Maria Makumbe, the CEO of Her Life

When one thinks of a CEO (Chief Executive Officer), they think of a boss, a person who holds a position of authority and carries great responsibility. Maria sees herself as the CEO of a big business in the future. However, I would like to argue that she already is. She is the CEO of her life.

Maria started with Yes We Can South Africa Foundation (YWC) during lockdown, a time when people's hope, productivity and opportunities to earn an income were dim. She, however, was determined to overcome this reality. She learnt to sew from scratch and describes her role with YWC as rewarding, but one that requires focus. She has managed to generate an income for herself and her family. She sews many of YWC’s orders, as she masters bags for the Foundation's clients. Did we mention that she bought an industrial machine for herself? Maria’s story is beyond inspirational, it makes one question whether we have the same 24 hours in a day!

Despite coming from an economically impoverished background, at just 26, Maria has obtained her driver's licence, bought herself a car, and laid the foundation for a house of her own, in Harare, Zimbabwe. She plans to continue building her home from the beginning of 2027. These are significant milestones, particularly when one considers the circumstances she has had to overcome to get here.

In addition to this, she works for a guesthouse as a housekeeper. Guests love her, describing her as friendly and helpful. Initially, Maria had also put her car on Uber, earning a weekly income through the driver. However, amid the immediate and violent threat of xenophobia in the country, her driver fled to Zimbabwe. Unable to find someone she could trust with her car, this source of income has, unfortunately, been put on hold.

Fortunately, Maria is not entirely dependent on one source of income. She also buys and sells clothing, allowing her to diversify her earnings. As a CEO, being financially savvy is an important skill, requiring both tact and discipline. Diversifying her income streams is a step towards greater financial independence, while Maria has also found her own way of saving. She explains that she converts her rands into dollars to help ensure that she does not spend the money she has set aside.

Financial difficulties prevented Maria from continuing her education beyond Grade 10, despite her desire to study law. One might assume that there is little opportunity to build the life one desires without formal tertiary education. Maria, however, challenges this notion. She has demonstrated that it is possible to carve out a life for yourself, even when the circumstances you find yourself in do not necessarily favour you. Sometimes, the road to your destination looks different from what you initially imagined, but there is more than one way to get there.

From a teenager who married and became a mother prematurely to a woman who owns a car and is building her own home; from residing in the township to living in the suburbs, Maria's journey is one of determination and growth. Here at YWC, we love to empower women so that they can empower themselves and their families. It is an added bonus when they can extend that empowerment to other women.

Maria expresses that she encourages young girls to hold off on marriage until they are ready and feel fulfilled in themselves. She hopes that no young woman has to choose between enjoying her youth and taking on responsibilities before she is ready. In essence, she encourages young women to become whole in themselves, to explore life and reach for the stars before taking on the responsibility of building a life with someone else and other people.

Young, determined and the CEO of her life, what is next for this young powerhouse?

If she continues on this path, we are certain that she will achieve the dreams she has set for herself. At the moment, she admits that she is unable to enjoy much of a social life because she is weighed down by responsibilities. However, we hope that once she reaches financial stability, she will finally have the freedom to travel the world, as she dreams of doing.

After all, being the CEO of your life is not just about building a business, buying a car or owning a home. It is also about creating a life in which you have the freedom to dream, to explore and to enjoy the fruits of your labour. Maria is already building that life for herself. And we cannot wait to see what she does next!