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My story

I build without borders — because that's how I had to start.

I'm a British-Zimbabwean entrepreneur, and my life has been one long lesson in turning constraint into momentum: from Harare, to South Africa, to a computing degree at Belgium Campus, to arriving in the UK as a refugee, to chairing a group of companies. The thread through all of it is simple — talent is everywhere, opportunity isn't, and entrepreneurship is how you close the gap.

Zimbabwe South Africa Belgium United Kingdom
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Barney Kavai graduating from Bournemouth University
MBA · Bournemouth University
Barney Kavai on the golf course
Refugee Group CEO
16+
Years building ventures
60+
People employed
10
Ventures founded or led
2023
Entrepreneur of the Year
The journey

From Harare to a multi-sector group

One life, lived across borders — each step turning a constraint into the next platform.

  1. —
    Harare, Zimbabwe

    Born in Harare, Zimbabwe

    I grew up in Zimbabwe with an early love of computing and a conviction that talent is everywhere — but opportunity isn’t.

  2. 2005
    South Africa

    Moved to South Africa

    I moved to South Africa to study my BSc in Computing at Belgium Campus iTversity — my first step away from home and the beginning of a life across borders.

  3. 2008
    Hasselt, Belgium

    Bachelor of Computing / BSc (Hons)

    I relocated to Hasselt, Belgium to complete my degree and an internship, graduating with my BSc (Hons) — and, on the side, started discovering and helping African music talent online.

  4. 2009
    Online · Belgium

    Music industry beginnings

    I built my first music business, ABRA TRIBE, helping shape early music and creative ventures alongside names such as Jusa Dementor and Simukai Mandizvidza — my first real taste of building something from nothing.

  5. 2010
    United Kingdom

    I arrived in the UK as a refugee

    I landed in Britain at 24 with a degree, no network and no safety net — and a determination to build a life here.

  6. 2013
    Bournemouth, UK

    BMK Management & RIZE Organisation

    I founded my first consultancy and launched RIZE Organisation, the social enterprise I still chair, to back young entrepreneurs across Zimbabwe, South Africa and the diaspora.

  7. 2015
    Bournemouth, UK

    Master of Business Administration (MBA)

    I completed my MBA at Bournemouth University and specialised in Strategy and Entrepreneurship, giving structure to the operating playbook I’d been building by instinct.

  8. 2017
    Bournemouth, UK

    I founded Global Healthcare Solutions (GHS)

    GHS began trading in Bournemouth and later grew into GHS Group Holdings, bringing healthcare, medical supplies and cleaning businesses under one group.

  9. 2020
    United Kingdom

    60+ staff, a decade in

    Within ten years of arriving I was employing more than sixty people, spinning up new services fast during COVID and earning national press.

  10. 2023
    Zimbabwe Achievers Awards

    Entrepreneur of the Year

    I was named Entrepreneur of the Year at the Zimbabwe Achievers Awards — recognition for the whole team behind the journey.

  11. Now
    UK & Southern Africa

    Building across borders

    I’m pursuing a DBA at Heriot-Watt and building ventures in preventative healthcare, phygital precious metals, blockchain, AI and diaspora fintech, agriculture and consumer brands — while lifting others through Edusyms and RIZE.

Talent is everywhere. Opportunity isn't. Entrepreneurship is how you close the gap.

Barney Kavai

The credentials behind the instinct

Built on rigour, not just hustle

Education

A computing degree, a strategy MBA and a doctorate in progress — the academic spine behind the operating instinct.

  • BSc (Hons) Computing — Belgium Campus iTversity
  • MBA, Strategy & Entrepreneurship — Bournemouth University
  • DBA Scholar — Heriot-Watt University (in progress)

Professional Qualifications

Chartered status in management, plus regulated-care registration with the CQC.

  • Chartered Manager (CMgr) — Chartered Management Institute (the highest status a manager can achieve — independent proof of leadership and management competence)
  • Fellow, Chartered Management Institute (FCMI) — Chartered Management Institute (CMI's most senior membership grade, recognising sustained strategic leadership and impact)
  • CQC Registered Manager & Nominated Individual — Care Quality Commission (accountable for regulated care)

Awards

Recognition for building ventures and lifting others along the way.

2023

Entrepreneur of the Year

Zimbabwe Achievers Awards

Beyond business

Where I give my time

Non-executive and advisory roles in equality, migrant support and education across the UK and Southern Africa — and founding chair of the RIZE Organisation, the social enterprise I started in 2013 to back young entrepreneurs.

See board appointments →

Want the long version?

I speak regularly about resilience, diaspora entrepreneurship and scaling in hard sectors — and mentor the founders coming up behind me.

Invite me to speak See the ventures