Posted:
by QW+ staff writer
The Company We Keep: Wendy Papo
Wendy Papo is a dynamic communication and media professional who recently joined us as our new Database and Community Manager. A dedicated mother of four, Wendy effortlessly balances the responsibilities of being a student, a wife, and an invaluable team member at QW+. Her passion for development issues drives her every day, and she finds great fulfillment in the work she does — to the point where it never feels like “work.” Wendy believes that every small contribution can make a meaningful difference in creating a better world.
Pronouns? She/Her
Born? I was born on the 31st of October.
Status? Married with four children.
School? I went to Estcourt High School in Estcourt, a small town in KwaZulu-Natal.
University? I did my undergraduate studies at the Durban University of Technology, then my postgraduate studies at the University of Witwatersrand and the University of the Free State.
First job? My first job was as a sales attendant right after high school. I later worked in a factory to save money for university.
Home? Pretoria in South Africa
Transport? A Kia Rio
Book on your bedside table? Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance by Barack Obama
Music in your playlist? Thandiswa Mazwai’s new Sakofa album.
Describe your job in no more than seven words: I love what I do; it never feels like work.
What keeps you awake at night? Political series
Who is your biggest hero? My father
Remote or office? Remote
What’s the most exciting part of your job? Making a difference to the lives of the underprivileged.
Career highlight? My internship at UNAIDS was a dream come true. It was something I had worked towards for years, and when it happened right after completing my journalism degree, I realised it was time to set my sights on a new dream.
What is your superpower? I’d say it’s multi-tasking. As a mom, career woman, and student, I’ve had to master the skill.
What is the least known fact about you? I’m over 40, though I’m often told I don’t look a day over 30.
If you could get the ear of one person, to convince them your work is important, who would it be? As a media professional, I’ve always admired how Oprah Winfrey conducts her interviews. I would love the opportunity to share my work with her, as she has an incredible ability to amplify important voices and causes.
If you had the power to pass a presidential decree, what would it be? It would be to ensure that every girl, everywhere, has access to education. This is a critical goal, aligned with Goal 5 of the Sustainable Development Goals, and is essential for creating a more equitable and empowered world.
Your best piece of advice? My advice derives from Maya Angelou’s quote which says, “You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them”.
What’s your next big thing? The sky is the limit; I am still working on it.
What do you do to relax? I binge-watch series on politics, and when I find one that I like, I can stay up all night watching them. I can’t resist getting to the end of them.