You gotta have Faith

Faith is what Faith Mangope, a former learner of Sandringham High School, is all about.

The talented news anchor, radio presenter and entrepreneur said she had dreams of being the first female president of South Africa and believed this kind of success was attainable if one kept one’s integrity, honourable work ethic, passion – and yes, faith.

Mangope said she stumbled into a media profession by what she called ‘serendipity’. “I was studying industrial relations and psychology. I had my sights on getting involved in politics or diplomacy, but then, one day, Primedia visited our campus at the University of the Witwatersrand.”

As things were, one of her lectures was cancelled that day. “My friend said to me, ‘Why don’t we see what Primedia is up to?’ They were holding auditions. I read a few lines and was offered a job as a call screener on Radio 702!”

Within three months Faith was promoted to the station’s executive producer of the Early Breakfast Show. She was just 21 years old.

She believed her success was such because of her work ethic. “I kept my studies up, even though I sometimes worked early morning hours.”

Two years ago, she decided to support girls and young women in the community and opened the Faith Mangope Technology and Leadership Institute. “My vision is to transform education in every country on the African continent.”

She looks back on her career with awe, and forward with expectation. “I sometimes wonder what would have happened had my lecture not been cancelled that day,” she mused.
Still, she explained, this and so many other chance events and opportunities might have come to nothing, had she not embraced the miracle of the moment.

Details: Follow Faith Mangopeon Twitter @FaithMangope or Facebook #FaithMangope.

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