The name Mwanza Mainza Glenn is synonymous with Dance, Fashion and youth development; steering youth to unveil their artistic abilities through the creative and performing arts.
Mwanza Glenn’s passion for the creative arts started some twenty years ago, and up until today he continues to pursue, inspire and fly the Guyanese flag where ever his career takes him.
In his early day, Mwanza attended the National School of Dance. Mwanza’s dance ability has a dancer excelled and gained him a placement in the National Dance Company of Guyana where he spent Seven Year. Currently, Mwanza is the Assistant Director of the Free Souls Dance Theatre Company where he continues to express his creative ability through the art form. Through Fashion, Mwanza was the 2013 country representative at Mission Catwalk, the Caribbean version of Project Runway filmed in Jamaica. With Countless collections, Best Gowns accolades and acknowledgement for his creations, Mwanza continues to perfect his craft.
As an actor appearing on Guyana most famous radio serial drama, a teacher of dance; working with youths in several school across Guyana, Mwanza’s involvement in the art has awarded him the Guyana Cultural Association of New York- Youth Award 2015.
As the new appointed Country Director of the Miss Black San’ International Pageant, Mwanza is in the process of preparation for the upcoming pageant held in St Kitts and Nevis.
How did you arrive at the idea for your business?
The idea for my business started with an issue I know I had a solution to. I saw how people would express themselves through what they wore, and I know that wasn’t the best representation of the individual: thus the birth of Wanza’s Designs.
What was your key driving force to become an entrepreneur?
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After working six months for a company, whose work ethics and customer service was definitely inappropriate and unprofessional; I realize that that environment was not appropriate if I wanted to excel as a person and a future entrepreneur. When I left , I remember telling myself , what I wanted my product to be ,how I wanted to present my product , how I wanted to deliver my product and how the main source of my business “Customer” should be treated. I knew how I would like to be treated as a customer, and that’s exactly what I wanted for my clients.
What is your greatest challenge being an entrepreneur?
My greatest challenge as an entrepreneur was multitasking. In the early stage of my business, I held the post as marketing agent, the fashion designer, the customer service representative, and cut and sew etc. The hardest part of it all was to identify what the problem was. When I knew what it was, I seek the needed knowledge to put me on course, allowing the business to run itself.
What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
Some people may think as a fashion Designer/Stylist, we just combine colours, intricate details, trimmings and shiny things. Completely forgetting how therapeutic looking and feeling good is .My most satisfying moments include the calls and texts for our clients , reiterating when their friends and family complimenting them and how they feeling about themselves when wearing the garment. When you the artist, posses the power to transform someone, allowing them to think and feel highly and powerful and beautiful about themselves, those are the magical moments I live for.
What piece of advice would you give to other young people who want to become entrepreneurs?
If you are looking for a fast and easy way, this field is the wrong one. Its starts with passion, and sometimes a passion only you understand. Some may think you are crazy, but a detail research in whatever field you wish to pursue is mandatory; a detail look at the product you wish to present and the others who may be presenting the same product.
What you have to remember, sometimes you and ten thousand others may be in the same field, and may be close geographically; but you must find a way to bring some uniqueness to your product, presenting the same product with maximum differences. The path of running your own business is not easy, and calls for a lot of sacrifices, sleepless nights, dedication and focus. I wouldn’t regret the investments, and the tears I cried to build my now ten year old brand, but when you find that zeal and passion pursue it at any cost.
How do you define success?
Success for me is ever evolving. While it should be the accomplishment of an aim or purpose, my aims and purposes changes when they are met. It entails the celebration after seeing your collections unfolding on stage; it entails when that bride comes in to do her first fitting and she is overly excited and impressed with the development of her gown and can only imagine what the finished product will be. When the delegate copped the Best Gown Award and she is pleased because you crafted everything she imagined .Then you sit with a glass of wine and some hot wings and reflect on how thankful you are to be in a position to serve your clients, helping them to create their best memories , that’s how I define my successes.
Who has been your greatest inspiration?
My greatest inspiration is my mom. As a child I remember her running from job to job, just to make my life comfortable. She knew then, that one job was not going to cut it, and she had to transform herself into a multifaceted single parent super mom. She was well driven, because she knew what she wanted and she was passionate about getting it. She never took the easy way out, because there was always a backlash with that. She worked for what she want, and all she has accomplished, and because I understood her drive , and her approach to life ,I am where I am because of her.
