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My close colleagues and (adult) children call me the Honey Badger, tough as nails and get right back up after being knocked down (literally even being run over by a bicycle and a car – story for another day). I do, however, have a very soft and kind heart, with (what I think is) a hell of a sense of humour. I just absolutely love to laugh and make others laugh or smile. I’m a single mom of 3 kids and 2 grandchildren... they call me Glammy. I’ve never been a ‘half-ass’ kind of person, whatever I do is done with passion and is outcomes-based. Besides loving what I do in my position at Penquin, I love interior design and renovating rooms – so not your average bean counter. I am also extremely competitive, both in my personal life and within our agency.
I share the role of managing director with another colleague, so co-managing director. I’m not your typical managing director though. I’m very much focused on finance and operations and steering the company and our employees to continued growth and success. I am great at spotting opportunities and problem-solving, and love that part of my role.
I’ve been in the advertising industry for 26 years.
I have to be honest and say that I was never passionate about accounting as such (where I started after I left the retail industry). My passion and drive have always come from wanting more than just the mundane day-to-day. I’ve always been a curious person, asking questions, spotting opportunities, and learning how to do things bigger and better. What I’m passionate about is being able to make a remarkable, positive impact on the company that I’m working for, or the project(s) that I’ve committed to.
To be blunt, the answer is that it takes lady balls of steel and a whole lot of determination. It’s difficult enough being a working mom and trying to devote yourself to your children and your career, but it was an incredibly tough journey being a single mom and working my way up the ladder to success.
Deciding to leave a position in an agency where I was the COO, to start a new business, in a completely different field (a first in South Africa), with almost no money. I made it work though and created a successful business, which I got bored with very quickly and handed the business over to my mom. As challenging as that period was, it was incredibly rewarding and I had tons of learnings along the way.
I think the most valuable advice that I wish I’d received earlier on in my career journey, would have been to knock that ‘imposter syndrome’ monkey right off my shoulder. It’s taken a lot of work for me to believe that I am as good as the next person.
I’m excited about building the Penquin ‘empire’ with my incredible colleagues and our shareholders.
To get in touch with Mandy, please visit the Penquin website: https://www.penquin.co.za/ or reach her at LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mandy-davis-87195a36
First published here: https://www.womenontop.co.za/careers-jobs/careerfocus-with-mandy-davis-co-managing-director-at-penquin/