Humans of RCL FOODS: Overcoming Challenges & Achieving Dreams – A Journey of Resilience with Talent Manyongo

At the heart of our business, you’ll find incredible humans who live their purpose daily to overcome the odds in the hopes of a brighter future for themselves and others. Talent Manyonga is an incredible human who embodies this daily. Having struggled with a speech impairment from a young age, Talent refused to be defined by this. Instead, she chose to focus on self-improvement and personal growth.

Talent’s journey is multifaceted. She started her degree at 27 – a powerful reminder that it is never too late to pursue your dreams. Beyond academic achievements, Talent is an accomplished author and a true game changer, inspiring those around her with her resilience and determination. Her story is a powerful reminder that we are all more than our challenges and with perseverance, we can achieve greatness.

The second born in a family of six, Talent truly lives up to her name. She believes she inherited her entrepreneurial spirit from her dad who rose from being a domestic worker to becoming a welder, eventually using these skills to start his own welding business. This very company was the one that provided for Talent and her siblings, and it still exists today. Whenever she returns home, she visits the business, as it reminds her of her father’s bravery and dedication, qualities that made things happen for their family. His passion for networking is another trait she proudly carries forward, knowing it has helped shape her own journey.

In addition to her entrepreneurial skills, Talent credits her creativity to her mother. Despite her mother losing both of her parents at a young age and being unable to go to school, she demonstrated remarkable resilience. To make ends meet, she started crocheting and dressmaking. Her beautiful creations helped support her family. Talent’s name is a fitting tribute to the ingenuity and resourcefulness she inherited from her mother, who turned every challenge into an opportunity to create and provide.

As an author of two books, both about financial literacy, Talent is passionate about empowering people to manage their money so that they can enjoy a prosperous life. The seeds of her financial savviness were sown during her upbringing, where she witnessed firsthand the challenges her parents faced and their resourceful ways of overcoming. This background has been a powerful motivator for writing her books.

Her first book, “What school never taught my daughter,” (available on Amazon and Takealot) teaches youth how to be financially savvy at young age. The proudest achievement was when this book was approved by the Gauteng Department of Education to be used in schools. Talent’s second book, “Making sense with your cents” is for pre-teens and aims to build healthy financial habits from a young age. These two books underscore Talent’s dedication to empower everyone to make better financial decisions today, laying the foundation for a greater tomorrow.

Beyond her professional achievements, Talent has space for many more passions and pursuits. When she’s not working, you’ll find her immersing herself in personal development books, sewing, doing yoga or Zumba, or maximising her networking skills at various events. She is also dedicated to giving back and is a true DO MORE HERO who can often be found helping her community. This spirit of generosity is something she’s instilling in her own two children, teaching them the importance of making a difference in the lives of others. This commitment to community service was modelled to Talent by her mother, who has even started building an orphanage

Talent’s professional journey at RCL FOODS began as an Admin Clerk in the Finance department. Her determination and hard work quickly became evident. She took the plunge and applied for company-assisted studies, a decision that marked the beginning of her ascent. Balancing a fledgling career while pursuing her BCom Management degree was no easy feat, but her perseverance paid off. Today, at the age of 35, she proudly holds the position of Management Accountant at our Baking operations, Pretoria Mill , armed with her CIMA qualification. She credits the business for supporting her ambitions and helping her achieve this milestone.

The journey doesn’t end here for Talent. She dreams of setting up a hub for young people where they can learn vital skills that allow them to use their hands to make a living and sustain their lives. This dream reflects her commitment to continuous growth and curiosity, embodying our value of MORE CURIOUS.

Talent’s story is layered with resilience, dedication, and excellence, reflecting the essence of her name. Her journey is a powerful testament to our purpose of growing what matters. Through commitment and self-belief, Talent shows that nurturing your passions leads to extraordinary achievements. She inspires us to cultivate our potential, overcome challenges, and strive for greatness.