FROM PARK BENCH TO BOARDROOM
Owen Muzambi, shares his journey from being homeless and sleeping rough to creating a social impact advisory company that offers advice to young entrepreneurs.
Zimbabwean born Owen Muzumbi came to South Africa in 2009 with a dream in his head and not much else in his pockets. His entrepreneurial spirit got him through his darker days, selling cigarettes, mint sweets and recycled beer bottles, to ensure his days on the Kingston Frost park bench were short lived.
He reflects on that time by saying, “My greatest investment was a cellphone with an FM radio that allowed me to educate myself.”
Brixton Library became his sanctuary, providing free internet, newspapers, magazines and workshops with free food. Reading books fueled his passion for business and inspired him to stay positive.
In 2009, Owen joined a carpentry event business working on projects for the 2010 World Cup and Confederations Cup. Starting as a general worker, he faced tight deadlines and worked overtime, even camping at the warehouse. Earning R18 per hour, he saved diligently, and after three months of hard grafting, his first paycheck was R13k, allowing him to rent his first place in Tembisa.
Unfortunately, or fortunately, after three years he was retrenched but he flipped the script by starting his own successful carpentry business, making everything from built-in-cupboards to kids furniture, advertising mostly on gumtree.
Despite his quick growth, Owen still lacked financial literacy, fortunately, he found help in the 2-year Awethu Project Incubator program. The Awethu Project seeks individuals to mentor and grow into successful go-getters that can go on to share their knowledge with other start-ups. This 2-year program lead to the successful birth of Driven Development in 2014.
Owen said, “I have a vision for a just and equal South Africa. I am just as confused as everyone else on how to achieve it, But I am enjoying the journey.”
Driven, is a social enterprise, that initially mediated between corporates and CSI's, using corporate CSI funds to design entrepreneurial programs - it evolved into a full consultancy for the financial sector, now collaborating with ASISA, whose members contribute to the funding. The programs, lasting about two years, focus on individuals with the potential to create jobs, through financial literacy, consumer financial education and micro-enterprise development.
Owen has also been instrumental in setting up an NGO funded by Driven, working with post-matric students from Alexandra township to help them succeed in their entrepreneurial careers. Weekly group sessions hosted at Workshop17 West Street see 80 young adults through their own personal journeys to future success and financial freedom.
