BBQ 109
Curtis Chivaviro: Creating his own seat at the table
Perseverance, sacrifice and a belief in opportunity have shaped the journey of Curtis Chivaviro, CEO of Vaviro, a commercial rights agency specialising in sports, sponsorships, hospitality and entertainment. His approach to leadership is grounded in resilience, family and a determination to create opportunities for others.
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The road to business leader-ship has demanded resili-ence, difficult choices and sac-rifice from Curtis Chivaviro.
“My journey to this point in life has always been one of perseverance, especially in the business world,” he says.
Growing up without the advantages enjoyed by some of his peers, Chivaviro encountered racial disadvantage and challenges surrounding his family circumstances.
“Not coming from a privileged background had its impact on my trajectory,” he explains. “It was harder to get what my peers were acquiring. It took longer to arrive at areas of success compared to the rest of the people in my field.”
Choosing a different path
As a young student athlete, Chivaviro recog-nised that his sporting ambitions might not materialise. He consequently chose to study sports administration, providing an alternat-ive career direction.
While his peers progressed through tertiary education, he travelled to Zimbabwe, England and the United Arab Emirates to broaden his commercial experience.
“Those were sacrifices,” he recalls.
His unconventional journey reinforced his belief that professional progress does not always follow a predictable timeline.
The silent battle of belonging
Chivaviro identifies impostor syndrome as one of his greatest personal challenges, de-scribing it as “the silent battle of belonging” experienced by many young Black professionals.
While his peers progressed through tertiary education, he travelled to Zimbabwe, England and the United Arab Emirates to broaden his commercial experience.
For him, gaining access to professional environments is only part of the challenge. Developing confidence and overcoming personal doubts can be equally demanding.His experience illustrates that professional achievement involves more than qual-ifications and opportunities. It also requires the confidence to recognise one's place in an environment.
Creating opportunities
Chivaviro believes aspiring entrepreneurs should not necessarily choose between join-ing established professional structures and creating their own.
“It is not one or the other. It is which one first,” he explains.
“Having a seat at the table gives you an opportunity to learn, observe and actually understand how to structure things differ-ently, if not better.”
That experience, he believes, provides the knowledge, credibility and relation-ships needed to pursue independent opportunities.
His approach combines ambition with an appreciation for learning from others before establishing a different path.
Rejection is not the end
Rejection has been a recurring challenge throughout Chivaviro's journey, but he re-fuses to regard setbacks as reasons to abandon his ambitions.
Rejection is not the end Rejection has been a recurring challenge throughout Chivaviro's journey, but he re-fuses to regard setbacks as reasons to abandon his ambitions.
“I have never succumbed to the pressure of rejection,” he says.
“The more I faced rejection, the more I knew I needed to push harder and persevere through.”
He believes unsuccessful attempts can create opportunities to reconsider an approach rather than abandon a goal.
“Challenges are not the end, they are an opportunity to pivot and succeed.”
Chivaviro points to his existing partner-ships and the business relationships he continues to nurture as evidence of the value of persistence and professional credibility.
Redefining success
Chivaviro believes excellence should not be restricted to those who follow conven-tional routes or enjoy particular advantages.
“World class does not mean main-stream,” he says.
“World class is accessible to anyone who hungers for it and stretches their capabilities far enough to be recognised by others in an impactful way.”
His outlook is also influenced by faith and a commitment to sharing opportunities. He refers to the hymn Pass It On, whose message reflects his belief that personal achievement should benefit others.
Family and community
Away from business, Chivaviro describes himself as a family man who values his roots, respect, compassion and accountability.
His proudest achievement is raising his children, Shilo and Kea, and providing them with opportunities that were not always available to him.
In focus
Family and community Away from business, Chivaviro describes himself as a family man who values his roots, respect, compassion and accountability.
He describes himself as “the passionate guy next door, who is all for his people and community”.
A message to the next generation
Chivaviro encourages young people to pursue their ambitions, seek knowledge, ask questions and learn from previous generations.
He also emphasises the importance of recognising the sacrifices that made present-day opportunities possible.
“There are many people who have laid their lives down for you to be free,” he says.
For Chivaviro, that freedom carries a responsibility to create opportunities and leave a better future for those who follow.
www.vaviro.co.za
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