I am Phumzile Dlamini-Mnisi (Phatedi) a storyteller at heart, with many real-life tales to share. I was born in Dlamini 1, Soweto, to the beautiful union of Gladys Buyisiwe Dlamini and Lucky Paul “Madindwa” Dlamini-Mnisi. As the firstborn to my mother and second in my father’s lineage, my journey has always been rooted in love, legacy, and a rich cultural heritage. Though I am Swati by birth, my soul was deeply shaped by the rhythms and values of Zulu life, thanks to my formative years spent in the heart of KwaZulu-Natal.

I am a proud mother of three beautiful souls who light up my world. They are my greatest teachers, my daily inspiration, and the heartbeat of everything I do. I was married for 20 years, a partnership that spanned 32 years of life, growth, and shared memories. Though we are no longer married in the legal sense, our journey together left a deep imprint on my heart. Ours is a spiritual bond that continues, shaped by mutual respect, shared history, and the family we built together. Our story, like life itself, has taken many turns, but it has always been anchored in love, resilience, and a deep understanding that some connections transcend labels and last a lifetime.

I grew up in a warm middle-class home where hard work and perseverance were part of everyday life. Among my siblings, I was the only one to graduate from university. A proud and defining moment that opened the door to constant reinvention. My path through education wasn’t a straight line. It began in Soweto, continued through KwaZulu-Natal, and eventually led me to start my tertiary studies at Natal Technikon and later completed my qualifications in Johannesburg. While I was initially drawn to fields like psychology and social work, limited career guidance at the time led me into Public Relations, a space where I discovered new strengths and opportunities. Still, I never lost sight of my original dreams. Driven by a desire to grow and lead with purpose, I continued to invest in my development. I proudly completed the Manager’s Accelerated Programme with Henley Business School and am currently pursuing a Marketing Degree through IMM.

With over 20 years of experience, my career has taken me through the worlds of Public Relations, Events, Marketing, Communications, and Business Development. I’ve worked across public, corporate, and non-profit spaces, growing from a PR intern to a strategic leader. Along the way, I’ve had the joy of rebranding organisations, hosting high-profile events across Africa, and representing South Africa on global stages including a life-changing leadership journey to China with Henley Business School.

I’ve walked through seasons of deep pain, the heartbreaking loss of my younger brother, the passing of my father, a difficult divorce, and the quiet weight of depression and academic challenges. One of the most defining moments of my life was a traumatic experience in my youth that changed the course of my journey and deeply affected my bond with my mother. Yet, through it all, I rose. Not without scars, but with strength. 

My mission is to create spaces whether in writing, speaking, or mentoring where people feel seen, heard, and connected. I aim to honour the wisdom of those who came before me while inspiring others to walk confidently in their truth. Every chapter of my life has added another layer to who I am. From childhood memories in Soweto to formative years in KwaZulu-Natal, I’ve lived through contrasts that have taught me to honour both the rooted and the rising, the known and the becoming.