Episode #13 of the Diving for Pearls podcast has officially launched!!! In this episode, I sit down with Yvonne Mtengwa, Dubai-based Marketing and PR Communications Strategist, Founder of Travel Essence Magazine and Reinvented Today, Owner of Narratives PR (a boutique communications consultancy), and 2020 MIPAD (Most Influential People of African Descent) recipient, to discuss how operating from a place of faith, abundance and love has helped her surmount challenges and setbacks and emerge on the other side. Truly believing that there is no triumph without trials, and no victory without struggle, Yvonne regularly turns to the Creator for spiritual guidance and direction. She believes that every trial and tribulation that we experience in life provides us with powerful opportunities to reinvent ourselves, leveraging both the successes and failures to tap into something greater and bigger than we ever imagined.
Born in Zimbabwe and raised in a middle-income family where the spirit of ubuntu* permeated home life and community, the personal power to commit to the common good and welfare of neighbor was always at the core of Yvonne’s actions, thoughts, and deeds. It wasn’t until Yvonne moved from Zimbabwe to the U.S at the age of 18 to attend university was her notion about the intricacies of life and ethics of African traditional life and community challenged; surviving a car accident in December of 2004 in the U.S was not only a life-altering moment for Yvonne, but also became the season where she “found her spirituality”. It was during those times of uncertainty, fear and anxiety that Yvonne realized that she needed to anchor her faith in God’s faithfulness and power. Taking refuge in Isaiah 43: 18-19, Yvonne knew that no matter what trial she was facing, God was at the helm and would provide a means of protection and escape for her.
Realizing that in moments of distress and chaos, there are opportunities, Yvonne was able to see her way forward. Her tenure in the U.S taught her tenacity and drive that she needed to forge ahead. After coming to the UAE in 2013 a place that she fondly describes as a “land of opportunity and growth”, Yvonne worked in the Tourism industry as Head of Public Relations for Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, where she served as principal communications liaison between the park, local, regional and international media, corporate stakeholders and brand Ferrari Communications team in Maranello, Italy. Utilizing her PR and marketing expertise, Yvonne later founded Narratives Inc., a boutique PR and communications agency, and Travel Essence magazine, a lifestyle and culture magazine promoting and showcasing destinations in Africa and in the UAE. Yvonne is living testimony that you can achieve more in faith than in fear. A firm believer that every season has its purpose and that our lives should be a blueprint that illustrates God’s goodness, Yvonne advocates that we start where we are. Do what we can with what we have. It’s up to us to define what our journey will look like.
Please subscribe to the Diving for Pearls podcast on Apple, Spotify, Patreon, iHeart and wherever you listen to podcasts and please rate and review. Thank you in advance for your support. Please connect with Yvonne Mtengwa on LinkedIn @Yvonne Mtengwa, on Instagram @quintessentially_yvonne and on Facebook @Yvonne C Mtengwa. Additionally, please also connect with on Yvonne at www.reinventedtoday.com and at www.travelessencemag.com
Thank you.