‘You have to be insane to make it to the top’
Zwelethu Mambane is 23 years old - and he’s believed to be one of the youngest chief executives in Africa.
|||Johannesburg - He is polished, well-spoken and adamant his story can change people's lives.
He is Zwelethu Mambane, 23, born and raised in Mkhuhlu, Bushbuckridge, in Mpumalanga. He is a motivational speaker, author of Business Ideas and believed to be one of the youngest chief executives in Africa.
“Everybody can call themselves a chief executive; however, the bigger picture is recognised in the results produced,” said Mambane.
His success story began when he was only 18 years old, fresh out of school and at the time already engaged to his long-time partner. He relocated to the “city of gold and honey”, as he describes Johannesburg, to pursue his dream of becoming a successful businessman.
Chasing that dream came with multiple challenges. At one point Mambane had to make use of the Ekhaya shelter for the homeless in Joburg. “This is my dream and I was willing to die for it,” he said, as he shared the struggles he faced.
He didn't pursue tertiary education and doesn't regret it.
“The issue with institutions of higher learning is that they channel you to be an employee, not employer,” which he felt was not risky enough.
Four years later, Mambane is the chief executive of two successful corporations, 911 Communications and Zwelethu the Speaker Inc.
911 Communications focuses on artist management and PR services for Machate Inn resort, a resort in Mpumalanga, and Founders Placement, a recruitment agency which offers skilled and unskilled job opportunities in call centres and other administrative positions.
Zwelethu the Speaker Inc focuses on motivation and inspiration, and Mambane has served as a speaker on SABC 1’s I-dentity at church gatherings and addressed a group of 1 200 students at Makhosana Manzini High School.
During his addresses he encourages the audience and peers to answer the following questions: How can you serve the world? What does the world need that your talent and abilities can provide? “Once you are able to answer, you will be able to give your life a purpose,” he tells them.
He believes his future is looking good because from October he plans to start an online retail store with which he hopes to compete with online giant Amazon.com.
“You have to be insane to succeed; realism is a journey to mediocrity,” said Mambane.
june.hlongwane@inl.co.za
THE STAR