Online Reporter
Mbulelo Mpofu, [email protected]
TODAY, the world marks International Women’s Day, honouring the social, economic, cultural, and political triumphs of women. As Women’s History Month progresses, the demand for swift equality grows louder.
In this spirit, we spotlight Samantha Banda, a Bulawayo native, whose transformative experience at the Forbes Woman Africa Leading Women Summit in Pretoria, she describes as profoundly “eye-opening.”
“Attending the Forbes Woman Leading Summit has been an eye-opener for me, and one of the key takeaways and inspirations has been seeing the boldness that most of the women exude. It’s not about changing the world, but rather bringing that feminine touch and literally shaking whatever industry they are in.
“This annual summit welcomes African and international visionaries from business, technology, government, arts, entertainment, sports, and civil society to address some of the biggest opportunities and challenges facing female leadership today.
Hearing life-changing stories from different walks of life has been an inspiration to me because at this summit, we have women from the African continent as a whole, and I’ve been fortunate enough to be a part of the few women who attend these kinds of meetings. It’s an honour to be one of the women in this charge towards women’s emancipation,” she said.
This year’s edition showcased the best of their award-winning editorial content, attracting top-tier, A-list speakers — from global billionaires to Hollywood celebrities, Olympian sports stars, corporate titans, and Grammy-winning artistes — featuring curated conversations and content that touched on the engaging topics and trends of the day and beyond.
These esteemed individuals included Tiwa Savage, Zozibini Tunzi, Tems Temilade Openiyi, Gyakie Jackline Acheampong, Greg Solomon, and Fifi Peters.
It’s a common childhood experience to be asked, “What do you aspire to be in life after school?” For Banda, who envisioned herself as a lawyer and a businesswoman, she brought that dream to life, even though she hasn’t actively practiced law, something she refers to as a “prestigious degree.”
“Events management taught me how to run a business, but my passion drove me into property development and real estate management. I think I have been subconsciously in the property development space for a long time without knowing it.
“So, transitioning from events management to property development hasn’t been that hard because the principles applied to both are the same,” she said.
As a multi-faceted woman armed with a law degree from Oxford University in the UK, and currently pursuing a Property Development Post-Graduate degree with the National University of Science and Technology (Nust), Banda is not resting on her laurels, seeking opportunities to expand her portfolio.
Born and raised in Njube, Banda, an Air BnB host, real estate manager, property developer, and event planner, is a true shape-shifter, constantly adapting to disrupt.
“Growing up in the townships and being able to appreciate both worlds, as I have learnt in Insukamini all the way up to Malaysia and Oxford University in the UK, has made me appreciate life more and take nothing for granted, as I have lived in both extremes,” she said.
Since 2022, she has seen her real estate portfolio grow from hosting two BnBs to now hosting five.
Despite her busy schedule, Banda finds time to play golf, read, and travel in solitude. These activities help her recharge. To her, they are therapeutic.
This year’s Women’s History Month theme, “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating and Inspiring Generations,” resonates deeply with Banda, who is not content with simply being a reference point, but is leading the charge towards helping the next generation of entrepreneurs through mentorship.
“It’s not enough to just be the woman with knowledge and skills without sharing them. So, I have made it a point to mentor and coach other women on what my career in business has taught me. I have tapped into a new space of teaching people the importance of having vision boards and how they can significantly change their lives. So, this year’s theme is a call to skills and knowledge exchange,” she said.
Vision or dream boards are visual representations of one’s goals, often comprising a collage of images and affirmations representing one’s dreams and desires.
Banda has faced the age-old challenge of having to work twice as hard to prove herself as a woman for recognition compared to her male counterparts.
“Constantly having to prove yourself worthy of recognition, especially in a male-dominated space, has been a challenge because you have to work twice as hard for that,” she said.
Boasting a plethora of accolades and recognition, including a “Customer Focus Award of the Year 2022” at the Megafest Business Awards for her work with “Crown Events,” the Female Founders Initiative Middle East and Africa 50 under 50 award at the Sheeo Leadership Bootcamp in Qatar last year, and a Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium
Enterprises Development affiliation graduation from micro to being a small enterprise certificate in 2023, Banda has positioned herself for entrepreneurial elevation.
She has been a speaker at various high-level business conferences, including the Money Soiree and the Agenda Women Summit, inspiring other women to take up spaces in their respective industries.
Banda’s mission is to reach global business icon status, something she’s ready to dedicate her blood, sweat, and tears towards.
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