Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sunga Mkwezalamba. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Sunga, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
I lean on my understanding of my uniqueness and talents and understand its a blessing to standout as different, which is why I created my brand ZIMRothschild. ZIMRothschild is a platform for individuals we identify as “Unicorns”. Unicorns are catalysts for the next generation who drive positive change. An example of a Unicorn is an individual tackling world hunger or affordable internet availability in third-world countries. Unicorns are fly—they dress well—they’re trendsetters and jet-setters.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am an attorney and principal at an investment firm by day, and creative and artist by night. Ethnically, I am from Malawi, a country in East Africa. I have a focus and interest in scaling African startups, and expressing my uniqueness and talents through art and building a platform for individuals like me.
I began my career specializing in policy at the African Union. Along the way, I created various partnerships with educational institutions in Africa for access to affordable education. My career has involved access to various African investment markets, including project finance, blockchain and related technology.
While at the University of Illinois where I was a member of the football team, I also managed Project Africa South, a non-profit which funded women entrepreneurs in Africa.
Today, I sit on the board of many impact organizations, including the Learning Centre in Malawi, Africa, and the Black Men Lawyers Association of Greater Chicago (a group I co-founded in 2017).
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Fear. Once I identify that I am fearful of a challenge, I tackle it.
Competition. I am very competitive and try to be the best.
Focus. If I choose to take on a challenge, I am very persistent till I actualize my vision for the challenge.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
My mother
Contact Info:
- Website: https://zimrothschild.com/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunga-mkwezalamba/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SungaZIM
Image Credits
@greatnimy.photos
