Failure is often seen as something to avoid, but the reality is, it's a part of life. It’s how we respond to it that matters most. Barbara and Azande’s stories on the latest episode of DiCHiPi UNFiLTERED that failure doesn’t define you; it can actually help you find your true path.

Barbara Moagi’s journey with failure is really powerful.

She was once a robotics protégé, a key member of the South African robotics team. The team was invited abroad to showcase their work and even broke a record, which led to them being featured in Forbes Africa. Barbara, being the only Black girl on the team, felt an immense amount of pressure. She was told she was going to be the “Engineer of the Nation,” and with all the high expectations, the spotlight was squarely on her. She had met important people, been invited to prestigious events, and achieved what many would consider a dream come true. But despite all this, Barbara didn’t feel fulfilled.

The pressure to succeed in engineering started to weigh heavily on her. Even though she was expected to be a trailblazer in engineering, Barbara realised that it wasn’t where her heart truly was. She had always been drawn to marketing, and after a lot of soul-searching, she made the decision to leave engineering behind. But this decision didn’t come without its struggles. Barbara felt like she had let down the continent, her community, and everyone who had expected her to be the next engineering giant.

Azande Mkhungo’s perspective on failure adds a valuable layer to this conversation.

She reminds me not to give up. Failure, although tough and can sometimes be anxiety-inducing, is not the end of the road. In fact, Azande believes that if you keep pushing forward, you never know where you might land. The only sure thing about quitting is that you’ll never know what you could have achieved. She encourages us to view failure as a lesson and a redirection rather than something to fear.

Both Barbara and Azande’s stories remind us that failure is hard, but it often leads us to where we’re truly meant to be. Whether it’s Barbara leaving engineering to pursue her passion for marketing or Azande’s encouragement to keep going, their experiences show that failure doesn’t define you—it redirects you to your strengths and passions. So, when failure comes knocking, don’t let it stop you. Keep going and trust that it’s part of your growth.