Zanele Angel Mvelase ~ Mc Donald’s

“I am in the business of empowering people”

This sophisticated woman with love and empathy for people, hails from Swaziland.

Zanele grew up in a family of entrepreneurs as her parents ran businesses in the community where they lived.  She refers to her Mother, her role model as grounded, strong and a very optimistic person with a flair for good things, “I always tease her and my elder sister that they are the vainest people that God ever created”.

Her parents are strict, hardworking, disciplined and devoted Christians that actively motivated their children to strive for their goals and work hard for what they want to achieve.

Attending a Christian boarding school, encouraged education, excellence and dedicated discipline.  From an early age she realized where she wanted to be. She knew that life had a lot to offer if one stay focused on the things that matter.

After spending a number of years in Corporate, Zanele actively enquired about available business opportunities. She had no money but remembered the lessons of her past and made a conscious decision to pursue her aspirations, even in the face of difficulty. She wanted to be the inspiration to her children as her parents were to her. Her stubborn spirit and the longing for transformation and growth drove her ambition. After months of praying, positive visualization and knocking on many doors, she eventually raised the required funds needed to qualify as a McDonald’s franchisee.

She sees herself as a motivator and believes in the advancement of others.  

Mvelase describes her family, particularly her husband as her cheerleaders and cannot picture her success without them. Her life revolves around her supportive husband who is her sounding board, her strong and independent 19 year old daughter (currently at university) and her inquisitive 14 year old son. Her son is already starting to show strong entrepreneurial skills, likes helping out in the business and has his future perfectly planned out.

 Why a franchise?

“McDonald’s was an easy choice. It is an international business with strong brand equity. With franchising, you have a trusted partner 365 days of the year that wants you to succeed. Systems are in place and the partners bring years of experience to the table. You just need to jump in, build your own capable team and off you go!”

How do you handle the daily stress that comes with the territory?

“I journal and meditate. When you are a person of faith, love leads you, you are more in tune with the messages you receive from God through the Universe. I Trust my instincts and I believe in God’s greater plan for my life.”

What message would you send to younger and future generations?

  •  Always choose mind over matter.
  • Poverty or abundance? It’s your choice. Life gives you what you expect from it.
  • Discipline and focus open doors.
  • Stay on your course and trust your gut. Just believe in yourself.
  • Embrace and respect experience and advice given to you by those who came before you.
  • There are no quick fixes in life or in business.
  • How you recover from your mistakes, are more important than making them. You learn more from your mistakes than your success.

“I hope my team knows how much I care about them and that if I expect them to perform, the intention is to push them forward in life. One of my ambitions is to see positive growth in my employees. I strongly believe that my success should reflect in the people I work with. It is so difficult to make a living and I sincerely hope that everybody that crosses my path would be motivated to aim for greater financial independence.”

Zanele Angel Mavimbela Mvelase is not only the owner of the Brits and Hartbeespoort McDonald’s branches, she is also a woman on a mission. Her heart and head are in the right place. She will, without a doubt, be a legacy to those who are part of her journey.

By Marinda Sauerman

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