Linda Mabhena-Olagunju saw the map of Africa when she was eight - all the gold, the oil, the diamonds - and couldn't understand why CNN kept telling her we were poor. That question never quite left her. Today she's on track to become Africa's largest Black female-owned independent power producer.

A few things she said that I'm still thinking about: that every opportunity is an audition. That being underestimated has been her biggest power move. That business, at its core, is theatre - negotiation is posturing, deal-making is a dance, and the boardroom is just another stage.

This is the story of a young girl from a village in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, who went to drama school, became a lawyer, helped take on Donald Trump in Aberdeen in her twenties, and is now quietly building an energy empire across the continent. Generous, sharp, and clear-eyed. Settle in.

This episode is a behind the scenes look at the man behind the brand JozimyJozi and the unbelievable story of his rise to the top of the advertising industries in both South Africa and the United States before his return to home town Johannesburg to start a movement of hope and regeneration.

In a candid conversation, Melusi speaks about his near-miss as a lawyer, early influences on his advertising career, and how 'stalking' local and international advertising heroes ultimately led him to work in the United States, where he continued his award-winning streak.

He talks about his creative process, how 'letting go' of ideas is his secret to success, and that he once scored a perfect 10 out of 10 for his optimism in a psychometric test but was warned that could be considered 'dangerous'.

It is in the second half where he tells the story behind the branding of JoziMyJozi, a movement 'of the people', with a vision to fix something that many had abandoned as 'broken', and the relationship between two men that gave birth to it.

As a founding partner, Melusi Mhlungu describes the moment on Constitution Hill when the seeds were sewn for the creation of JoziMyJozi as a brand that nobody owns. He shares a love letter to his home town Johannesburg that inspired the branding of JoziMyJozi, and explains why the movement decided to 'start with the actions' (not bragging about what they were intending to do, but just 'getting shit done').

He explains why patience is the superpower of the motley crew of JoziMyJozi doers, and how when they got a no, they just carry on, not waiting to get a yes.

The episode is infused with Melusi's infectious and enduring optimism, about life, South Africa's youth ('people who are not stuck in the reality of now') and ultimately, South Africa's City of Gold.

If you feel down about Joburg, and the world in general, this episode is for you. People here can 'geshido'!™.

For more information, show notes and time stamps, go to www.africanoptimist.co.za.

After a long break, I am cranking up the AfricanOptimist podcast again. I have spent the last while working on the 'economic engine' (thanks coach Karl Gostner!) behind the podcast, my business 'StoryBanking'. But I have missed the people who are shaking things up all around us, so am back with the headphones, recording and listening to some pretty amazing stories.

I waited quite a while for this first interview. The aim was to start with something that involves something bigger being built than a business or service. Something that could set the tone for the rest of the interviews going forward, based on community and a fighting spirit.

When I stumbled upon JoziMyJozi, I knew I had found it. A movement 'of the people', with a vision to fix something that many had abandoned as 'broken'. And a relationship between two men, that gave birth to it.

In this episode, founding partner Melusi Mhlungu describes the moment on Constitution Hill when the seeds were sewn for the creation of JoziMyJozi as a brand that nobody owns. He shares a love letter to his home town Johannesburg that inspired the branding of JoziMyJozi, and why the movement took a decision to 'start with the actions' (not brag about what they were intending to do, but to just 'get shit done').

He explains why patience is the superpower of the motley crew of JoziMyJozi doers, and how when they got a no, they just carry on, not waiting to get a yes.

The episode is infused with Melusi's infectious and enduring optimism, about life, South Africa's youth ('people who are not stuck in the reality of now') and ultimately, South Africa's City of Gold.

If you feel down about Joburg, and the world in general, this episode is for you. People here can 'geshido'!™

For the guest bio, show notes and the transcript, visit www.africanoptimist.co.za.