CEO's Corner | Zwelani Nkomo on Leadership at 20, Losing It All, and Starting Again

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.

Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more inspiring conversations with trailblazing leaders.

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