For Lander University alumnus Farai Gwata, adaptability and a willingness to learn have been key drivers of his success and were among the key pieces of advice he shared with students during a visit to Lander.
Gwata, who graduated in 2004, was recently promoted to Senior Vice President, Compliance and Operational Risk Manager, at Bank of America, and took time to visit Lander and speak to students in the College of Business and Technology.
Gwata said Lander’s campus looks largely the same, but with some new changes. Farai noted that it was good to see progress in the forthcoming facilities, including the new nursing building, and the new library and information commons.
“One of the biggest surprises for me was seeing Chick-fil-A and Starbucks on campus. Those weren’t here when I was a student, and the food in the cafeteria was incredible.”
Gwata came to Lander as a Mufuka Scholar and got involved around campus while a student. He was an Orientation Leader and said it was a great experience being able to welcome incoming freshmen each summer. He also showed off Lander’s campus as a Presidential Ambassador and was an inaugural member of the intramural Ultimate Frisbee team, which called themselves the Llamas.
While at Lander, Gwata majored in finance and economics, and minored in Spanish. He chose his major because of his interest in economics, which provided a strong analytical foundation for his career. Originally from Zimbabwe, he also spent part of his upbringing in the Dominican Republic, where he developed fluency in Spanish, which his minor helped reinforce.
After graduation in 2004, Gwata began his career as a Latin America and Caribbean project coordinator for Eaton Corporation, where he applied his Spanish-language skills. He also held roles at Eaton as a strategic pricing analyst and outside sales engineer.
In 2015, he transitioned into a career in financial services, working first at GM Financial and then moving to Wells Fargo. He later joined Bank of America, where he was recently promoted.
During his visit to Lander, Gwata spoke to two business classes, discussing his roles and broader workplace trends, including evolving work models, the growing use of artificial intelligence (A.I.) and the importance of staying adaptable and curious.
“If I could give any piece of advice to the students of today, it would be to chase your dreams,” Gwata said.
“Chase the goals that scare you, because that's where the learning is and that's where the experience comes from. And of course, don't be afraid to ask for help.”
Another message he would give is that it’s OK not to have all the answers.
“Sometimes the best thing I can do is focus on what’s right in front of me,” he said. “Over time, showing up consistently creates opportunities you didn’t even know existed. And that only comes from showing up every day and getting the job done.”
Gwata said one of the most exciting things he can take away from the visit is where Lander is headed.
“I really like the message around equipping Lander's graduates of the future with workforce readiness,” he said.
“And from what I've gathered today, that readiness starts here in the classroom and is reinforced through experiences, internships and other activities. It's refreshing to see that Lander graduates are ready for wherever life takes them and that’s really encouraging and inspiring.”
The future is bright at Lander, he said.