Employee Spotlight: Thando Madoda Mnisi
Name: Thando Madoda Mnisi
Job Title: Accountant
Department: Finance
Years with the Company: 5 years
Location: Eswatini (Artemis Pharmaceutical)
Work & Career
Q 1: Can you briefly describe your role at the company?
In my role as an accountant at Artemis Pharmaceutical, I see myself not just as someone who manages numbers but as a guardian of the company’s financial integrity and a bridge between daily operations and long-term goals. My work ranges from maintaining accurate records to preparing financial statements that guide leadership decisions.
[[MORE]]Over the past five years, I’ve learned that accounting isn’t just balancing figures; it’s about bringing clarity and confidence to the organization. Every report, reconciliation, and analysis helps ensure the company can move forward with certainty and purpose.
What drives me most is knowing my work contributes to something larger. In pharmaceuticals, every decision counts, and providing reliable financial insights supports the mission of improving health and changing lives. That sense of impact keeps me motivated.
Working closely with other departments has shown me the value of collaboration. I take pride in helping teams understand the financial side of their work, because alignment makes us stronger.
At its core, my role is about responsibility, trust, and growth—and after five years, I’m proud of how those values have shaped my work and the professional I’ve become.
Q 2: What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy the sense of purpose that comes with working with numbers. Financial data isn’t just spreadsheets — it’s a behind-the-scenes story of how the company is really doing. I like digging into accounts, spotting patterns, and understanding why certain things happened. Turning a messy set of figures into something clear and meaningful is genuinely satisfying.
I also enjoy the responsibility. Knowing that my work influences planning, budgeting, and risk decisions makes me feel like I’m contributing in a real way, not just “doing admin.” When the numbers balance or a complex issue gets resolved, it gives me a sense of achievement I don’t get anywhere else.
And honestly, I love the challenge. There’s always something new to solve or improve, and that keeps me engaged. It feels good knowing my work supports the company’s growth and helps everything run smoothly behind the scenes.
Q 3: What has been your proudest achievement here?
Driving the implementation of the Entersoft system and guiding the team toward Level 5. We’re not there yet, but we’ve made real progress. When we began, most processes were manual, reports were slow, and month-end felt like a race. Taking on this project pushed me to learn the system deeply, train others, and make sure the team felt confident using it.
I’m proud of how much has improved already. Even without reaching Level 5, the changes have streamlined our work. Month-end is smoother, reports are easier to generate, and the accuracy of our financial data has noticeably improved. Management now relies on cleaner information, and the team feels less pressure during closing.
For me, it’s not just about the software — it’s the growth behind it. I’ve gained new skills, taken on leadership responsibilities, and watched the team become more efficient and confident. Knowing we’re moving in the right direction and building the foundation for where we want to go makes this one of my proudest achievements so far.
Q 4: What’s the most challenging part of your role?
Juggling tight deadlines, especially during month-end and year-end. There’s constant pressure to deliver on time without compromising accuracy. Financial data has to be right the first time — even a small mistake can snowball — so balancing speed and thoroughness can be mentally demanding.
Another challenge is keeping up with changing requirements from the Eswatini Revenue Authority. Regulations shift often, and it’s my responsibility to ensure compliance. That can mean rechecking procedures, adjusting how we process transactions, or guiding the team through new rules. It requires focus and constant learning.
Even with these challenges, they motivate me. My work helps protect the company, keeps us compliant, and ensures our financial information is solid and trustworthy. The pressure is tough, but it’s also what pushes me to grow and stay sharp in my role.
Beyond the Desk
Q 5: Tell us something interesting about yourself outside of work.
I keep my mind active in different ways. I enjoy exploring finance beyond accounting — investments, market trends, and how economies react to events. It’s something I follow out of genuine interest, and it helps me understand the bigger picture behind the numbers.
I’m also very involved in my community through soccer. I play and coach for a local team, which has become a big part of my life. This season has been especially exciting — after eight games, we’re number one in the league. Being both coach and player keeps me sharp and gives me a different kind of responsibility that I enjoy.
When I’m not on the field or reading about financial trends, I like spending time outdoors to clear my head. Even a simple walk helps me reset after a long week.
At home, I love cooking and trying dishes from different cultures. I enjoy experimenting with new recipes — even the imperfect ones. It’s relaxing and satisfying to make a meal from scratch and share it with others.
Overall, I try to keep a balance between learning, staying active, and enjoying the small things that make life feel full.
Q 6: What’s one thing your colleagues might be surprised to know about you?
I’m actually quite shy at first, even though I come across as confident and calm at work. Outside the office, I’m very involved in my community team as a player-coach, and people who know me there see a very different side of me — louder, more competitive, and very hands-on. Most people at work don’t expect that I’m the type who gives halftime speeches, motivates players, and runs training sessions.
Q 7: Do you have a favourite book, movie, or TV show?
I enjoy reading a mix of professional and leisure books, depending on my mood. One of my favorites is The Candlestick Bible. It’s not just a finance book — it genuinely changed how I look at investing. I still revisit it when analyzing markets or refreshing my thinking because it breaks concepts down in a practical, usable way.
For TV, I’m a big fan of Ray Donovan and The Blacklist. I like shows with strong, layered characters — people who are complicated, flawed, and trying to balance their own worlds. Ray Donovan blends action with themes of family, loyalty, and the darker side of protecting the people you care about. The Blacklist hooked me with its mystery and the tension around Reddington’s character. There’s always something unexpected, and I prefer shows that keep me thinking rather than something I put on in the background.
Whether I’m reading about markets or watching a series full of twists, I gravitate toward things that challenge me or help me see things from a different angle.
Motivation & Advice
Q 8: What keeps you motivated at work?
Knowing that what I do matters. Even though my work happens behind the scenes, I can see how it supports the bigger picture — informing management decisions, keeping our financials clean, and ensuring compliance. That responsibility gives my role real purpose.
I’m also motivated by progress. In accounting, there’s always something new to learn — new systems, regulations, and ways to work more efficiently. I like the challenge of staying updated, especially with changes from the Eswatini Revenue Authority and the technologies we’re adopting. It pushes me to grow rather than repeat the same tasks.
And I’m motivated by seeing improvements in how we operate as a team. When month-end runs smoother, reports become clearer, and stress levels drop, it feels good knowing I contributed. Those small wins add up and remind me why I enjoy this work.
Q 9: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
“Focus on continuous improvement.” It sounds simple, but it has shaped how I approach work and life. Someone once told me you don’t need huge changes overnight — just aim to be a little better than yesterday. That mindset has helped me a lot in accounting, where there’s always something new to learn or a process to refine.
Instead of getting overwhelmed by big challenges, I break things down and look for small steps to improve — learning a new system feature, finding a quicker way to handle a task, or managing pressure better than before. Over time, those small gains add up.
That advice has helped me personally too. It reminds me that growth takes time and mistakes are fine as long as I learn from them. It keeps me grounded, motivated, and curious.
Q 10: Any tips for maintaining a healthy work-life balance?
Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is important to me, and I do this by setting clear boundaries between work and personal time. Once the workday ends, I disconnect from emails and tasks so I can focus fully on personal activities and family. That separation helps me return refreshed and focused.
I also prioritize activities that support my physical and mental well-being. Regular exercise, outdoor time, and playing or coaching soccer give me energy and perspective. I make time for hobbies like cooking and learning new skills, which help me recharge.
By protecting personal time and focusing on self-care, I stay productive and motivated at work while maintaining overall well-being.
