“I AM AFRICAN WILDFIRE!” – Audrey Simbiso Chidawanyika
Women in Africa are applauded for dominating as entrepreneurs as they impact and add a massive contribution to the economic growth of Africa with their booming businesses and companies.
Over the years, women especially in some parts of Africa have been restricted in venturing into being entrepreneurs because of the stereotypes binding them created by societal beliefs. Audrey Simbiso Chidawanyika, a business re-engineering expert, is amongst women entrepreneurs in Africa to break the binding stereotypes against women. She is an African Wildfire. Being a phenomenal woman means knowing and accepting your purpose and that you can do anything you set your mind on. This statement could not be much farther from the truth, with an inspiring woman.
ONE ON ONE
Audrey’s passion for being in the human development industry terms comes from a young age. “I have always wanted my life to be better than how I grew up. We had it hard growing up and having been involved in countless small businesses and projects at home that were never sustained but ensured we survived. I knew I had to step in and get the knowledge of how to sustainably run businesses. Not only to help my family sustain its livelihood but to also help transform businesses within my community,” she says. During her journey In improving the standard of living and quality of life for family and communities, she became a wildfire. “My work spilled from just being Mabvuku/Tafara to being in surrounding communities,” says the multidimensional leader.
Audrey’s goals are simply creating a better world for others as she grew up in a community where she had a front bus seat of seeing people struggling to have a decent living. Children heading families. Child prostitution. Child marriages. Drugs and narcotics abuse. And crime.
“My heart was constantly bleeding, I wanted to see better and to become a part of the change I wanted to see,” she disclosed.
She was dreaming of creating a better place where children will live without fear of being children and yearned for a place where no child would have to sell in public and risk abuse just like she suffered.
GOALS AND CAREER
From a very young age, Audrey knew she wanted to bring about change and help fight against poverty. As a result of her burning appetite, Simbiso jumped into her first public service role at the age of 12. Her main core was to protect children. “Since then, I have dedicated my life to serving others, using my skills and abilities. To influence businesses, non-profits, startups, etc… To be human-centered in their approaches,” she says. Audrey volunteers with various organizations such as:
- AfCFTA Young Entrepreneurs Federation,
- Youth Up Global,
- Be Bold Africa,
- Girls for Girls,
- Futuremakers by Standard Chartered,
- Young Africa Botswana,
- Youth Business International,
- She found,
- Mkaziprenuership,
…and many other institutions across Africa.
Furthermore, at 21 years she became a managing director of Meat box. Audrey reflected that “Through this experience, I learned to run a business, to sit in meetings with stakeholders, and to negotiate space for myself and others.”
Her combination of loyalty and hard work encouraged her to spread her wings higher. Audrey’s endeavor crossed the borders into some other regions of the continent. She has helped many acquire brilliant skills and knowledge in the industry. Again, she got appointed as the Regional Director for Southern Africa at Youth Up Global.
“My role is to ensure youths in the region come together to create the Africa they want to see,” she explains. She strived in being an active leader in society, consequently, in 2019 she was nominated to be part of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. “This component in my journey catapulted me into the future like a rocket launch to SpaceX. It opened doors for me to meet amazing leaders in Africa and across the globe,” says the business expert.
PAN AFRICA WOMEN’S MONTH
As women are doing exceptionally well in the business sector and are being celebrated for their achievements, it comes with its challenges as it is not an African norm to see women taking lead as it is normally a path set for men. Society was not ready for this transition. The thought of women leading the herd is not a common phenomenon. “Women are the backstage and now that we know that we also can be upstage, some men are not having that,” said Audrey.
There are so many hurdles that women have to face at home, in the workplace, and everywhere and they have to work twice as hard to be half as good and not to be seen as weak. The playing field is not leveled and will not be in a long time, instead of leaning in, women are disrupting. “We are raising our voices not to scream or shout but to convey our voice of reason. We are not yet there but we are certainly not where we were,” she adds.
Women are taking up leadership in Public Service, Politics, Business, Economics, Arts, and Entertainment. Everywhere women are dominating. They are not part of the game, they are the game and they are changing the rules. It’s not an easy journey. It is characterized by seemingly insurmountable frontiers, but nothing can never stop a force that is determined to rise. Just like the legend of the Phoenix, we are rising. “I have faced so many challenges at home and in the workplace. I have been second-guessed, slut shamed, body shamed but I came to realize that this was not personal to me. Through my interactions with other phenomenal female leaders from different walks of life, I came to the realization that this is an attack on women in general, ” says Audrey.
She was not going to make these attacks a trigger point, she grew a thick skin.”Now when I get those insults, I just laugh and look. Who stoops so low to that level? Challenges and failures are a part of the journey, fail fast and fail forward. Learn, unlearn and relearn from experiences, they are a part of your story because they are a puzzle piece that completes the bigger picture” she concludes. Never stop getting better, fall in love with the journey and all its experiences.
UNWINDING
Audrey likes having fun when working. “My work is a blast and fusion of fun on its own. I guess that’s what happens when you do what you love. Passion is never work. When I travel with work, I always find time to try out new food, meet people, and enjoy the nightlife. I also have a wonderful team, driven and forward-thinking innovators, servant leaders who ensure that in the busyness of everything I remember to catch a breath and a glass of sparkling wine,” she mentioned.
ADVICE TO OTHER ENTREPRENEURS
As a business engineering expert, Simbiso shared her advice. ”The Africa we want is NOW and you have a part to play in making the world a better place. I know that as a generation, we are going through the most, but this is the time to have a positive mental attitude, roll up the sleeves, and put in the work. Go out there and build on your social currency, leverage on it to build on your other currencies. She added that they must build on financial and intellectual currency and many more. “The world is your stage, and it’s waiting for you to step into the light and give it your best performance. Dominate!,” Audrey says.
Ripfumelo is an ambitious and self-motivated individual who thrives on challenges and constantly sets objectives for herself. She's always looking for an opportunity to do better and achieve greatness.
