Meet MENDO: meet Gunifort

When MENDO co-owner and co-founder Roy Rietstap stepped into a clothing store in the nine streets area seven years ago, he was well advised by then 18-year old Gunifort Uwambaga. Roy was so happy with Gunifort’s service, that he joked about paying him double to work for MENDO.

He didn’t get double payment, but a few weeks later Gunifort worked at MENDO. Which isn’t very surprising if you know his story. Born in Rwanda, Gunifort came to the Netherlands at the age of 8. His mother immediately took him to the local library. Not only to learn the Dutch language, but also to convey her love for books onto her son.

Needless to say, MENDO was the right place for Guny. Even though it didn’t seem that way for a long time. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in International Business Administration Gunifort worked as a private banker trainee at one of the biggest Dutch banking firms. Even though the aim wasn’t to stay at MENDO, Gunifort never left.

For one year he combined his full time job at the bank with spending the weekends at MENDO where he fell in love with books. ‘Probably one of the most intense years I ever had’, he says. To me, MENDO didn’t feel like work. The people I couldn’t see during the week, came by at MENDO in the weekend. So MENDO was like my second home.’ MENDO was the solid meeting point for Guny and his friends. And while his friends became household names in fashion, Gunifort grew into MENDO and MENDO into him.

Seven years after his first steps inside the store, Gunifort is the core part of our publishing department. ‘After a few months in the banking world, I saw my future before me as if it was solid. At the meantime MENDO was growing rapidly and making its first steps in the publishing world. I saw this as an opportunity for me to grow personally and to help MENDO make this new step. Luckily I was able to convince the guys, and they gave me the opportunity.’

Gunifort managed to fulfill his new role as a publisher while at the same time getting a master’s degree in Information and Knowledge Management. ‘If there’s one thing I have learned from my friends, it’s that you have to get things done yourself. It’s all about discipline. I really wanted to get this degree, not only for my professional life, but more importantly for my personal development.’

A personal development that started at MENDO. ‘I’ve been at MENDO my whole adult life and while MENDO is growing, I’m also growing. The great thing about a small company like this is that you’re involved in almost everything. I think MENDO has a different vision on this industry and it feels great to be a part of this.’

Check Gunifort’s favorite books.