This has informed his strategic approach for Afribiz Invest, an Investment Company he had founded in 2005 with the aim of making a meaningful contribution to the economy of South Africa. Raised from a business background with humble beginnings, Collen always had a natural inclination for business endeavours, and as such, has left a territory of valuable experiences in his rear. His entrepreneurial path amounts to a full portrait of impressive anecdotes which have led to the establishment of multiple ventures including, but not limited to, car washes, cleaning services, restaurants, pay phones and metre taxis, all at a young age. These vehement gusts of undertakings touch on all the main points that make up Collen Mashawana’s exemplary life.

Collen describes his professional journey as ‘exciting’ but notes that he has also encountered a number of obstacles along the way. Overcoming these challenges is in-keeping with the great crises of life, wherein we are brought face to face with certain challenges and called upon to make decisions of such importance that they often require a complete reversion of ideas and ideals, even of our most cherished principles as hitherto conceived. It takes a certain amount of character to overcome life’s challenging vicissitudes, but very much in-keeping with the general note of his career, Collen has persisted unchanged by virtue of upholding the highest moral ideals with unflinching candour. 

There is certainly a parallel between these values and his IT career, which, as a point of departure, has led to his remarkable transition from the corporate to business sector. During Collen’s notable career, he has served as a transdisciplinary Executive and a Board Member of Multinational companies in the Construction, Engineering and IT Sectors, namely, Dimension Data, Internet Solution and Group Five, successfully contributing to the industry’s roadmap for a world changed by COVID-19.