Mufaro Chakabuda
CEO
I define my life by persistence in achieving my goals. At my core, my family and faith are important. I enjoy giving and sharing to communities around me and am passionate about sharing cultural awareness through the arts.
Originally from Zimbabwe, I came to Canada to study at Dalhousie University. I am the founder and CEO of the MCAD Inc, Chaks Publishing, Zimscholarships (charity) and ZIMDS.
In addition to being a published Author, I enjoy entrepreneurship and leadership, and have become a passionate community leader. From my University experiences achieving milestones such as the first Black Dalhousie Resident Assistant (appointed), first Black President of her residence (nominated) and the first female African student to run for the Vice President of Finance position for the Dalhousie Student Union.
In the past the MCAD Inc. has received several awards including the Progress Women’s Excellence Awards 2009 (Atlantic Canada), and nominated for the Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2008 and 2009. Other awards include nominations for the Portia White Prize in 2007, 2008 and 2010, and ranked second in Canada among all female entrepreneurs for the RBC Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Start-Up Category. In 2011, MCAD Inc was nominated for Canada’s RBC Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the Profit and Excellence in Entrepreneurship and Leadership category. In 2012, I was selected as one of Atlantic Canada’s Top 21 Young Emerging Leaders and most recently accepted into the Entrepreneurial Leadership Program in the Wallace McCain Institute. (ELP 11 Cohort)
My first business, Maritime Centre for African Dance, (MCAD Inc.), was launched with $20, a lot of guts and a dream. With no funding or loans to start, MCAD has grown into a larger national and international locations and most noted for being the only African Canadian Group to perform for President Obama's African Inaugural Ball in Washington, DC in 2009.
The first book published was a book sharing my story on how I built this business, and highlighted my trials and tribulations. I felt others should have the same platform and that was the birth of Chaks Publishing 7 years ago. My hope is to bring others in the diaspora to publish their own books and stories. The children's series "Mapfiwa" is based on stories I heard growing up.
I still have other goals that I am interested in achieving and am grateful to my parents and family who taught me many things, most importantly to never give up.
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What are you most proud of professionally? And who or why?
I am proud of the fact that, together with a team, I was able to develop a unique concept into a business over the past 13 years right here in Atlantic Canada. Most importantly the advice from the team and community has always been insightful, and has, most times been the driver behind company expansion.
What’s your vision for Atlantic Canada in 10 years? What’s our biggest opportunity now?
My vision for Atlantic Canada is continuous economic growth and providing a welcoming immigrant community. The biggest opportunity now is in the university student population. If we can find a way to capture that market and share stories of opportunities in the Maritimes, economic growth would increase exponentially resulting in an increase in rural community stability, and cross cultural sharing.
What was your greatest stage of growth? What made it a shift for you?
At every stage of the business there has been a significant event that has taken us further than from where we began. This is still ongoing. Both the MCAD Inc staff and the CUSTOMERS either suggested more efficient ways or additional revenue streams. The greatest stage of growth was just after we performed for President Obama’s African Inaugural Ball in Washington DC. We were able to expand to other countries mainly the UK and the United States. Following this, the next major growth was incorporating other factions to the business which include Theoretical workshops (consulting) and camps. We are still a work in progress and still growing.
What’s your favourite or most read book or podcast? Now or at each of your greatest stages of growth?
I make it a point to read a minimum of 2 books monthly. But the one that stands out most is the “E Myth Mastery” by Michael E Gerber and “Think and Grow Rich - A Black Choice “ by Dennis Kimbro and Napoleon HIll (first phase of growth). Currently the books I have on repeat is the “Why” series, “Start with Why” AND “Find your Why” Simon Sinek and Robert Kiyosaki’s “Second Chance”. I have noticed that there is a strong correlation between my personal growth and the business growth, so I mix books that deal with both personal and business growth.
What’s your deepest learning from this past year? How did/will you apply it?
I have learned so much this year, mostly I have grown as an individual and discovered (still discovering) a lot about myself. This has inevitably had a positive effect on the business, team and all our clients.
Who’s inspired you, directly or indirectly? How have they inspired you?
My main inspiration has always been my parents and family. They are the ones who taught me to always have ambition, stay focused and most importantly taught me to believe in myself. I owe everything I am to them.
What would you have done differently?
Celebrated in my wins more and not always thinking of the next step. Enjoying the moments and wins.
What are the principles you live by?
Love. Faith in God. Giving and Kindness. Persistence. Achievement.
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Award winning serial entrepreneur, Author, Cultural Education Advocate, Keynote Speaker, Educator, Avid Reader, LLM Graduate (2021) Passionate Dancer, Family Oriented, Foodie, Philanthroper, Passionate about empowering young women