The road to success and self-discovery is gruelling, and it often gets more challenging the further you travel. But with persistence and a relentless drive to reach your goals, you’re likely to find yourself in a space that aligns with what you truly want to achieve.

We chatted to Rati Mashego, Product Designer at Yoco, about his career pivot, and the resilience and passion it took to reach his growth goals.

Encountering Yoco

Rati first came across a Yoco card machine in 2016. At the time, he was in his third year studying Jazz. He was intrigued by the simplicity and innovation of Yoco’s card machine and software. In his efforts to learn more about the company, he was excited about Yoco’s mission to help business owners thrive.

“I thought Yoco was the startup dream - it’s innovative, it’s local, and it’s empowering businesses.”

Although his academic background in music was far removed from digital payments, Rati was drawn to Yoco’s culture and purpose. Confident in his ability to contribute to the mission, he applied for a Growth Intern role:

“I know I was studying music, but I backed myself. I had relentless confidence. Maybe I didn’t have the credentials, but I figured if I believe in myself enough, I can do it.”

Unfortunately he didn’t secure the internship, but his interest in the company remained.

Three years later he applied for a Community Manager role, but he wasn’t hired for this role either. Reflecting on these rejections now, Rati sees them as blessings in disguise.

“Little did I know, not getting those roles was the best thing that could’ve happened. It meant I didn’t miss the pivot that would lead me to product design.”

These initial rejections fuelled Rati’s determination. Had he secured either of these roles, he might have missed the opportunity to uncover his passion for product design.

Pivoting into product design

The turning point in Rati’s career came while scrolling through Instagram. He stumbled across a post advertising a free webinar explaining product design.Inspired by what he learnt at this webinar, he started to explore product design; studying online and watching tutorials by experienced designers.

“I wasn’t thinking about Yoco at that point. I’d parked the Yoco bus. This was just about backing myself to do something I wanted to do.”

As Rati delved into design, he reached out to people for insights into the field. One of his connections happened to work at Yoco and introduced him to the company’s Head of Product Design.

After discussing the field more and showcasing a few portfolio pieces from his studies, Yoco’s Head of Product Design was determined to onboard Rati into the Yoco team for the long term. But the process wasn’t linear.

Rati secured a Customer Support Consultant role, with a plan to help him develop in the design space:

“They knew I wanted to be a designer, and so they made sure there was a track for me to get there.”

Even though it wasn’t the job he wanted to grow towards, it marked the beginning of a new chapter in his career–a journey fuelled by curiosity, resilience, and the willingness to take an unconventional path.

Building connections in a new field

Rati embraced his new role in customer support, determined to do his best work and make a lasting impression, while learning product design on the side.

“I remember thinking to myself; first of all, you’re living the dream. Second of all, you have to shoot the lights out.”

Whilst he excelled in customer support, Rati closely connected with Yoco’s design and product teams. With his ultimate goal of becoming a designer, he wanted to learn from the Yoco employees within this space.

These conversations helped him stay motivated and informed as he continued to upskill on the side. Everyone’s openness to share expertise and their willingness to provide guidance supported Rati on his growth journey:

“The personability of people in this company - being willing to share knowledge - helped me as this budding, excited designer.”

When Yoco opened a junior product designer position, Rati’s dedication paid off. Confident in his preparation and focus, Rati aced the application process and secured the job.

His journey up until this stage reflects the dedication he has to his work, and the supportive culture of knowledge-sharing and career growth that is prevalent in Yoco’s environment.

Crafting a career on an unconventional path

Rati’s journey to becoming an established product designer wasn’t a smooth or linear path. He navigated this uncharted territory without a set structure or clear guidelines:

“It was probably one of the most gruelling journeys I’ve been on. There was just a massive ocean of stuff that I didn’t know I didn’t know.”

The supportive culture at Yoco, where people were open to sharing their knowledge and mentoring him, helped Rati’s growth as a junior designer:

“I used to sit with Yoco designers and just watch what they were doing, asking all the stupid questions.”

With the help of his mentors, he expanded his understanding of design tools and interaction design.

Although Rati’s journey was filled with uncertainty, his drive and willingness to learn, as well as Yoco’s collaborative environment, led to profound professional growth.

Growing in Yoco’s culture

Following an unconventional career growth path can be daunting, but for Rati, he appreciates the autonomy Yoco offers him to choose how he wants to professionally evolve.

He appreciates being surrounded by talented individuals who are passionate about their work:

“I’m surrounded by talented people who genuinely love what they do. It’s a uniquely beautiful and heartwarming space.”

Rati notes that it takes courage and malleability to thrive in Yoco’s fast-paced, dynamic environment. But with support from the Yoco team, his perseverance throughout his learning journey, and willingness to adapt, Rati was able to secure his career goals.

He continues to grow as a product designer, which aligns with his favourite Yoco value, mastering your craft. He’s well-versed in unconventional growth journeys, and understands these processes don’t happen overnight.

Rati’s design mentors taught him that mastery requires patience to commit to long-term excellence: “In everything you do, you must strive to become a master of this. There will be many challenges and discomfort at times, but you will succeed with a combination of patience and grit.”

At Yoco, Rati’s found a supportive yet challenging environment that allows him to grow both personally and professionally. The space, along with his drive for mastery and constant curiosity, has fuelled his ambitions as a product designer.

If you’re looking for a meaningful work environment where you can grow both professionally and personally, visit our careers page to explore our current job openings.