“What I didn’t expect is that she would develop into an excellent 2-I-C at IRAS.”
One of the aspects of being a small business owner that continues to excite me is the opportunity to create jobs for people who deserve a break, and Portia Makgorane is one such person.
I’ve known Portia for 22 years, since she was a student at Dr Mary Malahlela Primary School in Dobsonville, Soweto.
Portia, and her twin sister Alice, were two of the hundreds of children who participated in what became the Soweto Marimba Youth League (SMYLe), a project I developed to attract children to supplemental Mathematics classes through their desire to learn how to play steel pans and marimbas.
Portia remained part of SMYLe for all 14 years of its existence and was one of a small number of participants who had the opportunity to travel to Canada as part of our international tours.
She also performed at countless FIFA World Cup-related events in 2010, becoming a crowd favourite because of the infectious smile that seemed capable of lifting everyone’s spirits.
Against the Odds
What I could not have predicted at the time was what would happen after SMYLe came to an end.
Six years after the project closed its doors, Portia announced that, at the age of 30, she had finally completed her degree at the University of Johannesburg.
For many people, that achievement might simply appear as a graduation story. For those who knew Portia’s journey, it represented something much more significant.
Raised by a single mother, one of five children living in a tin shack with a mud floor, Portia’s path to higher education was anything but straightforward.
Despite every obstacle placed in her way, she persevered.
“Portia’s degree was not simply an academic achievement. It was proof of extraordinary determination.”
Recognising both her potential and the challenges many South African graduates face when trying to secure that all-important first job, I offered Portia a position as a Research Intern at Integrated Reporting & Assurance Services (IRAS).
My reasoning was simple:
It’s often easiest to get a job when you already have a job.
At the time, my goal was to provide Portia with an opportunity to gain experience and begin building a professional career.
“What I did not anticipate was the extent to which she would grow within the organisation”
Over the past two years, Portia has become an indispensable part of IRAS.
What began as an internship evolved into a role that now sees her performing a critical function in many of the research activities that support our clients, our peers, and the growing community of learners who complete our Certified Sustainability Assurance Practitioner (CSAP) programme.
Today, Portia serves as an excellent second-in-command within our small but highly impactful organisation.
As a boutique provider of sustainability assurance, ESG advisory and reporting services, IRAS has always believed that developing people is just as important as developing technical expertise.
For more than 17 years, we have remained committed to creating opportunities for talented young South Africans, particularly those who may simply need someone willing to open a door.
Portia’s journey reminds us why that commitment matters.
As we celebrate her second anniversary with IRAS, I would like to publicly acknowledge the fantastic work she continues to do for, and with me.
Words from Portia
Following the LinkedIn post celebrating her two-year anniversary, Portia shared the following response:
“Thank you so much for your kind words and for believing in me long before I believed in myself.”
“Being part of SMYLe was one of the biggest blessings in my life, and I will always be grateful for the opportunities, lessons, and memories that came with it. From performing at World Cup events to travelling to Canada, those experiences shaped me into the person I am today.
Thank you for giving me a chance at IRAS and for continuously supporting my growth. Working alongside a person like you is not always an easy thing because you constantly push people to do better and think beyond their limits, but through that I am becoming a better version of myself and growing every day.
I truly appreciate the mentorship, patience, and trust you have shown me over the past two years.
I am proud to be part of the work we do at IRAS and excited for what the future holds.
Thank you again for celebrating this milestone with me.”
At IRAS, we often speak about sustainability, long-term value creation and making a meaningful contribution to society.
Stories like Portia’s remind us that those principles are not limited to our clients’ sustainability reports.
They are reflected in the opportunities we create, the people we invest in, and the futures we help build.
Congratulations on your two-year anniversary, Portia. We look forward to seeing what the next chapter holds.