Today, we’re diving into a powerful and increasingly common journey: leaving one career path to follow a different calling. It’s a story of courage, passion and the ultimate pursuit of fulfilment. We see this firsthand in the remarkable journey of Neliswa Nkala Maseko, known as Mrs M. An accountant by training, she chose to trade ledgers for ladles, transforming her life and the culinary scene of Eswatini by embracing her true passion as a food innovator.
Neliswa Nkala Maseko, affectionately known as Mrs M, is a modern African woman who has seamlessly blended her professional discipline with her creative passion. An accountant by profession and a chef by choice, Maseko’s journey is rooted in her Eswatini heritage and family values, which form the foundation of her culinary approach and entrepreneurship.
Cooking has always been in Maseko’s DNA, with her mother serving as the blueprint. Although she was not particularly interested in the culinary arts during her early childhood, she eventually rediscovered her passion in her 20s. This rekindling was driven by her innate creativity and a desire to explore food beyond traditional boundaries. The COVID-19 pandemic proved to be a pivotal moment for her, prompting a new, experimental approach to the kitchen. She began to share her culinary journey online, an act that ‘sparked attention, conversations and eventually revealed my true purpose: Championing indigenous food innovation.’
This online presence garnered attention from major brands, launching her as one of the first food brand influencers in the country. She has since worked with prominent companies such as Woolworths Africa, Eswatini Meat Industries, World Vegetable Centre, Beacon Treats and Parmalat.
For Maseko, family remains very close to her heart. As the youngest of four sisters, she adores her siblings. Despite the passing of both her parents, she is blessed to be surrounded by a loving extended family who have stepped in as mother and father figures. She is also happily married, celebrating almost a decade of marriage. “My family is my anchor, my biggest source of love and strength and the quiet foundation behind everything I do,” she said.
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