Professional, social, and personal commitments are often overwhelming to tend to on a daily basis. We recently sat down with Mona Motshoane, Yoco’s Warehouse and Distribution Lead, a mother of two and a South African “Touchbok,” to discuss her journey to becoming a touch rugby champion.

Mona gives us a glimpse into her life as a master multitasker and why having a supportive environment was pivotal to achieving her personal and professional goals.

How a simple choice shaped a touch rugby champion

Mona’s touch rugby journey began in high school, when the seemingly simple decision to choose touch rugby over netball would go on to fundamentally shape the rest of her life.

“I really didn’t understand netball, so I chose touch rugby, really enjoyed it, and never looked back.”

This decision set her on a path that would lead to representing South Africa on the international stage and triumphantly bringing home a bronze medal in the 2024 Touch World Cup.

Lessons learnt on the field applied at work

The once-in-a-lifetime experience didn’t just give Mona the opportunity to demonstrate her sporting prowess; it equipped her with valuable learnings that she’s been able to apply directly to her work at Yoco.

“I learnt the importance of understanding, investing in, and moving through the process - instead of solely focusing on the outcome.”

“If you do that consistently, with discipline, and if you show up every day - even on days where you’re not your best - the results you want will come,” says Mona.

But being a “Touchbok” is not without its sacrifices.

Overcoming physical and financial challenges

Preparing to play on the world stage is a gruelling endeavour for any sportsperson. The birth of Mona’s second child a mere ten months prior added another layer of complexity to the process.

“I had to do some serious work to get back into shape. I went to an endocrinologist, a nutritionist, and a trainer so I could get into shape within ten months of having a caesarean. It was hectic, but so worth it. I’d do it all over again.”

In addition to the physical demands of the game, players have to shoulder the financial burden of playing touch rugby. As a pay-to-play sport, all participation is self-funded. But for Mona, the pay-off outweighs the sacrifice.

“The reality is that yes, there are financial implications, but the fact that it means that I get to do what I love puts that into perspective.”

Balancing roles with the right support

Mona notes that balancing three demanding - and vastly different - roles is possible when you have the right support systems in place.

She feels that when you do what you love, all the pieces fall into place.

“I’m so fortunate to have an awesome group of people rooting for me. I have the help of my incredible husband and a wonderful full-time nanny who make it possible for me to attend practice, as well as phenomenal teammates who happily work around everyone’s schedules.”

“And then, of course, there’s Yoco.”

How Yoco supports personal and professional growth

For Mona, this journey wouldn’t have been possible without Yoco’s support.

“Over and above them working around me so that I can train, they also assisted me financially so that I could get to the World Cup.”

“I have an amazing manager who’s given me the space to thrive in my personal life so that I can be the best I can be at work, and my colleagues have been wonderfully supportive throughout. Cheering me on from back home, they inundated me with messages of encouragement while I was at the World Cup.”

Mona explains that finding workarounds and building ways for people to pursue their passions outside of their careers is championed throughout Yoco.

“If you’re given the opportunity to join us - don’t think twice.”

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