How did we get here: A girl's guide to finding herself

by Mpoomy Ledwaba

'When women heal, generations heal.'
To her thousands of fans, Wisdom & Wellness founder, speaker and influencer Mpoomy Ledwaba is a symbol of strength and women empowerment. But going from university dropout to Forbes magazine's list of 30 Under 30 wasn't always easy – it took courage and a commitment to personal growth.
How Did We Get Here? is her coming-of-age story. Looking back on her upbringing, major milestones and the challenges she's faced, Mpoomy takes us on her journey of self-discovery. Behind the Instagram likes and millions of views on YouTube is a driven woman who sometimes bit o¬ more than she could chew. This mother of two, who is married to an award-winning musician, didn't always have a plan and rarely fitted the mould of 'the good wife'.
Mpoomy writes openly not only about the mistakes she's made, the hurt she's experienced and some of the hard truths she's had to learn about life, but also about how her faith has been a guiding light. As a firm believer in the power of stories, she uses her personal history to show how to live a purposeful life on all levels.
'I share to normalise talking about those shameful, hurtful things we keep hidden. I share because shame loses its power when we find safe spaces to share our truth …'

206 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 4, 2024

Reviews

[Caroline Nyakata · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is so relatable and easy to read. It's a book you want to finish, yet you want to hold on to it even after reading it.

Mpoomy let us in her life, the struggles she had to navigate, her family life, and her career. She also shares her relationship with God and how it has carried her to achieve every achievement that she has achieved. "If it's not from you, God, can I not have the desire for it." That's one of the words that carries her, amplifying that all she does is a sead from God.

She also unpacks how being a black girl at a white school had impacted her life and how having her parents and some teachers validate her has helped her bloom into the wonderful and successful person she is today. It's not a book to shell away.

I also loved that in her memoir, she let her readers be able to document their experiences with their lives, it's like you're writing your memoir as well.

[Bupe Nana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book shocked me into self reflection. It was entertaining and vulnerable 💛

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Dear reader, I hope you become familiar with pain and failure, that you don't wish them away but use them as an important tool in this journey called life."

So, I've been passing this book on the book store shelf for the past year but I finally decided to get a copy when I heard there was going to be an author meet and greet + book signing at my local book store. I'm so happy I picked this up though (what took me so long, right....?)
This was such a wholesome read. I appreciate Mpoomy's candor - how she shared her truth and engaged with us too, the reflection sections at the end of each chapter were priceless. Had me doing loads of introspection and shedding a few tears cause yes some of the topics were heavy and packed a mean punch but it was so freeing thus healing too.

[Lindiwe Mponda · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, I thought, it’s an okay book. I could relate to some of the stories she was telling and appreciated the moments of reflection that she offers at the end of the chapter. The last few chapters were amazing, and are really what sold the book for me. It was the willingness to be vulnerable, just to let others see themselves through the lens of your life. Would have wanted more of sort of a chronological story from start to end, but I appreciate what she did with the book.

[Malamba · Rating 3 out of 5]

This memoir feels like sitting down with Mpoomy Ledwaba for a long, honest conversation over tea. It’s the kind of talk that sparks laughter, sadness and reflection. She takes readers through her journey of becoming who she is today, from humble beginnings to building her faith, career, and identity.

Everything started off really well in the first half of the book. The prompts felt so relatable. I felt as if I was doing mini therapy sessions while answering the prompts at the end of each chapter. This was one of the reasons it took me a while to get through the book but it was actually my favourite part.

The second half didn’t hold my attention as much however it still offered valuable insights into Mpoomy’s story and growth. By the end, I felt like I truly understood more about who she is and the experiences that shaped her.

I really enjoyed getting to know Mpoomy and understanding how she got to where she is today. She’s incredibly open and honest in this book (maybe a little too open at times 😭), but I really appreciate the vulnerability. It’s not an easy thing to do and it made me feel like I was getting to know her beyond the polished version we usually see online.

Her openness allowed me to connect with her on a deeper level. You can feel the effort and love she poured into this book and I truly appreciate her letting us get a peek into her world.

This is a heartfelt memoir that feels real, raw, and authentic. It’s the kind of book that invites you to pause, reflect and maybe even rediscover parts of your own story along the way.

[Suzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspirational read. I enjoyed the workbook feel. It really had me pondering. I definitely believe some improvement in grammar would elevate the writing further but it doesn't take away from the impact the story has on the reader.

Keep growing and glowing Mpoomy 😘

[Aobakwe Motiang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow Mpoomy, I'm really proud of you. Amazing book, didn't wanna put it down. Was sad when it ended, just wished it could go on. Thank you for sharing the deepest parts of you.

[Katlego · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is easy to read; however, I struggled to connect with the story in first few chapters. That said, it picks up significantly halfway through and becomes much more interesting.

[Sharon Letlaka · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. It felt like I was catching up with her on an overdue lunch date. It is easy to read, and she kept the chapters short enough to finish before losing your attention span.