Name: Kudakwashe Tafadzwa Chemhuru

Title: Chief Operating Officer

Organisation: Neshil Investments

Seasoned and award winning business leader & executive with a solid reputation for achieving corporate growth objectives through providing strategic direction, diverse perspectives and positive leadership. Increases organizational efficiencies and improves sustainable revenue while reducing operating costs. Proven operations strategist with a track record in leading complex improvement initiatives and applying solid technical, research and analytical abilities

Thank you to the 2,000 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 Questions on Leadership!

I hope Kudakwashe's answers will encourage you in your leadership journey. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Jonno White

1. What have you found most challenging as a leader?

much of leadership involves having to navigate situations that are completely new to you, and remaining confident and effective while doing so, its not easy to be confident,consistant and march given the operating environment in Zimbabwe

2. How did you become a leader? Can you please briefly tell the story?

I can say i leaders are either are born and or made.I started my career as lab technician ,at a certain high school in the ghetto and then moved Byo polytechnic college as a senior technician and then left Byo polytechnic for Plascon where i joined as a paint technologist/chemist from i moved to Nash paints as Technincal manager i then alos worked for other companies like Ledger paints as Technical Executive,ETG-CURE CHEM as Industrial Head Sales & Marketing ,Plant Manager Insignia Malawi ,General Manager Biorich Investments ,then as COO at Neshil Investments and then was appointed recently to Board of Directors of the BSZ and also serve on the HCH board. In short it was not an overnight success but a process ,where i grew through diverse portfolios with challenging yet beneficial environments

3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?

i wake up at 0300 daily then do my mediation,then read and do my academic research my as i am pursuing my masters degree ,after which i then plan my diary ,workout and mostly leave home for work at 0600am ,during the day i will be doing operational work subjective to each day as days are different and then leave work at around 1800 ,then its family time until i took my children to sleep.

4. What's a recent leadership lesson you've learned for the first time or been reminded of?

Everyone can help you learn something. It goes without saying that everyone has their own style of leadership, their own personal brand. Observing how others handle themselves – peers, management, and other external leaders – is a great way to learn. Whether you agree with how a situation is handled or not, the experience can teach you how to approach a similar issue in the future. Leadership is a constant assessment and reevaluation, so the more you can learn from the experiences of others – good or bad– the better off you’ll be when you’re positioned to make the decisions.

5. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your leadership so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted your leadership?

Think and Grow Rich is based on Napolean Hill's earlier book The Law of Success, which was a result of more than twenty years of study of many individuals who had amassed personal fortunes. Hill studied their habits and drew some 16 "laws" to be applied to achieve success. Think and Grow Rich condenses them, providing the reader with 14 principles in the form of a "Philosophy of Achievement".

The main theme of the book is that anyone can achieve success and wealth by following a certain set of principles. Hill identifies these principles as the "13 Steps to Riches," which include developing a positive mental attitude, setting clear and specific goals, developing a plan to achieve those goals, taking action, and maintaining a strong belief in oneself and one's capabilities.

The 13 steps to riches, as outlined in "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill, are:

1. Desire: Start with a strong desire or burning ambition to achieve a specific goal or outcome.

2. Faith: Have unwavering faith in yourself and your ability to achieve your goal.

3. Autosuggestion: Use positive self-talk and affirmations to reinforce your beliefs and goals. 4. Specialized knowledge: Acquire the knowledge and skills needed to achieve your goal.

5. Imagination: Use your imagination to visualize your goal and see yourself achieving it.

6. Organized planning: Develop a detailed plan of action to achieve your goal.

7. Decision: Make a firm decision to follow through on your plan and never give up.

8. Persistence: Keep working towards your goal, even when faced with obstacles or setbacks. 9. Power of the Master Mind: Surround yourself with like-minded people who support and encourage you.

10. The Mystery of Sex Transmutation: Use the power of your sexual energy to fuel your desire and drive.

11. The Subconscious Mind: Tap into the power of your subconscious mind to help you achieve your goals.

12. The Brain: Use your brain to analyze and plan, and to make decisions and take action.

13. The Sixth Sense: Trust your intuition and inner guidance to help you make the right decisions and achieve your goals.

6. If you could only give one piece of advice to a young leader, what would you say to them?

Believe in yourself ,trust the process ,be patient and have a mentor

7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as a leader, so far?

Who moved my cheese