In each Issue of Sibo-Lifestyle Magazine, we interview individuals that dream big, pursue their dreams and are pursuing success on their own terms. I’d like us to learn from them, to see how like us they are or how they differ from us. For us to see what we can do differently or continue to do to pursue our own dreams and success. This month we get to hear from Nompakamiso Hude.
Nompakamiso Hude is a modern business leader that has trained and excelled at world class institutions, managing top lifestyle brands such as Jack Daniels, Amstel, Smirnoff and Gin Tanqueray. She has been interviewed by the likes of DJ Fresh on Metro FM, been a panelist at alcoholic beverage industry events and spoken at events hosted by different brands such as Dawn Beauty SA. She has lived a life many of us dream of: living in and traveling to exotic locations around the world; interacting with people the average person dreams of meeting and attending events many can only dream of like New York Fashion Week and Essence Festival. She is a jetsetter who is pursuing her dreams and someone whose book I think we can take a page from.
Growing up, did you imagine you would do the things you’ve been able to do in your life? Were you a dreamer as a child?
No, I never imaged that we would move out of Khayelitsha (one of the poorest neighborhoods in South Africa) where I was born and raised. I never imagined I would be working for global companies that would send me overseas and expose me to a life I never even dreamed about. I certainly never thought I would be living in New York City, for as long as I did working in corporate America. I was never much of a dreamer, I truly lived for the moment – I miss that about myself. I was curious about things yes but never a dreamer.
So far, what are you most proud of achieving?
I am most proud of taking the decision to move to New York City without knowing anybody there! It was the best decision ever! I have met the most awesome people and I’ve had incredible experiences in the last 5-6 years; I don’t think I would have had all these experiences had I not taken the leap of faith and stepped out of my comfort zone. Of course, it didn’t come without challenges or frustrations.
What challenges did the move come with?
Since moving to New York, I had to get used to a few things. Not having the support of family or friends was tough at the beginning and I had to find ways to beat the loneliness and keep myself entertained. There were work pressures too. The fast pace and working with the best in the world meant I had to perform at my highest level.
One of the biggest challenges came when, on my way from a weekend in Jamaica, I got a message that the apartment I lived in had burnt down. This was after living in New York for only 2 months!
I got back to NYC with one carry-on bag full of bikinis right in the middle of November in New York where temperatures were -3 degrees Celsius! I had lost everything. My clothes, my brand-new furniture, my documents, gifts from my friends and family from back home, sentimental items that reminded me of home when I felt lonely which are your life support when you are living away from home, I had lost everything. Not to mention the expense of setting up the place in the first place.
Through all that, I continued to stay in NYC because I reminded myself why I wanted to come here in the first place. I remembered the reasons I made the move in the first place and I decided this wasn’t the end of the world, it was a setback, a major setback. I cried and cried, allowing myself to feel the pain and frustration. After that, I woke up and went to work and dealt with this disastrous setback. Everyone was shocked I even came to work but it was the only thing that kept me going.
After a few months, and me moving to my new apartment and started settling in, again; I had a new way of thinking. I realized all the expensive material stuff I bought when I moved to the US all went up in flames and the only thing I had after the fire were the memories I had built in this great, beautiful and complicated city as well as in Jamaica. I then made a decision to invest in more experiences rather than items that could perish, a difficult and great personal lesson for me.
You’ve done quite a bit of traveling, could you please share some of your experiences
I moved to New York when I was 28, which was 6 years ago. I knew I loved to travel but when I got to New York City and met people from around the world who told me about their countries, I certainly wanted to visit. I now have friends who are from all over the world and I took advantage of it. My team at work was a truly global team, you had me from South Africa, and the rest were from Argentina, Spain, Australia, Sweden, UK and America. That exposed me to different cultures, which teaches you to be open to people that are different from you.
I have travelled to the Caribbean Islands; Jamaica, Barbados, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Bahamas as well as St Martin, St Barts and Bermuda. Some of the best beaches ever! And they make a mean ass cocktail! I have also been to France; Paris the fashion capital for me and where I had the most amazing food, well that was before I visited St Tropez (although very expensive!) Nice, Monaco before going to the party capital Ibiza in Spain, story for another day! I had the best Paella in Madrid but nothing beats the Mediterranean beaches and the freshest fish in Formentera! My beautiful Spanish friends were getting married and they invited me, it was beautiful! That same year another friend of mine got married in Malaga, Spain and it was another gorgeous wedding! That weekend I went to meet up with my mom and sister in Barcelona after not seeing them for close to 9 months so it was beautiful!
Then I travelled to Italy where I fell in love with more than just their pasta. I mean I have been to a lot of places including Sweden where I had the best homemade Swedish meatballs by my friends Daniel and Alex. All to say that traveling has opened my mind and has made me see the world differently. I am a lot more patient with people and I see so many similarities that I start questioning why, as people, do we always magnify differences instead of embracing how similar we are? This I believe leads to tolerance.
What drives you in life? What keeps you going?
Right now it’s figuring out what my purpose is. At 34 I am still not sure what my purpose is but every day I try to be fully present so I can be ready when that awakening happens. I think once I find what that purpose is, then I will go about that business of doing it every day. Until then, I wake up every day doing what I do and hope it comes. Sorry it’s not a profound answer but that’s what drives me.
What has been the most trying time of your life? How did you work/live through it or get to the other side?
I think the most trying time of my life was working for a manager that didn’t know how to manage, teach, communicate and have patience. That was a hard time for me because I take pride in what I do and I want to be the best at it. So when you don’t have a supportive manager, you end up doubting yourself and feeling inadequate. It’s honestly one of the best lessons for me because I learnt that you can’t change someone who’s not ready to change and when they are in a position of power, the best thing to do is get yourself out of that situation because if you can’t change the situation and can’t change yourself then get out of it. It’s really not worth losing your peace of mind.
How do you show yourself love?
I have days I call Mpakie Days, it’s an actual hashtag I’ve created he he #Mpakieday. Anyone who knows me knows that on this day it’s all about Mpakie. I do what I feel like doing no matter what, that could be a spa day, picnic day, shopping, reading day, TV day, etc. The important thing is that I do it by myself and it’s ALL day. I look at my phone just a little bit less than usual. The point is that #Mpakieday I do what I want not what anybody else wants me to do.
Are you currently reading any books or watching videos or listening to podcasts to improve yourself?
I read a few self-help books and right now I’m reading Uncommon by Tony Dungy, it was a book someone gave me about 10 years ago and I am only reading it now, because you know, COVID19 has given us time. But my favourite self-help podcast is SuperSoul Sundays by Oprah Winfrey. Those are my go to for inspiration. Eckhart Tolle’s books are great too.
What life lessons or thoughts would you like to leave the reader with?
Where you come from certainly doesn’t determine your future but it gives you lessons that prepare you for the future! So embrace your past and embrace your present as well. The lessons that I have learnt through moving to New York City, which is one of the hardest cities to live in for multiple reasons. But through that experience I learnt that progress and comfort don’t live together in harmony. You can’t progress in life without trials and tribulations. Also, don’t be afraid to leave a place you are not happy in, you’re not a failure when you leave. It’s just life moving you forward to a place you didn’t even know you needed. Lastly, find everything you can to build your confidence, when you speak with conviction people tend to trust what you’re saying, because most of the time it’s not what you say it’s how you say it!
You can find Nompakamiso Hude on social media:
Instagram – mpakie
Twitter – @mpakie
Facebook – Nompakamiso Hude
