In this episode we unpack lessons from Amanda Dambuza.
She is a successful businesswoman who founded and is the CEO of the project management firm Uyandiswa. The company sets up project management offices and executes projects for South Africa’s largest organisations. She is the author of Baked in Pain and A Girl Named Ayah. She also gives back her knowledge through the award-winning series Vastly Sage. Her name is Amanda Dambuza and here are some lessons we can learn from her.
Your past doesn't have to equal your future
“You can build a life of impact. It doesn’t matter where you’ve come from.”
“The pain I went through as a child gave me a deep sense of appreciation for my purpose.”
Amanda’s journey from childhood to where she now has not been a pretty one. She was rejected by her parents because she wasn’t a boy, her mother didn’t show up for her as she would have liked, she was physically, mentally and emotionally abused and where she grew up wasn’t exactly the best place on earth. She doesn’t even have a degree in it or project management. If her past was the determining factor for her future, then she would not have become the powerhouse she is today. Don’t put a full stop where there should be a comma. Where you are is not as important as where you are going. There isn’t a trauma you could grow from, there isn't a challenge you couldn't overcome and there isn’t a class you couldn’t take. Amanda used lessons from her past pain, grew, learnt and became better, not bitter. She is a loving mother, wife and business person now because she didn’t let her past equal her future.
Be the business
“Always listen out for opportunities in everything you do.”
Amanda spent many years in corporate as a project management professional and eventually became a c-suite executive in a major bank. To get to this point, she operated under the “you are the business” philosophy. This means you are the one who provides goods and services to clients who pay you - therefore you are responsible for all your economic outcomes and giving massive service to the marketplace. She treated her profession as a business and then she went and built her own project management firm that now turns over R100M annually - this was an extension of herself. She has also cultivated massive corporate relationships and sponsorships. This stems from her philosophy: be the business. When you adopt this philosophy, you take complete ownership of your work, focus on the massive value of service and are continually looking for opportunities to become and do more.
Give back your knowledge
“When you start to follow your purpose, you don’t feel like you’re giving up anything.”
It is said that only a true leader can create more leaders; a true teacher can teach others. This rings true with Amanda. On her way to growing her career and business, she practised coaching and mentoring. She would have those in her corner to point out any blind spots and she would also mentor those who needed to learn. Her series, Vastly Sage has a focus on providing mentorship and guidance for those working in corporate. When you teach others you also deepen your own understanding. The more you teach, the more you learn and the more you grow. Amanda also shares her vulnerabilities in her book Baked in Pain and hope for the newer generation in A Girl Named Ayah. When you get to a point where you can share your life lessons and journey, then become a mentor and share your knowledge.
Live your life for the fun
“In difficult seasons, hang on to the idea that ‘someday, your season will change’
Life can be difficult. There will be times when things are hard, where your prayers go no higher than your head and you feel you can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel or that you can’t even see the tunnel. There will also be times where you work hard and have a sense that you need to be serious most of the time. However, don’t take things way too seriously. Always take time to laugh, dance, have fun and look at the lighter side of life. Amanda makes no apologies for having fun constantly as we can witness on her social media profiles. When you take in the small pleasures in life and are lighthearted in your approach, it draws people closer to you, you have more energy and a clearer perspective on tackling life’s challenges. Remember, the number of people who are going to attend your funeral will largely be determined by the weather that day. Live your life for fun.
Treat everyone with reverence
“Treat people with respect regardless of who they are or where they’ve come from.”
You never know where anyone you meet will be tomorrow. The person you disrespect today will be the person you need tomorrow. The person who is held in high regard may not be that way tomorrow. Regardless, treat everyone you meet with respect and reverence because we share a basic identity with them. What made Mandela more of a legend was his ability to treat everyone, from the gardener to the CEO, with the utmost humility and respect. This quality allows you to build real and authentic relationships. Amanda has this quality that draws audiences to her and allows her to live a great quality of life.
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