– 8 minutes
To celebrate Youth Month and the incredible value young people bring into the workplace, we spoke to Melisse, alongside several young professionals whose careers were shaped by youth development opportunities, about workplace growth, mentorship, and why investing in young talent helps businesses grow too.
Young people in this country carry ambition with remarkable resilience. We see it everywhere: In side hustles started from bedrooms, CVs emailed from library computers and interviews attended with taxi fare scraped together at the last minute. In people like Lisakhanya Pendu, who kept applying for opportunities until our young talent programme changed her life. In professionals like Piwe Bomvu, who discovered confidence through mentorship and support. In Asanda Ntsomi, whose creativity found space to grow into real campaigns. And in Damian as well as Lisa, whose journeys at dotsure.co.za became about both professional and personal growth through a culture built on education and development.
We also see it in leaders like Melisse Hilligenn, Talent Acquisition Manager at dotsure.co.za, who believes potential deserves opportunity, not just admiration from a distance.
Why youth development matters in South Africa
Youth development matters because talent without opportunity can only go so far. And when businesses intentionally invest in young people, they help unlock something much bigger than employment. They help unlock confidence, dignity, direction, and hope.
The challenge? Opportunity doesn’t always arrive at the same speed as talent. With youth unemployment still one of the country’s biggest realities, access to workplace experience matters more than ever. Young people don’t only need qualifications. They need exposure. They need mentorship. They need someone willing to say, “Come in, pull up a chair, and let’s figure this out together.” That’s where youth development and a strong young talent programme can completely change someone’s trajectory.
Lisa, now a Life Internal Sales Consultant at dotsure.co.za, understands this deeply. “YearBeyond played a major role in changing my direction, especially because I was part of the NEET group, young people not in employment, education, or training at the time. It gave me structure, purpose, and most importantly, exposure to opportunities I wouldn’t have had otherwise.” One of the biggest impacts, she explains, was access. “Through YearBeyond, we were not only trained but also connected to companies and given access to interviews, which opened doors for many of us, including myself.” Dotsure.co.za then became the place where she could fully rewrite her story. “From that first interaction with their People Department to now being a Life Internal Sales Consultant, it showed me that growth is possible when opportunity meets preparation.”
Piwe believes these opportunities matter because “young people have so much potential, but many don’t have access to the opportunities, resources, or exposure needed to turn that potential into real skills and experience. These programmes help bridge that gap.” Asanda echoes this sentiment. “Youth employment and skills development programmes are incredibly important in South Africa because they create access to opportunities that many young people may not otherwise have. They help bridge the gap between education and employment while giving young professionals the confidence, exposure, and practical skills needed to build sustainable careers.”
Benefits of youth development programmes
Youth development programmes like YearBeyond create something many young people desperately need: A fair chance to prove what they’re capable of by the following:
Bridging education and employment
For many graduates and school leavers, the jump into the working world feels intimidating. Youth programmes create a softer landing into professional life while helping young people build practical workplace confidence.
Workplace exposure
Exposure builds familiarity. Familiarity builds confidence. The more young people experience professional environments, the more comfortable they become contributing within them. “I think the moment I realised I truly belonged in the corporate environment was when I started confidently contributing ideas during meetings and seeing those ideas come to life in campaigns,” shared Asanda.
Confidence building
Lisa explains that before these opportunities, she feared becoming “just another statistic.” Today, she says, “That fear has been replaced with confidence in the future I am creating.” Piwe experienced a similar transformation. “Confidence does not always come before the opportunity. Sometimes it comes from doing the work, pushing through the fear, and realising you are more capable than you thought you were.”
Mentorship
Guidance matters. Every successful professional had someone who taught them, encouraged them, or gave them a first chance. Piwe says mentorship shaped her entire growth journey. “I was lucky enough to have a team that believed in me, even in moments I didn’t believe in myself.”
Asanda agrees. “Having leaders and colleagues who were willing to guide me, answer questions, and trust me with opportunities made a significant difference in my confidence and growth.”
Damian also credits mentorship and leadership culture for his development. “I’ve also had the opportunity to be mentored by some amazing and incredibly smart people.”
Long-term economic impact
Youth development isn’t charity. It’s investment. “In South Africa, this is especially important because we are a country with so much talent and a strong sense of Ubuntu,” says Piwe. “Investing in youth development is really investing in the future of the country as a whole.”
What benefits do younger workers bring to the workplace?
There’s a misconception that young talent only benefits from businesses. But the truth is that businesses benefit too. They contribute much. This is what young people bring to the table:
Digital Native Aptitude
Young employees grew up adapting to changing technology almost daily. New apps? New systems? New ways of working? They usually figure them out quickly.
Melisse explains “that adaptability becomes incredibly valuable in fast-moving businesses.” In modern workplaces where digital communication, social media, automation, and rapid platform shifts are part of daily business, younger workers often help businesses stay current and connected. Asanda’s role as a Social Media Manager is a strong example of this contribution. Her work includes trend research, influencer collaboration, content strategy, online community management, and helping brands remain culturally relevant and relatable in digital spaces.
Fresh Perspectives & Innovation
Curiosity is one of the biggest contributions of young talent. They ask questions others may no longer think to ask.
According to Melisse, “Young people bring fresh thinking into spaces that may have become stuck in how things have always been done. They ask why. They challenge old thinking. And they often come up with smarter, simpler solutions.”
High Energy & Motivation
Youthful energy shifts workplace culture. It creates momentum, encourages collaboration, and often inspires teams to move faster and think differently. “There’s something contagious about youthful energy in a workplace,” says Melisse. “It lifts team culture and encourages collaboration.”
Adaptability & Speed
Workplaces are evolving constantly. Businesses need people who can evolve with them. Young talent often brings flexibility, resilience, and the willingness to learn quickly in changing environments.
Value-Driven Focus
Today’s younger workforce often wants more than a paycheque. They want purpose, development, belonging, and meaningful contribution. Piwe explains that what stood out most at dotsure.co.za was the company’s genuine commitment to learning and development. “They don’t have to do this, but they choose to, because they genuinely want to see people grow and reach their full potential.” Lisa believes this mindset is especially important when it comes to youth employment. “Dotsure saw potential, not just experience, and that has made all the difference in my journey.”
What kind of talents can you bring to the workplace?
The contributions of young talent can include:
- Creativity and fresh ideas
- Digital fluency and trend awareness
- Curiosity and problem-solving
- Collaboration and teamwork
- Energy and motivation
- Cultural relevance and customer insight
- Adaptability during change
- A willingness to learn and grow quickly,
Asanda says supportive environments make all the difference. “Dotsure created an environment where learning and growth felt encouraged by allowing me to explore new ideas, take ownership of projects, and continuously develop my skills.” Lisa adds that opportunities become life-changing when businesses focus on potential instead of only previous experience. “They go beyond just offering opportunities; they invest in developing confidence, interview readiness, and workplace understanding.”
How to attract young talent to your company?
If businesses want to attract young talent, salary alone is no longer enough. Young professionals are looking for workplaces where they can learn, grow, contribute meaningfully, and feel supported. That means businesses need to:
- Create mentorship opportunities
- Invest in learning and development
- Encourage curiosity and innovation
- Build psychologically safe environments
- Listen to younger perspectives
- Create clear pathways for growth
- Support youth development initiatives and partnerships.
At dotsure.co.za, growth is treated as part of company culture, not just a corporate buzzword. Melisse explains that businesses need to remember something important: “Nobody is born a professional.” Every expert, leader, or manager once needed guidance. That belief in development is something employees consistently mention. Piwe says the environment made learning feel engaging instead of intimidating. “You are not just thrown into your role. You go through proper training that helps you understand the company, culture, and how everything works together in a way that feels clear and not overwhelming.”
Damian says the organisation genuinely supports ambition and growth. “If you have something you aspire to, they’ll genuinely help you work towards it.” And for Lisa, the impact was deeply personal. “Today, I no longer see myself as ‘the girl who went to varsity and came back with nothing.’ I see myself as someone who took a different path, grabbed opportunities, and built something meaningful.”
Providing soft landings for young talent
Young professionals often underestimate how much value they already bring into professional spaces. Yet they often bring a deeper understanding of evolving customer behaviour, digital culture, online trends, and shifting consumer expectations. When given room to learn, contribute, and grow, the impact stretches far beyond the workplace. It creates stronger businesses, stronger communities, and a stronger future for South Africa.
At dotsure.co.za, growth is something we actively believe in. Whether you’re starting out, changing direction, or looking for your next opportunity, visit our careers page to explore current openings and take the next step.
