Aug 24, 2026 · 1 hr 4 min · 10 segments
What does an economist actually do and how does economic analysis translate into the public policies that shape our everyday lives? In Episode 04 of The Economic Diplomat, Olwethu Pityana-Matji sits…
Kagiso MamaboloGuest
Olwethu Pityana-MatjiHostWe hear about GDP, unemployment, inflation, government debt, and economic growth almost every single day.
But behind those numbers are economists, researchers, and policymakers working to understand what they mean for our economy, our public finances, and ultimately our everyday lives.
Welcome to episode four of The Economic Diplomat and another conversation in our Women's Month special series.
In this episode, I sit down with Takeso Mamabolo, an economist at the Parliamentary Budget Office of Parliament of South Africa, to go beyond the numbers and understand the people behind public policy.
We speak about her journey into economics, what it actually means to work as an economist, and the role economists play within Parliament and the broader public sector.
We also explore her journey as a Mandela Washington Fellow, her recognition as one of the Mail and Guardian 200 Young South Africans, the economic challenges currently facing South Africa, and what the next generation of economists and young professionals can do to help shape the country's future.
This is a conversation about economics, yes, but also about careers, public service, leadership, and the responsibility of our generation and what it has to contribute to the future we want to see.
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We hear about GDP, unemployment, inflation, government debt, and economic growth almost every single day.
But behind those numbers are economists, researchers, and policymakers working to understand what they mean for our economy, our public finances, and ultimately our everyday lives.
Welcome to episode four of The Economic Diplomat and another conversation in our Women's Month special series.
In this episode, I sit down with Takeso Mamabolo, an economist at the Parliamentary Budget Office of Parliament of South Africa, to go beyond the numbers and understand the people behind public policy.
We speak about her journey into economics, what it actually means to work as an economist, and the role economists play within Parliament and the broader public sector.
We also explore her journey as a Mandela Washington Fellow, her recognition as one of the Mail and Guardian 200 Young South Africans, the economic challenges currently facing South Africa, and what the next generation of economists and young professionals can do to help shape the country's future.
This is a conversation about economics, yes, but also about careers, public service, leadership, and the responsibility of our generation and what it has to contribute to the future we want to see.