Growth and comfort do not co-exist
Clara Liebenberg tells Careers about her experience of stepping in to the “grown-up world”.
Desiree Gases
“In discomfort you struggle, and when you struggle, you grow.” - Clara Liebenberg
Clara Liebenberg was born in Windhoek, grew up in Walvis Bay and studied at Stellenbosch University, something that she is very proud of. Liebenberg was the third generation, on both sides of the family tree, to graduate from Stellenbosch. Caring, assertive, reliable, thorough, compassionate and kind-hearted are words that describe Liebenberg the best.
“At first, joining PwC as a new intake, fresh out of university, was quite daunting. I had the book knowledge, but with little to no work knowledge and no experience of the ‘grown-up world’. That feeling soon faded as PwC, and my now fellow employees, welcomed the new intakes with such a warm and caring embrace,” said Liebenberg. Liebenberg was quickly shown the ropes and soon began to form a part of the working world.
Since joining PwC, Liebenberg has joined the company’s Trainee Forum Committee as the first-year representative and she chairs the Walvis Bay committee.
Liebenberg’s days start and end with email; it just never seems to cease. “Usually, my day is quite jam-packed. There is not a moment that I am not busy, always working on a task, or ‘auditing’, as my parents call it. If I am not working on a specific task on an engagement, there are always admin tasks, Trainee Forum Committee tasks, that require attention.”
When asked what inspired her to get into this line of work, Liebenberg said: “I love a set way of doing things and order. Little did I know that auditing is not as ‘set’ as I had hoped. What also really drew me to becoming a C, is that CAs have the ability to ‘open doors’ and become anything: CFOs, CEOs, FMs, accountants, bookkeepers working from home, anything actually, and CAs can find work abroad easily. Wherever a CA goes, they are in demand.”
Asked about the accomplishments and challenges she has encountered in her journey, Liebenberg said: “Well, I survived the first six months of the adult world, I think that in itself is a major accomplishment. I passed the first set of board examinations and learned many new skills. I did struggle, as I mentioned, to adjust at first, but now I have found my groove in the discomfort of growing, so that is another accomplishment.”
Careers asked Liebenberg what advice she would give to aspiring young people and she said: “Stop being comfortable. In discomfort you struggle, and when you struggle, you grow. No one ever achieved anything worthwhile by staying within their comfort zones. Test and improve your abilities.”
Facts about Clara Liebenberg
· Loves being active.
· Likes speed walking with her mother after work.
· Fanatic puzzle builder.
· Loves spending time with her family and friends, especially in the presence of God.
“In discomfort you struggle, and when you struggle, you grow.” - Clara Liebenberg
Clara Liebenberg was born in Windhoek, grew up in Walvis Bay and studied at Stellenbosch University, something that she is very proud of. Liebenberg was the third generation, on both sides of the family tree, to graduate from Stellenbosch. Caring, assertive, reliable, thorough, compassionate and kind-hearted are words that describe Liebenberg the best.
“At first, joining PwC as a new intake, fresh out of university, was quite daunting. I had the book knowledge, but with little to no work knowledge and no experience of the ‘grown-up world’. That feeling soon faded as PwC, and my now fellow employees, welcomed the new intakes with such a warm and caring embrace,” said Liebenberg. Liebenberg was quickly shown the ropes and soon began to form a part of the working world.
Since joining PwC, Liebenberg has joined the company’s Trainee Forum Committee as the first-year representative and she chairs the Walvis Bay committee.
Liebenberg’s days start and end with email; it just never seems to cease. “Usually, my day is quite jam-packed. There is not a moment that I am not busy, always working on a task, or ‘auditing’, as my parents call it. If I am not working on a specific task on an engagement, there are always admin tasks, Trainee Forum Committee tasks, that require attention.”
When asked what inspired her to get into this line of work, Liebenberg said: “I love a set way of doing things and order. Little did I know that auditing is not as ‘set’ as I had hoped. What also really drew me to becoming a C, is that CAs have the ability to ‘open doors’ and become anything: CFOs, CEOs, FMs, accountants, bookkeepers working from home, anything actually, and CAs can find work abroad easily. Wherever a CA goes, they are in demand.”
Asked about the accomplishments and challenges she has encountered in her journey, Liebenberg said: “Well, I survived the first six months of the adult world, I think that in itself is a major accomplishment. I passed the first set of board examinations and learned many new skills. I did struggle, as I mentioned, to adjust at first, but now I have found my groove in the discomfort of growing, so that is another accomplishment.”
Careers asked Liebenberg what advice she would give to aspiring young people and she said: “Stop being comfortable. In discomfort you struggle, and when you struggle, you grow. No one ever achieved anything worthwhile by staying within their comfort zones. Test and improve your abilities.”
Facts about Clara Liebenberg
· Loves being active.
· Likes speed walking with her mother after work.
· Fanatic puzzle builder.
· Loves spending time with her family and friends, especially in the presence of God.
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