Born into a family of six, I carry the weight and honour of being the firstborn. That role came with an unspoken duty to lead, to inspire, and to set the bar high for those coming after me. And so, I’ve always moved with purpose, even when I didn’t fully understand where the path was leading.
Growing up, I dreamed of becoming a medical doctor. But life has a way of redirecting us toward our true calling, often through unexpected routes. I ended up studying ICT with Education not because I chose it, but because it was what was available at the time. I embraced it, not knowing it was the first step toward something bigger.
While at university, I felt the internal push for more. More growth. More income. More impact. With my siblings watching me and expectations high, I knew I had to stretch myself beyond just academics. That’s when I ventured into business. I started a T-shirt brand called “MONGU RICE IS THE ANSWER”, inspired by a trending phrase. Out of excitement, I printed 50 shirts and sold only two. All my savings were gone.
But that failure became my teacher. I went back to the drawing board and birthed a new brand: “WORK HARD PLAY HARD.” This one hit differently over 500 shirts sold, and I was able to fund the student life I envisioned for myself. It wasn’t just a hustle; it was a lesson in resilience, market relevance, and reinventing yourself after failure.
My leadership journey continued when I was elected President of the University of Zambia ICT Association (UNZAICTA). I pushed to merge tech and community impact, proving that titles mean little if they’re not backed by action. After graduation, I made a bold decision that I was never going to apply for any job. I would focus on building my business. But six months later, I got a call from NICO Insurance Zambia.
I had been recommended by someone I didn’t even know for a graduate trainee position. Sceptical, I accepted it as a chance to understand the corporate world. That opportunity opened my eyes. Within six months, I was selected for the Management Trainee Program. My blend of tech skills and entrepreneurial thinking allowed me to see the insurance industry differently not just as a system, but as a space full of gaps, waiting to be filled with innovation.
Around the same time, the University of Zambia offered me a part-time tutor role. I declined. Not because I didn’t value it but because I was finally starting to walk in alignment with my purpose. One thing became clear – let me leave you with this analogy:
A chick begins as an egg. To become a chicken, it must go through incubation, a process that strengthens it.
Emmanuel Kuyela | IIG Roots and Wings International Mentee 2025
