Leadership Profiles: Amani Simbayobewe, Founder & CEO of Sheer Love Rwanda
I’ve had the privilege of meeting many founders whose leadership is a tremendous inspiration. Amani is one of these leaders. As the founder and CEO of Sheer Love Rwanda (SLR), he brings a rare combination of lived experience, humility, and quiet strength.
Lived Experience as a Leadership Advantage
What makes Amani's leadership truly unique is his lived experience. When he was a child, Amani spent five years living on the streets of Kigali and he understands the challenges faced by vulnerable youth on a fundamental level. That perspective is the source of both his deep empathy and his urgent drive.
This personal history allows him to connect with the children, families, and communities SLR serves with empathy and an authenticity that simply cannot be taught. He doesn't just see the mission; he has lived it.
A Community-Builder with a Global View
One of Amani’s greatest strengths is his ability to build relationships that matter. He brings people togetherm including team members, partners, donors, educators and board members and advisors; they follow his lead because he’s earned their trust. His network is broad, but more importantly, it’s aligned to the SLR mission. People rally around him because they see his sincerity and the consistency in how he shows up.
Amani operates with a global perspective. He not only deeply understands the social challenges in Rwanda but also knows how to clearly convey those challenges across borders, particularly in the US, to build essential partnerships that power SLR’s mission.
And when Amani talks about the work SLR does, supporting children with education, mentorship, healthcare, and family empowerment, he’s clear and direct. He isn’t selling a story; he’s providing clarity that helps others see their role in the work that SLR does and in the process creating alignment, confidence, and action.
Growth-Oriented Leadership
What impresses me most is Amani’s commitment to self-awareness and growth. He doesn’t pretend to have all the answers. Instead, he proactively seeks out feedback and deliberately invests in his own development. He surrounds himself with people who can support his growth, approaching this process with genuine humility, curiosity, and gratitude.
It’s one thing to lead an impactful organization. It is another entirely to lead with this level of self-awareness and intention.
If you haven’t already, check out the amazing work Amani and his team are doing at Sheer Love Rwanda; it’s inspiring, ambitious, and deeply human: https://www.sheer-love-rwanda.org/
Amani is the kind of leader you want to bet on, not just because of what he’s built so far, but because of who he is as a leader. When you meet founders like Amani, you are powerfully reminded what mission-driven leadership truly looks like.