Bianca Michaeline Jordan
THE LESSONS I HAVE LEARNT FROM BEING A ROLE MODEL TO WOMEN OF COLOUR IN MY COMMUNITY IS THAT KINDNESS AND EMPATHY ARE FREE. LISTENING TO SOMEONE IN THE COMMUNITY AND ASKING THEM FOR ADVICE ABOUT WHERE TO STUDY OR WHAT TO STUDY COSTS NOTHING. WE DO NOT NEED MONEY OR BIG PROJECTS TO CHANGE THE WORLD.
• Honours in Commerce in Economics, University of South Africa • Project Management Diploma, University of South Africa Achievements
“YOUR GREATNESS IS REVEALED NOT BY THE LIGHTS THAT SHINE UPON YOU, BUT BY THE LIGHT THAT SHINES WITHIN YOU.” – RAY A DAVIS
I am a young, coloured woman and I was raised in a community that was ridden by gun and gang violence. Obtaining my master’s degree and having my research published was an achievement for me and my community because I was able to set an example to other young women and show them that they can be anything they want to be. Achievements in my view are not necessarily about how many tenders I have won or how many projects I have closed; but rather about touching people’s lives in an authentic and vulnerable manner. The lessons I have learnt from being a role model to women of colour in my community is that kindness and empathy are free. Listening to someone in the community and asking them for advice about where to study or what to study costs nothing. We do not need money or big projects to change the world. Mentors I have many mentors who have influenced my journey, but a few people stand out for me. The first is my dad. He taught me the spirit of kindness and empathy; by smiling for a stranger and opening our homes to the less fortunate. Growing up we would provide meals for homeless people and not feed people with leftovers; my dad always taught me to give another person what you would eat or feed your family. My dad also broke boundaries in his sector as a young coloured male working as a medical technologist. Second, I became a mother at 19. This year my daughter is turning 16, and she is my role model for a simple reason: she has shown me the true spirit of being young and free. My daughter wears what she wants without caring about peer pressure. She has taught me that we can be anything we want to be in this world. Last, I am inspired by coloured mothers in my community, many have lost their sons due to gangsterism, but they keep going and get up every day. This has taught me resilience and perseverance.
Profile LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bianca- jordan-24297681/
Bianca Jordan, 35, uses her identity as a young, coloured woman from Johannesburg to change the perception of coloured people in South Africa, who she says are often associated with guns and gangsterism. She obtained her Master’s degree in Commerce in Local Economic Development and said publishing her research should inspire other girls in her community to do the same and more. Bianca works at AMEA Power as a social specialist, where she focuses on environmental, social and governance issues in the renewable energy sector. She is responsible for monitoring and implementing international environmental and social standards across projects in Southern Africa. Bianca is determined to see more companies take economic, social and governance and economic development seriously, and attempts to put this issue high on the agenda. Bianca is currently working on a solar farm project in the North West and Mozambique. She also started a feeding scheme and is working on starting a local early childhood development centre to share her skills with others. She believes South Africa has a lot of potential when it comes to the potential of renewable energy. Qualifications • Master’s in Commerce in Local Economic Development, University of Johannesburg • BA International Relations, University of Johannesburg
ALUMNI IMPUMELELO 35
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