“I was still in a corporate job as a Chief Information Officer at a bank when I decided it was time to take the leap,” says Amanda Dambuza, Founder and CEO of Uyandiswa Group. “I needed more flexibility in my life and wanted to determine my own earnings. At the core of it all was the need to create jobs and use my extensive network to fulfil the demand for jobs, with the need to supply project management services to blue-chip organisations. This was 2013. I registered Uyandiswa and proceeded to resign in 2014 to run it.”
Uyandiswa has been setting up project management offices and executing projects for large blue-chip organisations since inception. It specialises in project management, business analytics and organisational effectiveness across all major industries. They deliver turnkey projects, resource augmentation, as well as managed services.
The Foundation of Project Management Business
What initially encouraged Dambuza to enter the project management space in an entrepreneurial capacity was that she loved to get her hands dirty. “I have been in project management for two and a half decades, so I have seen how it can be a bridge between ideas and execution.”
When it was time to become a full-time entrepreneur, this path was automatic. “I love to see ideas come to fruition. The gap I identified when I started Uyandiswa was that there was no diversity in the supply chain of many large organisations. These services were procured from the same so-called big four.”
As a Chief Information Officer at a bank, I had no choice but to keep the status quo. I did not like that, so I decided to change it by creating my own firm and becoming the change I wanted to see. More than a decade later, we remain relevant and creating jobs, a big driver for me.”
As a leader in project management, Dambusza explains that they aim to deliver tangible results to clients through:
1. Clear Objectives and Planning: Defining project goals, scope, and timelines to ensure alignment with client expectations.
2. Efficient Resource Management: Optimising budget, personnel, and materials to maximise productivity and cost-effectiveness.
3. Risk Mitigation: Identifying potential issues early and implementing solutions to avoid delays or cost overruns.
4. Quality Control: Ensuring deliverables meet agreed standards through continuous monitoring and testing.
5. Timely Delivery: Adhering to schedules and milestones to complete projects on time.
6. Stakeholder Communication: Maintaining transparency with clients through regular updates and reporting.
7. Measurable Outcomes: Providing quantifiable results (e.g., cost savings, increased efficiency, ROI) to demonstrate success.
By combining structured methodologies (like Agile or Waterfall) with expert oversight, we turn client visions into concrete, successful outcomes.
Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Award Panelist
Uyandiswa is an award-winning project management and business analytics firm. It has helped with enhanced credibility for her business because it validates the brand’s excellence to customers and partners, as well as increases visibility by generating media coverage, social buzz, and access to networks. Lastly, it also provides a competitive advantage to the business because it differentiates the business in the market, attracting top talent, and unlocking new growth opportunities. “These advantages combine to accelerate trust, revenue, and long-term success,” she adds.
Dambuza adds that being an award-winning business has also influenced her decision to join the panel for the Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Awards. “Awards are great in cementing your position as a thought leader, and my role as a judge in the Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Awards allows me to shape the future of female entrepreneurship by selecting inspiring winners who drive change. Seeing me having done it makes it real and possible for them and their businesses, too.”
She became involved in the 2025 Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Award adjudication process because she previously won the Veuve Clicquot businesswoman award back in 2017. “I have been involved with the brand in some shape or form since I was a judge on the Bold Awards since they were first introduced to South Africa in 2022.”
She enjoys being a part of this event. “It’s a platform to advocate for gender equality in business and pay forward my own experiences,” she concludes.
