Haymanot Wendel: From Forsaken to Fearless

Born into hardship and raised amid quiet sacrifice, Haymanot Wendel’s journey is one of extraordinary resilience and reinvention. From being left in the care of neighbors as an infant in Ethiopia to leading operations at a top global recruitment firm in Sweden, she has transformed every challenge into purpose. Now stepping into entrepreneurship, Haymanot stands as a fearless force, proof that even the most uncertain beginnings can lead to bold, world-shaping leadership.

Growing up, who were the people that shaped you the most, and what did they teach you?

Many people have shaped me throughout my life—some in unexpected ways. My biological mother gave me the gift of life and, ultimately, the gift of opportunity through her decision. My adoptive family raised me to be responsible and independent. The nanny who raised me was only 14 years old when she came from the countryside to move in with my 19-year-old brother to care for me from the age of three until I was in my teens. She became like an older sister to me. Looking back, it was a rather unorthodox family unit, but for me, it was all I knew. I realise now, though, how it made me very independent. We never had any luxuries growing up, and all of us were fighting to get by every day. It became the norm and has taught me to be resilient, not letting challenges be taken out of proportion. In many ways, having practical obstacles to overcome is preferable to emotional problems, as they have clear solutions.  

How did learning about your adoption at 18 change the way you saw your life?

It was a moment of clarity rather than shock. Many friends in high school had commented that they didn’t think I was biologically related to my family, as I was several shades darker. I had always been told by my adoptive family that I looked like my father, who passed away when I was two. 

When I found out that I was adopted, I had many mixed feelings, but I chose to embrace the story God had written for me. I don’t see my life as fragmented—I see it as beautifully layered. I was blessed with two mothers who loved me in different ways, and both gave me fantastic opportunities that I would otherwise not have had. My faith has always been central to me, and my brother’s protestant faith, I believe, has shaped me. I know everything unfolded as it was meant to, and I only feel deep gratitude for the journey I was placed on.

What helped you stay focused and do well in school despite so many challenges?

I have always loved learning and am very competitive. I found out later in life that my elementary school teacher was, in fact, a blood relative of my biological mother, and he always gave me special attention. 
And deep down, I knew that if I showed up fully in the moment, the rest would fall into place. I trusted that God would guide the way.

What was it like meeting your mother again after all those years?

I met her for the first time when I was 23 years old, and it has been deeply moving to build a close bond with her as an adult. In that moment, I was reminded that love often exists even when it isn’t visible. I quickly realised what an inspiration she has always been, even though I did not know. Ultimately, giving up your only child when she is two years old must be the most difficult decision and sacrifice any mother can make. I know that she did it out of deep love for me and completely unselfishly. I felt honoured to reconnect and to hear her perspective. I had been told that she was only sixteen when she had me, and finding out she was in fact nineteen and married when she had me gave a different perspective. It was also a great joy to meet my four half-siblings, including my brother, who looks just like me. I see God’s grace in the way our paths crossed again, not as something overdue, but as something beautifully timed.

How did you know Oscar was someone special, and what gave you the courage to build a life together?

I believe my meeting with Oscar was preordained in how we met and instantly knew we were meant for each other. Despite our lives and backgrounds being so extremely different, we somehow had a deep connection on a spiritual level. We never had a clear plan as to how it was going to work, but we never doubted that it somehow would. Looking back, it would have been impossible to predict and make a plan. In many ways, the challenges have been more difficult than we could ever have imagined. But in every way, everything has worked out better and more smoothly than could ever have been planned. The future is never known, and I believe that provision comes when you are aligned and driven by purpose.

Moving to Sweden with a young family is a big leap—what kept you going during that transition?

I’ve always seen change as an opportunity and an adventure. Moving with young children to a new country and living with my parents-in-law for more than two years was very challenging. At times, I was close to giving up, but I knew that God was walking with us. I decided to conquer each day with love, courage, and patience, believing in the path that had been laid before me. Foremost, my children were, and still are, my biggest inspiration—they gave me every reason to always keep going.

How did you learn a new language, raise children, and study all at once?

Despite the challenges of living with my in-laws, there is no denying that this experience enabled me to learn Swedish fluently in a short period. Learning Swedish, raising children, and studying were a balancing act. I first took a year-long course to become a dietitian. I stumbled upon a one-year course at university that complemented my bachelor’s degree, allowing me to earn a Swedish bachelor’s degree in accounting. This was extremely challenging as I started this course just as our third daughter was born. In a way, no one thought I could pull it off, including my husband, who lives in Dubai. As weird as it sounds, this is what gave me almost a superhuman determination to show I could do it. I barely slept and studied until 3 AM after putting the children to bed, then got them up by 7 AM. I reminded myself that this suffering would be temporary and that it would ultimately pay off. Viktor Frankl’s ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’ is a book that has given me much strength in finding meaning in suffering. 

What do you enjoy most about your work today, and what drives you in your role?

I am a project manager and administrator at heart, and feel that my purpose is to help others. I take great satisfaction in enabling people and operations, and knowing that others are dependent on me. Solving problems and seeing work and its immediate results is very motivating. Working with motivated people and seeing how others benefit. I believe we need to find our roles to see the bigger picture in how each of us is critical to making a project work. This makes even small tasks worthwhile, doing them with intention and integrity.

You’ve played the role of provider, mother, student, and leader—how do you care for yourself in the middle of it all?

There is a saying that if you love what you do, you never have to work a day in your life. Providing for my family and feeling their love gives me a constant sense of peace and satisfaction. As for any parent of small children, it is almost impossible to get enough sleep and get time to work out, read or watch TV. But I don’t mind any of that. For me, self-care means staying spiritually grounded is how I protect my peace. I take time to reflect on scripture, listen to Christian gospel music, and stay in close contact with friends and family back home in Ethiopia. For me, it is crucial to be present in the roles God has entrusted to me and to remind myself that life and one’s state of mind are always what one chooses to focus on. And this is a choice you need to make every moment of each day. The speech ‘This is Water’ by David Foster Wallace has been a great inspiration to me in that regard.

What kind of business are you dreaming of starting, and what impact do you hope it will have?

I am currently helping my husband to build the forum and think tank Global Stratalogues. My goal is to work with people and be surrounded by people who are positive in their outlook on life and driven by the purpose to benefit others more than themselves. I am very inspired by the Global Woman Club and want to get more involved with that, and I am currently planning to do an event in Addis Ababa at the end of the year. I want my work to offer a sense of belonging and strengthen people’s belief in themselves and what is possible to achieve.