If you’re looking for an exceptional example of what happens when you partner with an industry-leading company that values growth and development, look no further than Lenin Tshuma. Starting out as a Graduate Trainee with Tsebo in 2010, he has since moved on to become the Operations Manager for our Bulawayo region in just 10 years. He is proud of what he’s achieved in 10 years and how he has contributed to Tsebo’s 50 years of success, and he looks forward to seeing what the future holds.
Becoming part of the Tsebo family
Lenin was first introduced to Tsebo while in college in 2009. “Tsebo was interviewing at the hotel school to select their next batch of graduates,” he recalls. He started in the graduate programme in January 2010. Although he was nervous about whether he had made the right choice, his first impressions of Tsebo won him over in no time.
From being a graduate trainee, Lenin’s hard work, ambition and dedication to learning meant his career progressed quickly. In addition to climbing the ranks, Lenin has also sought out ways to upskill himself. He had a Higher National Diploma when joining Tsebo and decided it was not enough. This led him to study for a Bachelor of Technology Degree before going on to obtain his Honours Degree in Hotel, Catering and Tourism Management, graduating at the top of his class.
“The approach that the organisation has is nurturing. The ability to develop talent and develop people are part of what makes Tsebo number one. The company provided the platform for me to take on a journey of personal development by giving me the necessary time away from work.” He is currently working on his Master of Business Administration and is looking at ways of bridging the gap between the hospitality industry and innovative technologies. Tsebo has also recently enrolled Lenin in the Tsebo Africa Management Development programme for upcoming talent in the organisation.
He will, no doubt, put his learnings to good use in his current role as Operations Manager for the Bulawayo region, serving businesses on the southern side of Zimbabwe. Catering is Tsebo’s core business in the area, but cleaning services have started to grow too.
Proactive partnerships
When considering strategic relationships within Tsebo’s operations in Zimbabwe, a leading girls’ high school based in the heart of Bulawayo easily ranks as our flagship client within the private school sector and has been so for more than a decade. Currently home to around 130 boarding girls at capacity and 10 kitchen staff members, the school needs to meet the needs of a very diverse range of scholars and, as such, so does the catering department.
According to Lenin, “This presents an interesting challenge because the type of product you put out needs not only to meet but exceed the demands and expectations of different people.” Lenin has been instrumental in nurturing the relationship with the school, and they firmly believe in Tsebo’s ability to always deliver. Lenin sees the contract as an opportunity for growth, having approached the school to consider possibilities of looking after their cleaning needs too. He adds to this, saying: “We’re pursuing our growth organically within the contract itself and also growth outside of the contract into the mainstream private schools’ sector as there is potential to build lasting relationships with other private schools in the country.”
Tsebo’s 50th anniversary
For Lenin, celebrating this major milestone shows Tsebo’s dedication to a solid strategy and investing in the people who can turn it into a reality. Lenin expands on this, saying: “We need a company that will make us believe that anything is possible; and in my short journey, I’ve seen that it is possible with Tsebo.”
Starting out in your career is not always easy, but Lenin has some advice for people joining the workforce: “You need to know who you are. You need to know yourself. You need to know what you want and work towards it. Tsebo is more than willing to meet you not only halfway, but to go all the way with you as it is committed to Developing People, To Serve People and Uplift Society .”
