Member spotlight | How Samke Mhlongo and Profmed’s shared vision supports overall professional wellness

What began as a conversation about financial literacy and empowerment has grown into a far-reaching series on holistic wellness. “In season one Savvy with Samke predominantly focused on financial wellness, but that was only the beginning,” says Mhlongo. “In season two, we looked at everything from menopause to mental wellness, from career advice and positioning to fertility treatments, breast cancer and legal rights.”

Season two also doubled in size, growing from four to eight episodes, with 16 unique guests spanning multiple disciplines. Each conversation reflected the nuanced, interconnected aspects of professional life, particularly through a female lens. “All our guests were women,” Mhlongo explains. “That wasn’t by design alone, but also about how women prefer to learn and consume information. Men often prefer data and graphs, while women tend to process by talking things through. Savvy with Samke is about giving women that safe, informed space to learn and share.”

 

A partnership rooted in purpose

Profmed’s collaboration with Mhlongo is a partnership grounded in shared purpose. Both recognise that professional wellbeing is multi-dimensional, encompassing health, emotional resilience, financial literacy, and personal growth.

Through Savvy with Samke, Profmed gives professionals access to conversations that reflect their realities, including the challenges of balancing ambition with mental health, the shifting expectations of women in the workplace, and the financial and lifestyle decisions that shape long-term wellbeing.

“The beauty of Savvy with Samke is that it makes these topics approachable,” says Mhlongo. “You might be going through perimenopause or struggling with burnout or debt, and here’s a conversation that shows you you’re not alone, and there are tools and people who can help. That’s what Profmed is enabling.”

As a brand ambassador, Mhlongo also plays a crucial role in amplifying Profmed’s message of proactive health and wellness. She sees her work not just as education but as advocacy, encouraging South African professionals to take charge of their wellbeing with the same intention they bring to their careers.

“I have been diagnosed with Bipolar 2, and I’m very willing to talk about it,” she says. “It’s a chronic condition on the Prescribed Minimum Benefits list as well, which means my sessions with my therapist, which are vital for my mental wellness, are always covered by PMBs, even if my day-to-day benefits run out. These are the types of topics I want to share with others, so that they know what’s available to them, and that we should be speaking about these journeys and our experiences.”

 

Inspiring professionals to live better

The response to the second season of Savvy with Samke proves that local professionals have an appetite for this kind of content. Viewership and engagement continue to grow as more professionals recognise that true success requires more than career achievement, but also demands self-care, community, and informed decision-making.

Mhlongo believes this momentum is only the beginning. “Profmed puts out so many great tools and resources,” she says. “What we’re working on now is ensuring that members are supported to use them and that there’s hand-holding, gentle nudges, and prompts to help people get the best out of what’s available. That’s how you move from being reactive to truly proactive about your health and wellbeing.”