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Lenox Lizwi Mhlanga
DROP the ego whether you are dirt poor or worth a billion. That is the message that Ashish J Thakkar, Africa’s youngest billionaire at 34, advises up and coming entrepreneurs.
I personally had the opportunity to attend one of his talks. Those that attended the event did so for probably two reasons.
Firstly, to see what a billionaire looked like and, secondly, having the hope that by being close to one, some of that “magic” to make a billion would perhaps rub off through osmosis!
What struck me and many others was the humility of the 34-year-old business tycoon.
Wearing a pair of faded jeans, designer T-shirt and loafers isn’t one’s idea of a person dripping with money.
The only thing that offset the very casual look was a dark jacket with a lapel pin of the Zimbabwean flag and dark rimmed glasses.
Being humble is an understatement when describing the Atlas Mara Group’s CEO.
Ashish confessed that his most defining moment was when multi-billionaire Warren Buffett personally came down a lift to meet him and his father.
He says he was blown away that the globe’s richest dude would be so down to earth.
Ashish says he is prepared to wait for four hours outside an office to get served.
And if he doesn’t, he will go away, come back and wait another four hours until he gets service!
“Always be down to earth and approachable because no matter how big you become, you’re still just a drop in the ocean in the grand scheme of things.
“The day your arrogance kicks in, it’s all over,” says Ashish.
We are all gobsmacked! My mind immediately conjures images of local guys who think they have arrived, pumping up the volume in their cars so that they get noticed saying things like, “Do you know who I am? Don’t mess with me!”
Well a few names come to mind but I won’t name and shame them lest we give them undue recognition.
Ashish was only 15 when he became an entrepreneur in Uganda.
He and his family had moved there from Rwanda as refugees during the genocide.
They had lost everything and he raised seed capital of $5,000 to start a business sourcing computer parts in Dubai and selling them in his native Uganda.
He eventually grew his computer shop into a multinational conglomerate, the Mara Group, with interests in real estate, tourism, Information and Technology, renewable energy, manufacturing and financial services.
The group’s operations are spread in 20 countries on 4 continents, all from scratch.
It is in financial services that Ashish has made inroads into Zimbabwe’s restive banking sector. Walking in where others fear to tread.
Atlas Mara Co-Invest, a joint venture between Ashish Thakkar and Bob Diamond, former Barclays Bank PLC chief executive officer, bought the controlling stake in ABC Holdings in a deal worth $265 million.
This was the biggest transaction in the Zimbabwean financial sector’s history and, according to Diamond, sought to position BankABC as the leading financial services organisation on the continent.
It is not surprising that Ashish’s approach is towards growing the mother continent.
His Mara Group works on four principles – that the group should have a positive social impact, be Pan African, must be game changing and be above board.
He has established the Mara Foundation to assist up-and-coming entrepreneurs.
He better understands the situation and the challenges facing young businesses through his own experience.
Ashish believes that the solution for tackling unemployment is in nurturing entrepreneurs.
“We need to enable, empower and inspire young entrepreneurs,” he says.
Through the Mara Foundation, he established Mara Mentor which is a platform for allowing entrepreneurs to access information, guidance and mentorship from business mentors. It’s not only about making money.
“Success should never be driven by money but by what difference you are making,” says Ashish.
Ashish believes that Africa’s time has arrived.
“I have never seen so much excitement about Africa as I see now. We have the biggest and the best opportunities. We have to think differently; be a little crazy!” he says.
The aim of the Mara Group is to have a self-sustaining Africa. The question Ashish asks is whether we believe in ourselves.
“Stop blaming everybody and everything for your condition, stop making excuses, it’s time for action,” is Ashish’s glaring message. Sounds familiar?
In how he conducts business, Ashish harks to the basic human tenets of truth, love and compassion. He says that in business one should be authentic and real. One’s value set should be the foundation.
The Mara Group’s philosophy is to do good and do well. Ashish Thakkar says that doing business is about one’s mindset and keeping the faith. If one has a clean heart and is positive, then success will not be far behind.
That is a lessons that all aspiring entrepreneurs and established business should include in their philosophy.
Online Reporter