Growing up as the eldest child in her family, leadership was thrust upon Charmaine Hunzwi from a very early age.
“I grew up in a family of service,” says Hunzwi, noting that it’s her grandmother who gave her a matriarchal example of what service means.
“I saw her always helping others around her, whether it be as a leader at church, organising women’s morning teas and discussion groups, or as a leader in the neighbourhood watch.”
Hunzwi says people would often seek out her grandmother for advice or counsel as she stepped into the role of “trusted advisor for everyone”. Acting as a role model, her grandmother’s natural inclination to help other people was passed onto Hunzwi, who found herself taking up leadership positions at school such as House Captain and Captain for Tennis.
“I always wanted to be of service and wanted to make the same impact that my grandma did on others,” says Hunzwi.
“So, I would wilfully nominate myself, or be nominated by others to be in leadership positions. People trusted me with great responsibilities and I would endeavour to uphold that trust and act in the best interest of everyone involved.”
Fast forward a few years, and Hunzwi found herself carrying this spirit of service across borders when she moved to Australia at the age of 22.
Suddenly in a new environment, Hunzwi knew that volunteering where she could and sharing her knowledge with those around her would be beneficial.
Unfortunately, however, she was often restricted from opportunities due to her identity as part of the African disapora in Australia.
“I myself experienced the limiting narratives when people were shocked to hear me speak English eloquently and would be surprised that I was in a customer service job,” she says.
“I then made it my mission to demystify the stereotype while also empowering my community to remove the shackles of the limiting beliefs that they may have internalised through this dangerous single narrative of Afrodiasporians in Australia.”
This personal mission is what drove her to join the non-profit youth organisation Incubate Foundation in 2017.
“Incubate aims at enabling young African Australians who are unemployed and underemployed to reach their fullest potential through mentoring and coaching, and connecting young people to mentors who look like them so they can see themselves in Australian society,” she says.
Hunzwi’s work at Incubate continued to open doors for her in other boards and committees, where she’s been able to positively impact her community in all areas of society. As she explains, the key to understanding your why as as community leader is knowing, and acting on, your values.
She’s now a finance and banking professional, and holds many roles across the community, including as President of the Incubate Foundation, Professional Development Director for the FINSIA Young Finance Professionals VIC/TAS Committee, State Government Advisory Board member for Inner Metro Melbourne, VMC Regional Advisory member and is a committee member for Blacks in Technology Australia.
Juggling many hats as a multi-dimensional professional and community leader, Hunzwi has built up a unique level of resilience. In giving back so much to the community, she’s also learned a number of key lessons to keep her own tank full and avoid burning out.
Hunzwi shared this advice during her keynote session for Women’s Agenda’s new video app series, The Keynotes.
The Keynotes app shares “Mini Keynote” sessions and insights on leadership, equity, current affairs, climate and so much more. To watch Charmaine Hunzwi’s keynote as well as other sessions, sign up to the app here.