaptability #MushambiMutuma #FutureOfWork

What does it mean to lead with wellness at the core? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Ashika Pillay to explore the evolving role of the Chief Well-Being Officer (CWO) and why this position is becoming essential in today’s organisations.From driving employee engagement and resilience to shaping healthier workplace cultures, Dr. Pillay unpacks the impact of well-being leadership on both people and performance.In this episode, you’ll learn:- Why companies are embracing the Chief Well-Being Officer role- How wellness leadership transforms organisational culture- Practical strategies leaders can use to prioritise mental health at workThe future of workplace well-being and leadershipTune in and discover why wellness is not just a benefit, but a business imperative.🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share if you believe in a healthier future for the workplace.#WellnessInTheWorkplace #Leadership #ChiefWellbeingOfficer #WorkplaceWellness #MentalHealthAtWork