Tumi Phake
Tumi Phake | |
|---|---|
| Born | Itumeleng Phake |
| Nationality | South African |
| Alma mater | University of South Africa, Virginia Commonwealth University |
| Occupation |
|
| Years active | 2014-present |
| Organization | Zenzele Group |
| Known for | Entrepreneurship |
| Awards | South Africa Entrepreneur of the year |
Tumi Phake is a South African entrepreneur,[1][2][3] he is the CEO of Zenzele Group and he was named South African SME Entrepreneur of the Year in 2017.[4] Phake is also the South African ambassador for the Young African Initiative (YALI).[5][6]
Background[edit]
Born Itumeleng Phake, Tumi Phake was born in Katlehong, South Africa and he grew up in Tembisa, Gauteng where he had his early education. He then enrolled for a Financial Management degree at the University of South Africa through a bursary. In 2016, during his time as Young African Initiative (YALI) ambassador he studied at Virginia Commonwealth University in the United States of America and during the program he also studied Business and Entrepreneurship.[7]
Tumi began his career at First National Bank where he also served as a junior board member,[8] he the joined Rand Merchant Bank (RMB),[9] and in 2014 he left the banking to startup Zenzele Group,[10] through which he has investments in fitness, sportswear, technology,[11] healthcare supplement and renewable energy.[12][13] He successfully obtained initial seed funding to launch his business and subsequently secured additional investment for growth, enabling him to expand and scale the company.[14][15]
In 2015, Tumi Phake was named in the Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans list, then in 2016,[16] he was selected as a South African ambassador for the Young African Leaders Initiative in the United States of America, a leadership program established by former president Barack Obama for young African Leaders.[17]
In 2017 he was awarded South African entrepreneur of the Year Award and in 2019,[18] he was ranked amongst the Most Influential Young South Africans in the business sector.[19] In 2018, Tumi Phake received an Associate Award issued by Harvard Business School through Harambe Entrepreneur Alliance. He also was a finalist at the All Africa Business Leaders Awards curated by CNBC Africa in 2018, he was then awarded as Best African fitness Entrepreneur at the Tropics Business Summit in 2019[20] the same year he diversified his portfolio Zenzele Group portfolio into several subsidiary companies which include Zenzele Tech, Zen Nutrition, APARA Premium and Zenzele Health.[21]
References[edit]
- ^ "Zenzele Fitness Group CEO Tumi Phake is playing the health and wellness game at high intensity". Wanted Online.
- ^ "South African Entrepreneur Creates A New Path to Health and Wellness". Harambeans.
- ^ "We chat to businessman Tumi Phake | Afternoon Express | 20 November 2019" – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ "Finalists announced for South Africa's premier entrepreneurial competition". Entrepreneur of the Year®. July 24, 2017.
- ^ "To Inspire Other Africans, I Need To Build A Sustainable Business To Last At Least 100 Years – Tumi Phake | AmeyawDebrah.com". October 26, 2020.
- ^ Gachanja, Nelly (December 16, 2018). "40 Africans Under 40 - Making It In Africa - Africa.com". www.africa.com.
- ^ Probyn, Justin (November 13, 2017). "The journey so far: Tumi Phake, founder and CEO, Zenzele Fitness Group". How we made it in Africa.
- ^ Tv, Bn (October 26, 2020). "Tumi Phake talks Transitioning from Banking to Fitness on "Under 40 CEOs"".
- ^ "How this banker found success in the fitness industry". October 19, 2017.
- ^ "Under 40 CEOs - Tumi Phake" – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ "Zenzele Fitness Group Change the Face of Fitness Industry in South Africa". March 19, 2018.
- ^ Ndalana, Liziwe. "Meet the man who wants to disrupt SA's fitness industry". Business.
- ^ Thulo, Lebohang (January 29, 2019). "Zenzele Fitness: Founder Talks Industry Opportunities". SME South Africa.
- ^ Crampton, Nicole (June 11, 2019). "10 South African Entrepreneurs Who Landed Funding – And How They Did It". Entrepreneur.
- ^ "Entrepreneurs tell how they grew thriving business in 'How we made it in Africa'". November 30, 2018.
- ^ "Meet the M&G 200 Young South Africans for 2016". June 22, 2016.
- ^ https://frontrowbusiness.africa/exclusive-chat-with-tumi-phake-group-chief-executive-zenzele-group/
- ^ "Entrepreneurial pearls of wisdom". Entrepreneur of the Year®. February 19, 2018.
- ^ "Avance Media | Profiles: 2019 100 Most Influential Young South Africans".
- ^ https://www.harambeans.com/harambeans_at_work/tumi-phake-h18/
- ^ https://frontrowbusiness.africa/exclusive-chat-with-tumi-phake-group-chief-executive-zenzele-group/