TENDAI BHEBE IN BULAWAYO
Pressure can hurt performance!
It can result in myriad effects on decision making and can draw performers’ attention away from skill execution.
However, in contrast to the assumption of ‘distraction account’ or ‘distraction theories of chocking’ which states that multiple boardroom tasks could have detrimental effects on executives, Busisa Moyo, the CEO of United Refineries Limited (URL), says he better handles high-stakes-induced tasks and thrives under pressure.
Apart from holding the high pressure job as CEO of URL, Moyo wears many hats: he chairs the boards of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair and the Zimbabwe Investments and Development Agency.
The executive sits on the board of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, a member of the Presidential Advisory Council and is the president of the Oil Expressers Association of Zimbabwe, an umbrella body for local cooking oil companies.
“I perform best when under pressure.” Moyo told Business Times.
The executive added: “But, I have learned to build empowered teams. Wherever I have a role or assignment, I apply wisdom to discern the priorities, high impact actions and leave the other tasks to others. I trust them or equip them to do those tasks and I focus on setting or leading a culture of performance and growth through an inspiring vision or target.
“I relish the opportunity to make an impact and to make a difference to my country, continent and fellow man in general.”
His philosophy has always been: “Everyone was born to do destiny, assignment and purpose and this is hidden with God in Christ.
“The journey is more important than the destination. You don’t have to have a title to make a difference, don’t look for permission from someone who doesn’t have the power to say no.”
Moyo wants to take URL to the next level, targeting a regional expansion in the next three years.
“We want to modernise and upgrade it in the next three years and take it to five times its (URL) current size in Zimbabwe and in SADC to build a regional business in agri-processing and soaps,” Moyo told Business Times.
The executive said he gets inspiration from many people including his wife, his business partner and former boss, among many others.
“The Holy Spirit mainly has brought people my way throughout my life. My wife Sandi prays for me and loves me.
Lately, my partner Russell du Preez, a South African businessman, has inspired me to be bold, daring and to make a difference.
There were many inspirations from my former boss Shingai Mutasa and his wife Karen, Nicholas Moyo (MHSRIP), Dr. Goodwill Shana and his wife Maureen.”
Moyo said a higher purpose opens ‘your eyes to divine patterns in your life’.
“Go the extra mile, serve someone else’s vision as if it was yours and you will be released into yours.
“Find a higher purpose in what you do to anchor your talents and to help connect the dots of why certain things happen to you, around you and in spite of you.
“A higher purpose opens your eyes to divine patterns in your life.
“The “zone” of what you were born to do lies between your passions, irritations (pet peeves) [if something upsets you were destined to help change it], opportunities, the thing that when you do it time stops or you lose track of time, what you are willing to do without being paid because you feel rewarded internally and what people you respect ask you to do for them regularly and repeatedly.”
Asked about the books he has read that have left indelible lessons and helped shape your views in life, Moyo said: “It has to be the bible, the word of God, my favourite book of all time that I read daily.
“I have read many other books.
“My all-time favourites are Who Moved My Cheese, the Emotionally Healthy Leader, Flow, The One-minute Manager, The Getaway, Basic Economics by Tom Sowell, Entrepreneur Revolution by Daniel Priestly, 10X Rule: The Only Difference Between Success and Failure by Grant Cardone and The Edge of Chaos by Dambisa Moyo”.
The executive, who wanted to be an electrical engineer, however, has regrets in his life.
“Not learning to build loyal and high performance teams earlier (in my life) as well as the lack of self-confidence and insecurities about my flaws which I thought were more visible than they actually are.
“I have (however, learned to focus on my strengths instead of overcoming weaknesses which can be paralysing,” he told Business Times.
Three things that many people don’t know about Moyo is that: “I used to herd cattle in the rural areas in the early eighties at a young age.
“I had dramatic colours in high school and was a praise and worship leader for many years. I speak four local languages and am learning three foreign languages which I have a working knowledge of,” the executive said.
Moyo did his primary education in Bulilima district and then moved to Plumtree town where he completed his primary education at Alan Redfern.
He did his accounting articles with Deloitte in Bulawayo and joined TA Holdings under Aroma Bakeries as divisional accountant . He was promoted quickly and ended up head of investments and monitoring at TA Holdings.
“I was then seconded to URL as finance director and eventually became chief executive after leading the business as an executive for four years.
“I was deputy head boy to Henry Olonga the famous cricketer in 1994 at Plumtree School. That was my first taste of leadership. I had an amazing headmaster called Mike Whiley and John Shaw his deputy who took me under his wing and exposed to whole different world and a music teacher called Felix Westwood who trained me for singing and I acted in school play lead roles for pirates of Penzance, Annie get your gun, gondoliers, Joseph and his technicolor dream coat and other Gilbert & Sullivan plays as well, my appreciation for the arts began in those formative years from 1989 – 1994,” Moyo said.
He is married to Sandi Moyo and together they have four children.
Moyo believes that his life purpose is to lead and inspire individuals, organisations, communities and nations from mediocrity to growth, expansion and increase using a unique gift set which includes the ability to persuade, govern and coach teams with humility, the deployment of entrepreneurial and financial acumen and god inspired wisdom.
He said: “…A blessing to those I meet, who recognise the graces and gifts that God has given me to inspire and change institutions, situations and communities. The name Busisa means “to bless” “komborera”!
The executive enjoys being a fitness enthusiast especially during his spare moments.
“I work out five times a week for 45 minutes to an hour, I like to hike and visit new places with a deep history, culture, art and the scenic. I like nature and the wild, I play acoustic guitar and sing,” he said.
Moyo also believes that: “The largest number of billionaires in Africa will come from agriculture and the food sector in the next 50 years. “
An articled accountant, the executive holds an Executive MBA from the IESE Business School.
