Strive Masiyiwa entrepreneurial journey is one of the most inspiring and impactful stories to emerge from Africa’s business scene. Trained as an electrical engineer in the United Kingdom, Masiyiwa returned to Zimbabwe and went on to challenge a state-controlled monopoly to establish Econet Wireless.
That bold move sparked a revolution in African telecommunications and opened the door to wider access to mobile technology across the continent.
Today, Masiyiwa is the founder and executive chairman of Econet Group, with operations spanning over 20 countries across Africa and beyond. He is also a respected global leader, serving on the boards of Netflix and Unilever, and is a signatory to the Giving Pledge alongside Bill Gates and Warren Buffett.
Through the Higherlife Foundation, he and his wife Tsitsi have supported the education of over 250,000 young Africans, making a lasting mark in both business and philanthropy.
This article will unpack Strive Masiyiwa’s entrepreneurial journey, from his early life and business beginnings to the legal battles that defined his breakthrough, and the ventures and values that continue to shape his legacy as a visionary African entrepreneur.
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Key Takeaways
- Strive Masiyiwa built one of Africa’s largest telecom empires by challenging monopolies, embracing innovation and staying grounded in principle.
- His leadership style is driven by vision, ethical discipline and a commitment to solving real problems through business.
- Through Higherlife Foundation and global advocacy, he has impacted education, healthcare and policy across the continent.
- His entrepreneurial journey proves that long-term success in Africa is possible through integrity, resilience and purpose-led action.
Early Life and Background of Strive Masiyiwa
Strive Masiyiwa was born on the 29th of January 1961 in then-Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, during a period of deep racial segregation and political instability. His parents were middle-class entrepreneurs who owned a small business, and this early exposure to enterprise planted a seed that would later influence his path.
When Masiyiwa was seven, his family fled to Zambia to escape the Rhodesian regime. That move would change the course of his life and worldview.
After completing his early education in Zambia, Masiyiwa earned a scholarship to study in the United Kingdom. He went on to earn a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Wales in 1983.
This technical foundation gave him not only a deep understanding of telecommunications but also the discipline and rigour needed for large-scale problem solving. These skills would prove critical later in his entrepreneurial journey.
Strive Masiyiwa entrepreneurial journey did not begin with vast resources or connections. It began with education, grit and a drive to contribute meaningfully to the development of Africa. The experience of growing up across multiple African countries shaped his continental outlook.
From an early age, he believed that Africa’s challenges could be solved by Africans who were willing to take bold, ethical action. That belief became the compass for everything he would later pursue in business and philanthropy.
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Career Beginnings
After completing his engineering degree, Strive Masiyiwa returned to Zimbabwe in 1984, just four years after the country gained independence. At the time, Zimbabwe was still rebuilding its infrastructure and institutions.
Masiyiwa began his professional career working as a telecoms engineer with the state-owned Post and Telecommunications Corporation. Although the job offered stability, he quickly realised it would not provide the platform he needed to make the kind of impact he envisioned.
In 1986, Masiyiwa made a bold decision to leave formal employment and venture into business. With minimal capital, he founded Retrofit Engineering, an electrical contracting firm that focused on servicing government and commercial clients.
The company took on major infrastructure projects, and within a few years, it had become one of the country’s leading firms in its category. This phase laid the groundwork for Strive Masiyiwa entrepreneurial journey, offering him both the confidence and business acumen to pursue bigger ambitions.
By the early 1990s, Masiyiwa had become increasingly interested in telecommunications. Inspired by the rise of mobile networks in other parts of the world, he identified a gap in Zimbabwe’s communications sector and began making plans to launch the country’s first independent mobile network.
What followed was a drawn-out legal and political battle that would come to define the next chapter of his journey and reshape the telecom industry in Africa.
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Founding Econet Wireless – The Turning Point
Strive Masiyiwa entrepreneurial journey reached a defining moment in 1993 when he formally applied for a licence to establish Zimbabwe’s first private mobile telecom company. At the time, the government held a monopoly on telecommunications and was unwilling to open the sector to private competition.
His application was denied. But instead of backing down, Masiyiwa took the matter to court, launching what would become a five-year legal battle against the government.
The case centred on a constitutional argument; Masiyiwa believed that denying a licence infringed on his right to economic freedom. His stand was unpopular with the authorities and costly in every sense.
In retaliation, the government cancelled Retrofit Engineering’s contracts, pushing the company to the brink of collapse. Masiyiwa lost millions and came close to bankruptcy, but he remained firm in his belief that entrepreneurship should not be restricted by state control.
In 1997, Zimbabwe’s Supreme Court ruled in his favour, declaring that private companies had the right to operate in the telecom sector. The ruling made legal history in Zimbabwe and cleared the path for the birth of Econet Wireless.
In July 1998, Econet launched its services with just 135 base stations and a network that reached fewer than 20,000 customers in its first few months. But the timing was right. Demand for mobile communication exploded across the country, and within a few years, Econet had become the dominant player in Zimbabwe’s telecom market.
This victory was more than a personal win for Masiyiwa. It demonstrated that business could be a force for freedom and change. It also laid the foundation for a pan-African telecom movement that would soon follow.
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Pan-African and Global Expansion
With the legal hurdles behind him and Econet Wireless firmly established in Zimbabwe, Strive Masiyiwa turned his attention to a much larger vision. He was convinced that mobile technology had the potential to transform Africa, and he was determined to make that transformation a reality.
This next phase of Strive Masiyiwa entrepreneurial journey involved scaling beyond borders and building a communications network that would serve millions across the continent.
Through Econet Wireless International, Masiyiwa led the company’s expansion into markets where mobile penetration was low but the demand for connectivity was growing rapidly. His approach was strategic.
Instead of trying to own 100 per cent of operations in each market, Econet often entered joint ventures with local stakeholders, which allowed the business to navigate complex regulatory landscapes more effectively.
The company secured licences in countries like Nigeria, Botswana, Lesotho and Burundi, and its footprint continued to grow through acquisitions, partnerships and new ventures.
One of the most notable offshoots of Econet’s growth was Liquid Telecom, now known as Liquid Intelligent Technologies. It began as a satellite-based communications service and has since evolved into one of Africa’s largest fibre-optic networks, spanning over 100,000 kilometres across more than 20 countries.
This infrastructure has been critical in enabling digital services and internet access for businesses and homes across the region.
Masiyiwa did not stop at telecoms. He diversified his business interests into financial technology through Cassava Fintech, digital media via Kwesé TV, and energy with Distributed Power Africa. His companies began employing thousands and serving tens of millions. Through it all, his leadership was marked by a commitment to long-term impact over short-term gains.
The expansion was not without challenges. From political interference to volatile markets, Masiyiwa encountered resistance in several territories. But his patient and ethical approach to growth helped him build trust with regulators, investors and communities alike.
What began as a court battle for one mobile licence has evolved into a pan-African empire reshaping the way Africans connect, work and live.
Challenges and Controversies
Strive Masiyiwa entrepreneurial journey has never followed an easy or conventional path. From the beginning, he was no stranger to resistance.
Launching a private telecom venture in a tightly controlled economy exposed him to political hostility, economic sabotage and regulatory pushback. These challenges would become recurring themes as he expanded across Africa.
In Zimbabwe, the government’s refusal to grant Econet a licence was not just a bureaucratic denial. It was a deliberate attempt to protect a state monopoly. When Masiyiwa challenged that decision in court, he paid a heavy price.
Retrofit Engineering, his successful contracting firm, lost government contracts, forcing him to shut down what had once been a thriving business. For years, he operated with mounting legal bills, no revenue and limited investor support. Many advised him to give up. He did not.
Even after the court ruling in his favour, political pressure did not ease. Masiyiwa eventually chose to live outside Zimbabwe, citing growing difficulties in operating freely within the country.
This self-imposed exile did not hinder his vision, but it did underscore the personal sacrifices required of entrepreneurs who push against entrenched systems.
Beyond Zimbabwe, Masiyiwa encountered new challenges in every market Econet entered. In Nigeria, Econet Wireless Nigeria faced boardroom disputes and ownership conflicts that eventually led to his exit from the company.
The experience revealed the complexity of doing business in high-growth but politically sensitive environments. Masiyiwa later described it as one of the most painful chapters of his business career.
Despite his emphasis on ethics and transparency, some ventures like the ambitious Kwesé TV struggled to sustain operations in a market dominated by established players. Though the pay-TV platform was eventually shut down, Masiyiwa viewed the experience as part of the risk that comes with innovation.
He remains open about these setbacks, often using them to mentor younger entrepreneurs on the importance of resilience, focus and learning from failure.
Throughout these trials, what stands out is not the absence of controversy, but how Masiyiwa chose to navigate it with restraint, principle and long-term perspective. The credibility he has built over the years stems as much from how he handled losses as from how he celebrated wins.
Philanthropy and Social Impact
Strive Masiyiwa entrepreneurial journey is not only measured in profits or expansion but in the lives touched through his philanthropic work. He and his wife, Tsitsi Masiyiwa, have consistently channelled their success toward solving some of Africa’s most pressing social challenges, starting with education.
In 1996, they founded the Higherlife Foundation, one of the largest and most impactful scholarship programmes on the continent. Its core mission is to support orphans and vulnerable children by giving them access to quality education and leadership development opportunities.
Over the years, the foundation has provided scholarships to more than 250,000 students across Zimbabwe, Burundi, and Lesotho. Many of these young people have gone on to attend prestigious universities and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
The foundation operates through various initiatives, including the Capernaum Trust, the Joshua Nkomo Scholarship Fund and the Christian Community Partnership Trust. Each programme targets specific needs, whether academic excellence, health support or leadership training.
During Zimbabwe’s cholera outbreak in 2008, the Higherlife Foundation played a critical role in supporting medical response efforts. It also helped revitalise the University of Zimbabwe’s College of Health Sciences, which had nearly collapsed due to funding gaps.
Masiyiwa’s belief in technology as a development tool also extends to his philanthropic initiatives. In 2014, he and his wife co-founded Muzinda Hub, a digital skills training programme in Zimbabwe that equips young people with coding and entrepreneurship skills. The initiative has trained thousands of tech-savvy professionals who now work across various industries.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Masiyiwa was appointed as the African Union’s Special Envoy to help coordinate Africa’s response. He was instrumental in negotiating vaccine access for the continent, working with global pharmaceutical companies and multilateral organisations.
His leadership during this period was recognised internationally, and he became a key voice in global discussions on equitable healthcare access.
His philanthropy has not gone unnoticed. In 2018, he and Tsitsi were awarded the Points of Light Award by former UK Prime Minister Theresa May for their service to humanity. The following year, they became signatories to the Giving Pledge, a commitment by some of the world’s wealthiest individuals to give away the majority of their wealth to causes that improve lives.
For Masiyiwa, giving is not separate from business; it is part of the mission. He often says that the true test of wealth is not how much one accumulates, but how effectively one deploys it to change lives.
Leadership Style and Business Philosophy
At the core of Strive Masiyiwa’s entrepreneurial journey is a leadership style rooted in ethics, service and long-term thinking. From his earliest ventures to his pan-African expansion, he has maintained a consistent message: business must serve people, not just profit margins.
This conviction has shaped not only how he runs his companies but also how he influences others in the African entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Masiyiwa leads with clarity of vision. He is known for setting ambitious goals and aligning teams around a shared purpose. Whether deploying fibre-optic infrastructure through Liquid Intelligent Technologies or developing inclusive fintech platforms under Cassava Fintech, his decisions are grounded in solving real problems.
He encourages innovation but insists it must be tied to measurable social value. His leadership is less about showmanship and more about substance.
He also embodies a principle he frequently shares with young entrepreneurs: integrity is capital. Masiyiwa has openly turned down opportunities that would compromise his values, including deals requiring political favours or unethical shortcuts.
His refusal to fund political parties or engage in political lobbying has become a defining trait. On his social media platforms, which he uses to mentor millions, he regularly speaks out against corruption, urging entrepreneurs to be what he calls Real African Entrepreneurs; those who build without compromise.
One of his most notable traits is humility. Despite his wealth and influence, Masiyiwa remains accessible through his writings and speeches, often drawing from personal failures and lessons rather than highlighting success alone.
He does not present himself as the finished product, but as a fellow traveller with insights to share. This has made his mentorship particularly effective across cultures and generations.
Masiyiwa also believes deeply in building capacity. Many of his senior managers and business partners are people he trained and promoted from within.
He invests in leadership development not just in his own companies but across Africa through scholarship programmes, startup accelerators and mentorship hubs. His goal is not to be the only success story, but to be part of a movement that lifts others along the way.
His business philosophy is straightforward: solve problems, stay ethical, build for the long term, and leave something behind that outlives you.
In a continent where shortcuts are often rewarded in the short run, Masiyiwa’s steady, values-driven approach offers a blueprint for sustainable success.
Board Memberships and Global Influence
As Strive Masiyiwa built his business empire across Africa, his influence naturally extended to the global stage. Today, he is recognised not only as one of Africa’s most successful entrepreneurs but also as a trusted voice in international business, development and philanthropy.
His appointments to high-profile boards and advisory councils reflect the respect he commands for his integrity, insight and consistent results.
In 2020, Masiyiwa was appointed to the board of Netflix, becoming the first African to hold such a position in the company’s history. His perspective as a media entrepreneur and pan-African business leader brought diversity and real-world experience to the streaming giant’s leadership.
In 2021, he joined the board of Unilever, one of the world’s largest consumer goods companies, further affirming his reputation for strategic thinking and global relevance.
Beyond the private sector, Masiyiwa serves on several influential advisory bodies. He is a trustee of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and a board member of the Global Advisory Council of the Council on Foreign Relations.
He has also served on the boards of the Rockefeller Foundation and the UN Secretary General’s Advisory Board on Sustainable Energy. These roles reflect his credibility not only in business but also in development and policy.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the African Union appointed Masiyiwa as Special Envoy to mobilise resources and negotiate vaccine access for African nations.
He helped launch the Africa Medical Supplies Platform, a digital marketplace that improved procurement efficiency during the crisis. His efforts were instrumental in securing millions of vaccine doses for countries that would otherwise have been left behind in the global rollout.
Through these engagements, Masiyiwa has become a bridge between Africa and the rest of the world, offering insight, advocating for equitable access to resources, and shaping conversations around development, innovation and digital inclusion.
He continues to speak at global forums such as the World Economic Forum in Davos, the United Nations General Assembly and various impact investment summits.
Strive Masiyiwa entrepreneurial journey has not only transformed sectors, it has influenced global narratives about Africa’s potential, talent and resilience.
His presence in boardrooms around the world is a powerful reminder that African entrepreneurs can help shape the future, not just from within the continent, but from every table where big decisions are made.
Awards, Recognitions and Net Worth
Strive Masiyiwa entrepreneurial journey has earned him widespread recognition, not only for his business success but also for his ethical leadership and social contributions.
Over the decades, he has received numerous awards and honours from respected global institutions, cementing his place among the most influential figures in business and philanthropy.
In 2014, Forbes included him in its list of the 50 Most Influential Business Leaders in the World, and in 2017, Fortune Magazine ranked him number 33 on its list of the World’s 50 Greatest Leaders.
CNN, the World Economic Forum and TIME have all profiled him as a leading voice for innovation and entrepreneurship in Africa. He has also received the Freedom Award from the International Rescue Committee for his humanitarian efforts.
Masiyiwa has been named Zimbabwean Businessman of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year and has received honorary doctorates from institutions such as Morehouse College, recognising both his business acumen and his philanthropy.
He remains one of the few African entrepreneurs to gain simultaneous acclaim in corporate, civic and global leadership spaces.
As for his net worth, most of Masiyiwa’s holdings are privately owned through structures across Econet Group and its subsidiaries, which makes precise valuations difficult. However, Forbes has consistently listed him as Zimbabwe’s first billionaire.
As of the most recent estimates, his net worth stands at approximately 1.7 billion dollars. This places him among Africa’s wealthiest individuals and one of the few who built their fortune entirely through entrepreneurship, not inheritance or commodity windfalls.
Yet, despite this financial success, Masiyiwa rarely focuses on wealth as a measure of achievement. He continues to emphasise purpose, impact and contribution as the real indicators of a meaningful legacy. For him, the awards and financial milestones are secondary to the people reached and the problems solved.
Strive Masiyiwa’s Lessons for Entrepreneurs
Strive Masiyiwa entrepreneurial journey offers a masterclass in what it takes to build a business that lasts and makes a difference.
From overcoming government resistance to scaling across borders, his path is filled with hard-won lessons that remain deeply relevant to entrepreneurs across Africa and beyond.
1. Start with what you have, but think beyond your borders.
Masiyiwa began with a modest engineering firm and scaled into a multinational telecom company. He did not wait for perfect conditions or massive funding.
He started where he could, with the resources and skills available to him. What made the difference was his long-term vision and refusal to be confined by his environment.
2. Integrity is more valuable than capital.
One of Masiyiwa’s most consistent messages is that integrity compounds over time. In markets where corruption is often normalised, he chose a different path.
He refused to fund political campaigns or engage in backdoor deals, even when it cost him dearly in the short term. That reputation for honesty opened bigger doors later in his career.
3. The real opportunity is in the problem.
Rather than shy away from complex challenges, Masiyiwa leaned into them. Whether it was the lack of mobile networks in Africa or the digital skills gap among African youth, he saw problems as business opportunities waiting for execution.
He often reminds young entrepreneurs that problem-solving is the core of real entrepreneurship.
4. Build for resilience, not just for profit.
Masiyiwa’s ventures have faced political resistance, financial pressure and market disruption. His businesses survived not just because of product strength but because they were built with resilience in mind.
He diversified, empowered local leadership and focused on long-term infrastructure. That approach helped him navigate even the most uncertain environments.
5. Use your platform to serve others.
For Masiyiwa, success comes with responsibility. He uses his platform to fund education, mentor young entrepreneurs and influence global policy on health and digital inclusion.
Whether through the Higherlife Foundation or his public mentorship on social media, he shows that leadership means giving back, not just scaling up.
6. Surround yourself with people who share your values.
One of the less discussed aspects of Masiyiwa’s journey is how he has consistently developed leaders from within. Many of his top executives started in junior roles and were promoted based on trust, competence and shared vision. Building a value-aligned team has been key to scaling without compromising principles.
Entrepreneurs often search for shortcuts or guaranteed models of success. Masiyiwa’s journey offers something deeper, an example of what happens when clarity of purpose meets courage, patience and unwavering commitment to doing business the right way.
Strive Masiyiwa Quotes and Reflections for Today’s Entrepreneurs
Throughout his career, Strive Masiyiwa has not only built businesses, he has shared the wisdom gained along the way. Whether through interviews, speeches or his widely followed social media platforms, he has consistently mentored emerging entrepreneurs across Africa and beyond.
His words are grounded in experience, shaped by personal trials and victories, and always focused on values that transcend market trends.
Here are some of his most powerful reflections that continue to resonate with business leaders and aspiring founders alike.
“Integrity is better capital than money. You can accumulate it just like money, and you can use it just like money, but it goes further and is enduring.”
This principle sits at the core of Strive Masiyiwa entrepreneurial journey. He reminds entrepreneurs that credibility is a currency, and that over time, it opens doors that money alone cannot.
“A vision on its own is not enough. Hard work and dedication is required to make that vision a reality.”
Masiyiwa emphasises execution. Many people dream, he says, but only those willing to work through discomfort and uncertainty actually build something that lasts.
“The opportunity is in the problem.”
For Masiyiwa, every crisis is a prompt for innovation. This mindset helped him spot business opportunities in restricted markets, emerging sectors and underserved populations.
“You can only find opportunities if you are looking for them.”
He encourages entrepreneurs to stay alert, curious and observant. Often, breakthroughs come from noticing what others overlook.
“Attitude determines your altitude. If you have a bad attitude, even if you are way up there, you will come crashing down.”
In a world where technical skills are celebrated, Masiyiwa reminds entrepreneurs that mindset, humility and adaptability often determine long-term success.
Beyond the quotes, what stands out is how he lives what he teaches. He often shares personal stories of failure, missteps and redirection, offering a human face to what can sometimes feel like an unreachable level of success.
For today’s entrepreneurs navigating volatility, uncertainty and competition, Masiyiwa’s voice is a steady reminder that the most powerful tools remain timeless: integrity, vision, grit and service.
Conclusion
Strive Masiyiwa entrepreneurial journey is more than a story of wealth and recognition. It is a roadmap for building with purpose, leading with integrity and staying committed through adversity.
From his early days as an engineer to becoming one of Africa’s most respected business leaders, Masiyiwa has shown that it is possible to succeed without compromise and to use that success to uplift others.
His impact spans industries, countries and generations. Whether creating access to communication, education or opportunity, he has consistently used business as a tool for transformation. For entrepreneurs seeking not just profit, but legacy, his example offers rare clarity in a noisy world.
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