“If you really look closely, most overnight successes took a long time,”: Steve Jobs, former CEO of Apple
Often, people assume David Nkwanyana achieved overnight success. In reality, his success acts like a veneer, concealing the countless attempts and disappointments behind it.
In November 2026, ndondo, the bespoke software design and development company David founded, will mark two decades in business. He established the company at a time when predictive analytics was still largely unknown in Africa. Through his vision and determination, which have played an instrumental role in the company’s growth, David built ndondo into the thriving business it is today.
As CEO, he ensures that the company continues to develop innovative, cutting-edge solutions, which create employment and business opportunities. His long-term vision is to list ndondo on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange by 2036.
David also aspires to make a positive contribution to society and the business by creating more meaningful economic participation.
Imprints of a German Boss
David’s first boss was German. To the young professional just starting his career, he seemed like a “horrible leader” to work for because of his relentless pursuit of perfection. Now, David, a leader himself, sees him very differently. “I now know he was the best boss I could have asked for,” he says.
He credits his former boss for making him a stickler for perfection. According to him, he instilled an insistence for perfection in him. He also taught David the importance of ethical leadership, leading by example, and treating people fairly.
“Looking back, he didn’t just instill strong leadership qualities in me,” David says. “He instilled professionalism, too.”
David’s commitment to excellence is also guided by his faith. He draws inspiration from the words of Ecclesiastes 9:10: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.”
According to him, excellence as a principle should extend to the way a business serves its customers. As Colossians 3:23–24 puts it, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters …” For David, this means refusing to settle for second best. Neither God nor customers, he believes, will accept it. Excellence should be a priority for everyone.
Most Defining Decision
As the average lifespan of tech companies shrinks, ndondo has defied the odds for nearly two decades. It is primarily because the company continues to evolve and invest in innovation.
One of David’s first breakthroughs was the development of what would later become known as predictive analytics. “With the eagerness of youth, I set out to sell it,” he recalls.
The first company he approached decided not to adopt the software, but saw potential in his expertise. They offered him a six-month contract to develop a predictive arrears tool. David decided to seize the opportunity and not continue pushing the software he had already developed.
“They became ndondo’s first customer, and that six-month contract turned into a five-year relationship,” David says.
David lives by a quote from the late Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa and anti-apartheid revolutionary: “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
He has embraced opportunities even when they seemed impossible to accomplish. He moved ahead with the belief that success can be achieved. “We have to believe we will succeed, no matter how the odds seem stacked against us,” David says. “We cannot allow how impossible things seem to stop us. We have to believe we will succeed.”
The Leadership Philosophy
David’s leadership philosophy is rooted in two complementary approaches: democratic and servant.
As a democratic leader, he values participation, collaboration, and open communication. “Strong feedback, transparency, and communication are hallmarks of how I lead,” he says. While the final decision ultimately rests with him, he makes it only after considering the ideas, views, and feelings of those around him.
For David, transparency is a key aspect of democratic leadership. He believes it helps foster a higher degree of trust. According to him, this style of leadership enhances relationships within teams as well as makes everyone feel empowered.
His servant leadership philosophy is also people-centered. Instead of leading from a distance, David prefers to work in the trenches, standing shoulder to shoulder with his team. Along with focusing on business growth, he is committed to the professional and personal growth of the people working in his company.
“I’m interested in fostering creativity and helping employees realize their potential,” David says.
Daily Priorities as CEO
As CEO, David handles multiple responsibilities. His foremost priority is ensuring healthy cash flow, as he knows poor cash flow can adversely impact business operations. David makes sure that customer payments are received on time and invoices are issued promptly and correctly. In addition to this, he oversees that the company’s financial obligations to creditors are met.
His second priority is keeping projects running smoothly and ensuring there are no blockers. He supports project managers in keeping delivery on track and checks that they are not facing any issues. Where his intervention is required, he is ready to step in and help.
David focuses on business development as well. He is constantly pursuing new business opportunities. He determines how to sell more efficiently and identifies strategic partnerships. In addition, he is involved in the drafting of business proposals.
“While this is not an active action,” David says, “I’m always thinking about how we can improve the quality of our products and services.”
Challenge That Tested Resilience
Six years ago, the COVID-19 pandemic upended the world economy. David recalls that period as a “very trying time for me and the business.”
His two major concerns were how to remain afloat and keep people working. Many customers either halted their projects or cancelled them altogether. In such challenging times, David and his team had to be innovative about not only keeping the business alive but also growing it.
They decided to partner more. “Partnering more inevitably means lower profit margins,” David explains. “However, it enabled us to keep all our employees employed.”
Looking back, he believes many positives also came out of the curse of the COVID-19 pandemic. New ways of working, the ability to work remotely, and the ability to source skills from anywhere in the world were among the blessings that emerged from that time, according to him.
Balancing Work and Well-being
Like many leaders, David also struggles to balance the demands of running a business with his personal well-being. “That is a hard balance to get right,” he says.
As he wears the CEO hat, his mind is consciously and unconsciously occupied with ways to improve the business and grow revenue. However, at the same time, he understands the importance of consciously making time for his spiritual and physical well-being, his loved ones, and leisure.
Three Metrics to Measure Success
At this point in his career, David measures success by three things: time, peace, and health. He values time more than ever. He treasures the ability to spend quality time with his loved ones, and he has come to regard it as success.
“In fact, it is so important to me that one of my biggest aspirations, over and above the Stock Exchange listing, is the ability to retire early,” he says.
David has seen that the pursuit of wealth is often accompanied by unimaginable stress. So, peace has become a valuable commodity for him. He says that success also means having serenity and knowing that the people he loves are happy and safe.
Healthy relationships are another important measure of success. David points out that in the pursuit of financial success, it can be easy to neglect the people who matter, assuming they will still be there once success is achieved.
“Over the years I have learnt of the folly of this thinking,” David adds. “So healthy, happy relationships have also become a serious measure of success.”
Mentors and Being a Mentor
David has had the privilege of working with some of South Africa’s IT industry leaders, including Isaac Mophatlane, co-founder of BCX, who, together with his twin brother, built the company into a billion-rand business. He also counts Michael Langeveld among his mentors. Michael has held several key local and international positions, including Chief Technology Officer, and currently serves as Head of Technology & Business Development for Emirates & Africa.
Another mentor David mentions is Cunning Gangeni, the former Corporate CIO of Liberty Life. He also sees his father, Phillip Nkwanyana, as his mentor. “He is the man I look up to for general wisdom and spiritual guidance,” David says.
Now, he is serving as a mentor to young professionals. How does he extend mentorship to others? “It’s no secret, time is very scarce, so individual time dedication may be difficult with each aspiring entrepreneur,” he says. He, however, makes an earnest effort to support initiatives, events, and business planning sessions.
“With that said, I’ll take a free lunch to have my brain picked,” David says. “I’m also happy to use my influence and relationships to open doors for others.”
Influencing Future Generations
Africa’s growth story is often constrained by a skills gap. Noting the limited availability of skilled talent in Africa and around the world, ndondo runs internship programmes for young talent in partnership with some of South Africa’s leading listed companies.
One area of focus is Salesforce, the world’s leading customer relationship management technology. “With this growing demand in this space, and no skills to supply demand,” David points out, “we made a decision to focus primarily in this space.” They ensure their interns are certified from the basic junior skillset to the most senior architect level.
Future of African Business Environment
Technology has played a pivotal role in reshaping not only African business but business in general. David notes that the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has improved and redefined work processes. It has also enhanced African business competitiveness globally.
Additionally, cloud computing, through its scalability and flexibility, continues to empower African organizations to streamline operations, foster innovation, and deliver exceptional customer experiences.
“I can only see more profitability, more efficiency, and more innovation for African business,” David says.
Advice to Young Professionals
Africa’s young professionals are brimming with new ideas. They are eager to be part of the continent’s business landscape and contribute to its economic growth. David’s first piece of advice for them is: don’t go at it alone. “Partner. Partner. Partner,” he says. Partnering grants easier access to markets.
There are also people who have already cut their teeth in what these young professionals are still figuring out. David encourages them to tap into that expertise. He also tells them to put in the work and take the lead in looking for assistance.
“While partnerships are invaluable,” David points out, “no one wants to work with an uninspired, lazy person.”
Multiple Accolades for Leadership and Innovation
David considers being featured in CIO VIEWS an honour. He is also proud of the recognition he has received from various publications over the years.
In 2013, Destiny Man magazine featured him in its annual Power 40 edition, which profiles 40 of the country’s most successful individuals under the age of 40 in fields such as sport, medicine, engineering, politics, and entertainment.
Moreover, in 2014, when South Africa marked 20 years of democracy, Business Day, one of the country’s leading newspapers, profiled the top 20 most successful businesses started during the first two decades of democracy. ndondo was among those featured in the newspaper.
In 2025, David also graced the cover of CIO Business Leaders Magazine, which described him as “The Brain Behind Africa’s Dynamic Data Solutions and Services Provider.”
Amid these milestones, David is also quick to acknowledge the people who have contributed to Ndondo’s journey. He expresses his sincere appreciation for the great contributions of his business partner, Nicolous Chula, whose partnership and support have helped him drive Ndondo to new heights.
