From selling airtime, cigarettes, and sweets as a street vendor to becoming a business consultant and trainer, Jerry Nyazungu draws from his life experiences and entrepreneurial acumen to assist struggling businesses and guide them toward sustainable growth.
As the founder and CEO of M&J Group, Jerry boasts over a decade of experience in high-performance sales training. His passion for helping businesses achieve successful turnaround strategies has become a major driving force behind his work.
Jerry’s journey from humble beginnings is marked by resilience and determination. Having worked at a popular clothing store and later as a street vendor, he saved enough money to further his education. Today, he leverages those experiences to help small businesses thrive through M&J Group—a consultancy firm with interests in media, technology, and accounting advisory services.
Established in 2015, M&J Group aims to provide value-added solutions to budding and established entrepreneurs, helping them grow and navigate the complexities of Africa’s business environment. To date, the company has supported more than 4,500 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across Zimbabwe and Zambia, transforming underperforming entities into profitable ventures.
The company’s success has earned recognition, including Jerry’s 2020 award as the Young Business Executive of the Year (Platinum Category) by Megafest. M&J was also named one of the Most Customer-Focused Companies (Gold Category), cementing its reputation for delivering impactful solutions.
From Humble Beginnings to Success
Jerry’s life story is deeply rooted in his experiences growing up in rural Watsomba near Mutare. After completing his O-Levels at Marist Brothers in Nyanga and A-Levels at Hartzell High School, Jerry shocked many by choosing not to attend university immediately. Instead, he moved to Harare to seek employment opportunities and began working as a shop attendant at Edgars Stores.
However, his employment at Edgars lasted only six months. With the little money he had saved, Jerry started a vending business, selling airtime, cigarettes, sweets, and fruits at the corner of Patrenta and Willowvale in Harare. Through this, he learned valuable lessons about running a business, from customer relations to financial management.
Jerry’s resilience paid off as he saved enough to pursue further education, eventually qualifying as a chartered secretary. This qualification opened doors to work for established companies such as SPAR and Zimbabwe Publishing House (ZPH). Despite his success in the corporate world, Jerry’s passion for entrepreneurship drove him to establish M&J Group as a platform to help SMEs achieve their potential.
Building a Consultancy Powerhouse
Since its founding, M&J has grown from a one-person operation with a $40 laptop to a thriving enterprise employing over 50 people across three locations in Zimbabwe and Zambia. Jerry’s effective sales techniques and turnaround strategies have helped businesses achieve remarkable growth, often reaching seven- and eight-figure revenues.
M&J’s success is attributed to Jerry’s ability to innovate, his focus on customer-centric solutions, and a commitment to delivering value. Jerry envisions M&J becoming one of the world’s largest consultancy firms, with a workforce exceeding 2,500 employees.
Sharing Knowledge and Inspiring Entrepreneurs
As an author of three books—Sales = Mjolo, Selling Like a Vendor, and The Chartered Vendor—Jerry shares practical advice and insights drawn from his experiences. Through social media and his website thecharteredvendor.com, he inspires salespeople and business leaders to think innovatively and embrace challenges.
In one of his recent posts, Jerry highlighted the importance of persistence in sales:
“Salespersons only want to work with what’s flowing, but don’t want to prospect to fill and grow their pipeline. Prospecting is like eating a frog—it’s unpleasant, but necessary. Imagine being given two options: eat a frog or die?”
He also uses vivid metaphors to motivate entrepreneurs. Reflecting on life’s challenges, he wrote:
“Life will throw mud at you—challenges, criticism, and insults. The key is not to focus on cleaning the entire car but to ensure your windscreen is clear. Your response will determine whether you sink or swim, fly or collapse.”
The Journey of Transformation
Jerry’s story is one of perseverance and turning obstacles into opportunities. From his vending days to the boardroom, he has remained proud of his roots, proving that passion and hard work can overcome even the toughest challenges.
Through M&J, Jerry is transforming the landscape for small businesses, inspiring countless entrepreneurs to reach their full potential. His journey is a testament to the power of resilience, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to success.