The Indomitable Trevor Mumba

Trevor Mumba, a resilient and visionary business mogul, graces the cover of Excel Magazine Zambia Issue 8 for his remarkable impact on the African business landscape. Rising from humble beginnings, Trevor’s journey is a powerful testament to perseverance, ambition, and the belief that one’s starting point doesn’t define their destination. Through unwavering determination, he has built a thriving business empire that spans multiple sectors and countries. In an in-depth interview, he shares insights into his upbringing, the challenges he overcame, the values that guide him, and his aspirations for the future, inspiring a new generation of African entrepreneurs.

Business mogul, Trevor Mumba is the cover feature for our 8th issue of Excel Magazine. Carefully selected for the amazing impact he has on the business landscape across the African continent. His story is a true testament to the fact that how one starts in life is not necessarily how they will finish and that hard work really works.

Through sheer determination and a burning desire to succeed, against all odds, he has built a business empire that will stand the test of time.

We caught up with him for an interview

Nakiwe: Your formative years were pretty tough, especially since you lost both parents at a tender age. Could you speak to how the dynamics of being orphaned when young affect one’s upbringing?

Trevor: Interesting enough, a lot of the effects of being an orphan so early only became apparent way later in my life. Of course, as a child, I was aware of some differences between me and other kids who had parents.

I could tell how they had it easier than me, how they had better clothes or toys, school bags and things like that. I also knew they felt loved where they came from. However, the emotional and mental effects would only kick in as I grew older and became more aware of how I felt about not having a mother or father present in my life.

At some point, you become wiser and start to pay attention to how even family talk to you and what they mean. You begin to see things for what they are, then the loneliness and sadness kicks in. That’s the worst part. You crave love and attention like everybody else and you get reminded every so often that you will never have it like that. This drives other people to drugs and alcohol or other harmful escapes to try and fill that void. I am grateful that my pain did not lead me down that path. I must confess however, that I was quite short tempered in my younger years due to this emptiness and fought a lot at home and at school.

Nakiwe: After the death of your parents, you had to sell ice blocks in order to raise transport fare for you to continue going to school because your aunty whom you went to live with was not providing that for you. Why was it so important to you to continue with your education under those difficult circumstances. Why was quitting not an option to you?

Trevor: About my aunt not providing. Well, to be fair, she did for a little while and then stopped. So, I had to take over from there and do what I could for myself.

Even as a kid, I knew that one day that difficult phase in my life would eventually pass and that education offered the most hope for me. I really struggled with my results just before my seventh grade and all the way to grade twelve, but I had to keep trying to improve my chances of getting a better life ahead.

Even though I did not do so well at grade twelve, I have always been a believer in learning so I kept reading and teaching myself as much as I could and about anything and everything that interested me. I still read a lot. I consider myself one of the most educated people that I know and that is evident in the confidence I approach life and business with.

Nakiwe: Would you say that selling ice blocks and subsequently VCDs and DVDs while at school gave you the requisite resilience for one to become a successful entrepreneur?

Trevor: Absolutely! And a lot of other business lessons came from that too. The work ethic, understanding of the importance of cashflow, relationships, negotiating etc. Over the years, I have just built on a lot of the skills I developed from back then when I sold these items at the market and on the streets. 

Nakiwe: Tell us about your move to SA and what informed your decision to relocate?

Trevor: I was really frustrated with where I was in my mid-twenties. I knew I was very smart and could do so much more with my life than just hustling on the streets. I was great at my game, but I wanted better, bigger.

I had so many great ideas and got tired of people shooting them down or asking me what my academic qualifications were even when some of these ideas had nothing to do with a particular qualification.

I just knew that somewhere else, my work ethic and ideas would be appreciated, and I would be given opportunities on merit. So, I decided to move to South Africa. It seemed to support crazy ideas like mine plus was not so difficult to travel to, compared to the US, UK or other countries with a similar vibe and economies.

It also promised rewards for hard workers, and I considered myself one of the toughest people I knew. I settled for Johannesburg where I got my first job selling things door-to-door, and as they say, the rest is history.

Nakiwe: You made your first million by age 30. Speak to how that came about and why just a year down the line, you had gone bankrupt.

Trevor: In fact, I made my first million rand at 27 which was the same year I started Rovert Marketing.

My business model was and still is very simple. I only sale on behalf of other companies. That means as long as we have the capacity to hire and train sales personnel, we can sell as many products or services as possible.

The first deal we ever got was to sell Virgin Mobile sim cards. We quickly got to 30 plus sales people, each doing a minimum of 10 sim cards per day. I was having fun with it, but that was also a problem. I was making so much money so quickly and my financial understanding was not matching the speed at which I was making the money. So naturally, I was making a lot of bad financial decisions. To add to that, I was in a bad business partnership with another larger organization, and I was too naïve to see the agreement for what it was. So, yes by age 30, I lost it all and had to rebuild my business for another couple of years. 

Nakiwe: Speak to how you were able to rise from the ashes and reclaim your place as a formidable entrepreneur.

Trevor: The first thing I had to do was accept my reality and be honest about what led to it. I had to see the lessons for what they were and grow from them. I had to be a better person to build a better business. Took a lot of introspection.

I already had the work ethic and the sales skills so I started looking for other clients to work with. I also had to build better relationships for collaborations. I brought somebody who was going through a similar growth process on board to help with business development.

Together, we developed a fundraising model for charities and went to work with one. It was a huge success and before you know it, we had built something scalable and signed on a few more clients. Everything else that I have been involved with since 2014 started from there. 

Nakiwe: Your grandmother died before you could really honour her for the role she played in your upbringing. If you had an opportunity to have your grandmother back to life for 24 hours, what would you say to her, and what would you do for her.
Trevor: I would get her on a plane. Fly her to Mauritius or maybe Cape Town or somewhere on the coast of Mozambique.

Just somewhere nice and quiet. Book her a spa day. I would say thank you for everything she did for me, for the love, for the life lessons, for the jokes and the food and for preparing me for what was to come. I would tell her about how my daughter reminds me so much of her. She is such a happy and warm soul. Then we would just sit and enjoy each other’s company.

Nakiwe: You have indicated that despite the cruelty that your aunty subjected you to, you forgave her and have mad love for her now. Could you speak to the process it took for you to forgive her and why forgiveness is important.

Trevor: Growth and healing are about understanding. That is what it took for me to forgive. Different seasons and experiences determine how people treat others and how they perceive life. So, when seasons change, it is possible that people can change too. I saw that change in her and I understood. She was also much younger than I am right now when we had that kind of relationship. Most importantly, I forgave myself for the hate and anger I felt for her.

Forgiveness is important because it is your freedom. It is good for your peace of mind. Your ability to work and create new things comes from clarity. Being able to forgive gives you that power back.

Nakiwe: You run so many companies. What informed your choice of the businesses you decided to venture into?

Trevor: I am good at reading situations and identifying needs. Then If I can, I try and create a solution for them. Everybody in business does this. However, I try and simplify the solutions as much as possible. I am not big on complex ideas. Therefore, even when I come up with a complex solution to a problem, my focus is on breaking it down into easier parts until we have something that makes our customer’s or clients lives easier and better.

Nakiwe: How did you meet your wife, and what made you decide she was the one you wanted to spend the rest of your life with?

Trevor: Hahaha, we met on Instagram. I don’t even remember when we actually started following each other but we kept liking each other’s posts. Then one day, she sent me a message saying hi. I said hi back. Then we went on our first date, and I just knew she was the one. They say when you know you know and yes, they are right. She is an amazing woman. She is so loving to me and our daughter. She really takes care of us. I love her.

Nakiwe: You own your businesses a hundred per cent. Each business was built with your own money. Yet some say you need to borrow to invest in business. They say never to use one’s own money. Are you able to rationalize this for us?

Trevor: Honestly, I would have loved to get funded by somebody too, especially at the beginning. I really needed help. I asked around, pitched to a few people and quickly learnt that most people that ask for your business proposal before they even hear the conviction in your voice probably won’t read it even if you gave it to them.

Me getting my first job in South Africa was with a plan to raise my own capital and the one thing I give myself a pat on the back for is patience. I was willing to go through what I needed to while working towards my own ideas. I was also willing to start small because I believed in myself and in what I was doing.

I never went to school to study business or investments so I may not fully understand where some of these theories come from. I do what works for me and keep moving. It also makes sense that even if you have a great idea worth other people investing in, that you first prove to yourself that it can work.

 The other reality is that people sometimes sell themselves short to investors because they haven’t built enough leverage yet. Raising capital too soon is also a thing. Sometimes, it’s the hardship in bootstrapping that builds the necessary character for your business success.

I have one or two businesses now that are ready for more outside money, but I am also not desperate because I know what I have built and where it is going.

Nakiwe: You did not go further in your studies yet have built an admirable empire. How important is education in the grand scheme of things?

Trevor: Education is very important. I can never stress that enough. However, it goes beyond formal classroom learning. There are lessons all around us. We live in times where at a certain age and point in life, failing to learn and develop yourself is almost always your fault.

Information is literally at our fingertips. I always encourage people to read, read, read. Watch who you surround yourself with and where you spend most of your time. Keep asking questions and be very observant.

Nakiwe: What advice do you have for SMEs as they try to start building their businesses.

Trevor: Don’t rush to be a boss. First, be the best employee that your business needs.

Smart work is nothing without hard work. Put in the hours. Understand your numbers.

Build the right relationships genuinely so. Smart people know when you are being real or when you are working them.

Things will not always go your way. Be resilient and flexible.

No matter how crazy things get and they will, don’t be too emotional. Emotions cloud your judgement. You need clarity to perform at your best.

Be honest about the things that inspire you. You are not in business for the reasons the next person is in business for.  And last but not the least, have fun.

Nakiwe:  What  do   young people need to know on their way to actualizing their dreams?

Trevor: Nobody cares about your dreams as much as you do. Personalize them as much as you can. Be disciplined. Put relationships before transactions. You will cry sometimes and that’s fine. It will not happen overnight. Be patient. Every dream will have an impact on other people’s lives, positive or negative. How big that impact will be is your responsibility. Watch how you move, it matters.

Nakiwe: What advice do you have for your daughter when she turns 18.

Trevor: Baby, I am proud of you, and I am proud to be your dad. Always remember why dad named you Kgosatsana. You are royalty. You are a queen.

I have worked my whole life to build everything you have around you, protect it because it is yours. Look out for those who need your help and listen to your heart in those moments.

Not everybody close to you means well and some of the people that mean well may not even talk to you every day. Be smart enough to know who those people are and protect those relationships.

Keep learning and growing. Your true power is in what you know. Life will be hard sometimes, but everybody has their own moments.

There will be very beautiful moments too, just don’t lose yourself when they come. Money is important but sense of direction and fulfilment will keep you going when the money can’t. Figure out what that is for yourself and you will always be alright.

Nakiwe: After all you have achieved. What do the next couple of years look like for you. Do you feel you will ever reach a stage where you will say “ Thus far and no further?”

Trevor: I have a few more business moves up my sleeve and I look forward to bringing them to life and to see how far we can take them.

I am also ready for public service. I believe I can play a part in creating a better Zambia for all. It’s a big move but I want to be part of the people on the frontline of taking the nation into a better tomorrow. I want to help create a better vision.