18 year old me alongside a newly-minted President Nelson Mandela in June 1994, a month after his inauguration as the first president of a democratic South Africa. Over the years, I’ve often heard people saying how charismatic Mandela was in person, and I can only agree: he had a tangible magnetism that drew adults and children alike to him; and he had a way of making you feel as if you were the only person in the whole world when he spoke with you. On this day, he asked about my studies at Wits University, and wanted to know what I planned to do once I graduated; and I responded that my ultimate aim was to work in the human rights and social justice space. 30 years later, I would like to believe that the idealistic, passionate 18 year old me would quietly approve of the path I’ve taken over the decades, leading me to a point where I live my purpose every day through the work I do. And what a humbling privilege that is. Happy Mandela Day! #MandelaDay2024 #PurposeDriven #MeasurableImpact
This story raises the same old question are leaders born or made? Or do leaders know that they are born to lead?....keep doing the good work 🙏🙏🙏we admire and are inspired from a distance 🙏.
Sorry to be the thorn, with all due respect he sold us out to the privileged imperialist white minority. We still being exploited and our natural resources plundered and stolen. Free Africa from captured Colonialism and Imperialism.
You set your intentions right there and then and went on to make it happen. Beautiful story.
So inspiring Nozizwe (Zizwe) Vundla. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful and intimate story. Deserving the same smile today than 18 year old you, as you are making the world a better place. Thank you for supporting some out-of-the-box change makers and helping many more young people to dream.
Nozizwe (Zizwe) Vundla , your 18 year old self would have taken one look at your 15 LinkedIn experiences and said: “Well done, tata Madiba would be proud of you” , thank you for your heart and serving our beautiful nation🇿🇦
Beautiful...you, the story, the path you have taken...all of it! Just beauty full! 😍
Wow, memories to live by.... inspired
CEO Greenhouse Business Development and Founder Greenhouse Foundation NPC/NPO ( 19K connections)
2moA truelly inspirational man the likes of which we will never see again but his seeds of hope and wisdom will always be with us.I do not waiver,I do not despair, I do surcome to pressure of society, I do not Give up,I believe I can change the world ,I love unconditionally I do I do I do so your legacy may live on.