Wings of Inspiration: How Fly Like A Girl Soared Beyond Toy Aisles

Wings of Inspiration: How Fly Like A Girl Soared Beyond Toy Aisles. In 2020, amid the uncertainty of a pandemic, Amanda Kandawire turned a career setback into a bold new venture. As a Senior First Officer on the Airbus A380 with Emirates, she found herself grounded and she seized the moment. With a vision to inspire children, especially girls, toward STEM and aviation, Amanda founded Fly Like A Girl, a South African brand creating educational aviation toys. Her journey offers striking lessons on purpose-driven branding, resilient entrepreneurship, and creative pivoting.

Crafting Purpose Through Play

Amanda’s pivot began with a powerful mission: expose children to aviation through play. Fly Like A Girl produces locally manufactured toys that introduce the mechanics of flight while embedding STEM education into daily play. Seventy percent of the brand’s appeal lies in its dual purpose, education and enjoyment. By donating 20 percent of each sale to a future pilot bursary fund, Amanda cemented the brand’s mission-driven ethos.

Actionable insight: Build products with meaning. When customers feel they’re supporting a cause, it deepens their connection.

Turning Pandemic Disruption into Opportunity

When aviation shut down, Amanda responded by launching not just Fly Like A Girl, but also Layover Art, a creative venture born during lockdown. This dual approach parlayed her dormant flying career into two thriving enterprises. Rather than wait out the uncertain return of flying, she chose to pivot.

Actionable insight: In crisis moments, lean into your skills and passions. Start that side hustle today.

Balancing Multiple Identities with Strategic Pivoting

Amanda has flown solo since age 18 and holds an ICAO Airline Transport Pilot Licence. She has flown for SA Express, South African Airways, and Emirates. Yet, when grounded, she repositioned herself as entrepreneur, illustrator, and advocate. Layover Art grew from her artistic side, Fly Like A Girl from her aviation identity.

Actionable insight: Don’t limit yourself to one identity. Entrepreneurs thrive when they blend multiple passions.

Marketing Through Authentic Storytelling

Amanda tapped into her genuine story, Soweto-born pilot, creative, STEM advocate, through media placements, social content, and public events. She was featured on AeroTime as an “Aviation Champion” and on Expresso TV, positioning her not just as a founder, but as an inspiring figure in aviation and entrepreneurship.

Actionable insight: Your story is gold. Media visibility amplifies both your brand and mission.

Commitment to Local Manufacturing

Fly Like A Girl toys are locally made in South Africa, plugging into national production while ensuring quality and community impact. This choice echoes the growing consumer value placed on domestic manufacturing and conscious spending.

Actionable insight: Align your supply chain with brand values. Local production isn’t just ethical, it boosts your narrative.

Investment in Future Pilots Through Bursary Funding

Twenty percent of every sale goes into bursaries to support future pilots, closing the access gap Amanda once encountered. The model turns each toy into a ticket for a child’s dream.

Actionable insight: Embed social impact into your revenue model. It sustains motivation and builds trust.

Lessons from Launch Events and Community Engagement

Her inaugural Fly Like A Girl event on June 16, 2024, was held at a local aviation initiative with Sakhikamva Foundation. By launching publicly and partnering with community chapters, Amanda gave her brand real-world momentum.

Actionable insight: Launch with community. Events validate your brand and spur organic growth.

Sustained Excellence Amid Change

Amanda’s transition from flight deck to founders desk wasn’t a retreat, it was evolution. Even as flights resume, she continues to operate both businesses with clear harmony and purpose.

Actionable insight: Build ventures that adapt with your life, your career changes, but your purpose stays constant.

Key Takeaways for Founders

• Anchor your brand in purpose and storytelling
• Pivot skillfully when disruption hits
• Combine your identities, entrepreneurship thrives in hybrids
• Manufacture locally to reinforce values
• Use sales to fund mission-driven outcomes
• Activate community through events and media

Final Ascent

Fly Like A Girl exemplifies entrepreneurial resilience and value-led branding. Amanda Kandawire shows how adversity can spark innovation, not just a product, but a purpose. Her story reveals that with passion, agility, and intention, any grounded moment can be the runway to lift others.