How a 16 year old from Zimbabwe became a global high performance coach

How did I, as a 16-year-old from a very small city in Mutare, Zimbabwe come to live in Australia by myself and become a successful high performance coach, lawyer and humanitarian?

As a believer and a fighter, I’ve always strived to find my inner strength; to find the courage to be vulnerable with my community. By doing so, I’ve transformed my life’s course and now I coach others who also want to make a difference and build extraordinary businesses and lives.

Going beyond my culture

Well-regarded thought professor, Brené Brown, who studies vulnerability, courage, authenticity and shame, defines vulnerability as ‘the source of hope, empathy, accountability and authenticity’.

I’d like to take you back to when I was a 14 year old about to take my first leap of faith by writing a letter to a family friend; a letter in which I shared my vision and asked them to help me relocate to Australia to complete my education.

My parents, their social work and volunteers from across the globe had already opened my eyes to the opportunities that countries like Australia could give to someone like myself.

Without my parents’ knowledge (which is considered disrespectful in my culture), I took a risk and wrote a letter asking for assistance. I waited more than 18 months for the results of this letter to come to fruition.

My risk and patience paid off and major things happened; my dear family friend fought hard for me to gain a scholarship to complete my high school education. He also supported me and invited me to live in his home.

Eighteen years of experience in Australia and the power of community

Being vulnerable enabled me to create a life with meaning in Australia; a life as an entrepreneur with a high performance coaching business built around making a difference to others. During my 18 action-packed years in Australia, I have successfully completed the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) and graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts (Honours), majoring in Law, French and European Studies.

I also gained expert commercial experience in Melbourne working as a property lawyer in a well-regarded law firm and as the General Counsel of a high performing international business, responsible for the negotiation of cross-border, multi-million-dollar contracts.

My leadership roles and community engagements in Australia, Asia Pacific, Africa and Europe exposed me to people running start-up businesses, venture capitalists, CEOs of big business, billionaire families, prime ministers and more.

Owning and running a corporate law firm and becoming the Founder and a Director of the Gomo Foundation, an award-winning not-for-profit organisation that provided education scholarships for young African girls were also milestone achievements.

While all of the above is commendable and tangible experience, I still give the most credit to my community; those who carried me during some very difficult times and continue to do so today. It was this vital support that ultimately enabled me to gain the strength and tenacity that has made me the motivated entrepreneur and business coach I am today.

Helping people make a difference

Beyond my past education and work experience, I’ve undergone years of rigorous mentorship, leadership and coaching to turn me inside out and into the person I now am.

Today, I am truly privileged to experience the joy of empowering others to bring their dreams and vision into reality.

In addition to business coaching and the humanitarian work of the Gomo Foundation, I make a difference by advocating for LGBTQIA+ persons and gender equality, and in representation and visibility of minorities on a global stage.