The Fintech Founder Who’s Changing the Game for African SMEs – The Untold Story of Zazu
Every now and then, I sit across someone who’s not just building a business… but rewriting the rules of an entire industry. Germain is one of those people.
At a time when African SMEs are still underserved, underbanked, and often invisible to traditional financial systems, he made a decision most wouldn’t dare: to build a neobank… for the overlooked.
In this conversation, Germain shares the truth behind building Zazu — a fintech platform designed to give African entrepreneurs the financial infrastructure they’ve been denied for decades. He opens up about failure, the mental toll of startup life, what no one tells you about raising capital, and why simplicity, not complexity, is the future of banking on the continent.
This isn’t a conversation about hype. It’s about hardship. About vision. About how one founder is putting African SMEs on the financial map — one transaction at a time.
This is Germain. And this is The Ambition Diaries.
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Raising Men / Wesley Chetty
What does it really mean to raise a man?
Not just a rugby player. Not just a student. But a man — grounded, resilient, and ready for the world when the applause fades and the stadium lights go out.
In today’s conversation, I sat down with Wesley Chetty — a man who doesn’t just coach boys… he builds men. An Old Boy of Bishops and a mentor to some of South Africa’s finest rugby talent, Wesley’s influence reaches far beyond the pitch. Many of his players have gone on to wear the green and gold, but this episode isn’t about the game. It’s about everything that happens off it.
We talk about the quiet lessons that build character. The moments no one sees. The conversations that echo years later. Fatherhood. Mentorship. Masculinity. Legacy.
This is a raw and powerful exploration of what it means to truly raise men in a world that often forgets how.
This is Wesley Chetty.
This is Raising Men.
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Build Empires, Not Just Businesses — Gal Ezra’s Philosophy for Limitless Growth
There are people who build businesses. And then, there are people who build empires — by first conquering the invisible battles we all fight in silence.
Gal Ezra is one of those people.
From running international music festivals and luxury hotels, to managing finance companies and real estate portfolios — by the age of 19, Gal was already creating businesses most people only dream of.
But what sets him apart isn’t just the scale of his success — it’s his philosophy. Gal believes communication is everything. Not just in sales or leadership — but in life. That communication out brings communication in — and the quality of our lives is determined by how deeply we understand ourselves and others.
In this episode, we dive into what truly drives success — beyond the metrics, beyond the money. We talk about ego, focus, discipline, self-awareness, and how to lead people without losing your soul.
Gal doesn’t just give business advice — he gives life frameworks that can change the way you think forever.
This is a conversation for anyone who’s chasing more than just profit — for those who are chasing legacy.
My name is Tommy Jones.
And this… is The Ambition Diaries
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The Pain is the Point — What Running Long Distances Taught Me About Building a Life of Purpose. Calvin Hammond
There’s something about pain that most people run from — but today’s guest, Calvin, runs through it. Literally.
He’s a qualified personal trainer, a competitive long-distance runner, and a man whose life revolves around a level of discipline most people only read about.
But behind the physical endurance is a deeper story — one about commitment, the war between consistency and comfort, and how running became more than just a sport… it became a blueprint for life.
In this episode, we dive into the lessons Calvin’s learned on the road — and how those same principles apply to entrepreneurship, building a brand, and becoming the best version of yourself.
This conversation isn’t about running. It’s about becoming. Let’s get into it.
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How Fitness, Nutrition & Sleep Fuel Entrepreneurial Success with Armand
Success isn’t just about hustle—it’s about health, energy, and longevity. In this episode, we sit down with Armand, a top personal trainer at Virgin Active Claremont, to explore how fitness, nutrition, and sleep play a critical role in an entrepreneur’s journey. We dive into the biggest fitness mistakes busy professionals make, simple strategies to stay in shape without sacrificing work, and how better health leads to sharper focus, higher productivity, and long-term success. If you’ve ever felt like you’re too busy to work out or struggle with energy crashes, this episode is for you. Let’s unlock the Fit Founder mindset!
The Ambition Diaries is the honest, unfiltered journey of what it really takes to build something meaningful as a young entrepreneur.
Hosted by Tommy Jones, a 22-year-old business owner navigating the highs, lows, and lessons of entrepreneurship, this podcast is a space where ambition meets reality. Each week, we sit down with experts in finance, psychology, fitness, business strategy, relationships, and more — to have the conversations we wish we had earlier.
This isn’t about overnight success or hustle culture. It’s about depth. It’s about understanding how to make smarter decisions, how to grow with intention, and how to build a business that doesn’t come at the cost of your health, relationships, or peace of mind.
We ask the difficult questions. We challenge the typical definitions of success. And most importantly, we share the tools that help us become better — in business and in life.
Because ambition is powerful. But when it’s guided by wisdom, it becomes unstoppable.
South Africa