What does it really take to build businesses that last? In this powerful episode of Living in Fullness – CEO’s Corner, I sit down with Zwelani Nkomo, CEO of McGerald’s Entrepreneurship Center, to unpack his journey from becoming a leader at just 20 years old, to nearly losing it all, and rebuilding with purpose.
Zwelani opens up about:
The biggest leadership lessons he learned managing people older than him.
How failure shaped his business philosophy.
Why funding is only 10% of what makes businesses succeed.
The importance of humility, resilience, and focusing on people over profit.
His mission to build responsible entrepreneurs who are growth-ready.
Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a corporate professional, or someone passionate about leadership, this conversation will challenge how you see business, growth, and purpose.
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Key Chapters:
00:00 Welcome to CEO’s Corner00:50 Meet Zwelani Nkomo01:10 Fun icebreakers: shy but playful CEO03:00 The quote that shaped his leadership: “It’s never just business”05:00 Networking lessons from everyday people06:40 Becoming a leader at 20 years old08:10 Dreaming of architecture but finding business10:10 How childhood and his father shaped him13:00 Learning humility in leadership16:00 The early challenges of leading older teams18:00 Business highs, lows, and darkest moments20:15 Losing millions through over-expansion22:30 Knowing when to expand your business24:30 Are entrepreneurs born or made?28:00 The future of big business in Africa32:00 Why he started McGerald’s Entrepreneurship Center37:00 The pain that birthed his mission38:20 The McGerald’s Business Success Propeller Model41:30 The mindset every entrepreneur must have43:20 Funding is just 10% – what really matters46:00 Practical advice for SMEs and entrepreneurs50:00 Closing reflections