A ZIMBABWE-born entrepreneur has made headlines in the United States after his newly published business guide was selected as a core curriculum resource by one of America’s leading small business development organisations.
Michael Tendai Watyoka’s book, “Builders Who Scale: A Practical Guide for Leaders to Turn Vision into Scalable, Sustainable Businesses”, has been adopted by the Maryland Small Business Development Center (SBDC) as the foundation for its upcoming training sessions.
The SBDC, supported by the US Federal Government, the State of Maryland, and the University of Maryland, serves more than 6 000 businesses annually across the state.
From March to June 2026, Watyoka will personally lead a series of sessions designed to help entrepreneurs and corporate leaders transform their visions into scalable, sustainable growth.
The Maryland SBDC is a cornerstone of business support in the region, offering free and confidential consulting, as well as comprehensive training programmes through five regional offices and 24 locations statewide. Its mission is to empower business owners with the expertise and resources needed to succeed in a competitive market.
The adoption of Watyoka’s book marks a significant endorsement of his practical approach to business scaling and sustainable growth. The SBDC’s decision to integrate the book into its curriculum underscores the relevance of Watyoka’s methodologies for both early-stage entrepreneurs and established business leaders.
Watyoka expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity, highlighting both the personal and professional significance of this milestone:
“I am deeply grateful for this opportunity and excited to see the ideas in this book impact numerous businesses just days after publication,” said Watyoka. “This partnership with the Maryland SBDC represents not just a personal milestone, but a chance to share practical strategies with thousands of American business leaders.”
He also reflected on his journey from Zimbabwe to the United States:
“I am deeply grateful to God for everything—this journey, this opportunity, and the impact it will create. To think that concepts and strategies I’ve developed will now be taught to thousands of entrepreneurs across Maryland is truly humbling.”
Watyoka emphasised the universal applicability of his book’s principles:
“This adoption validates the universal applicability of the principles we’ve outlined. Whether you’re starting a business in Harare or scaling one in Maryland, the fundamentals of turning vision into sustainable growth remain remarkably consistent.”
While independent publication details remain limited, the book’s adoption by the SBDC is a strong institutional endorsement. ‘Builders Who Scale’ focuses on:
– Practical frameworks for translating vision into action
– Sustainable growth strategies
– Leadership development
– Operational systems for scaling
– Real-world case studies and actionable tools
The book is tailored for entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, and business owners seeking to build scalable, sustainable enterprises.
The training programme, running from March to June 2026, is expected to reach hundreds of business leaders directly, with the potential for broader impact as participants implement the book’s strategies within their organisations and networks. The SBDC’s tripartite funding structure ensures that most services, including these sessions, are offered at low or no cost to participants.
“This is about more than recognition. It’s about ensuring that the lessons learned through experience can benefit the next generation of business builders, whether they’re from Zimbabwe, Maryland, or anywhere else with the vision to scale sustainably. Every session will carry forward the entrepreneurial spirit I learned growing up in Zimbabwe, combined with the scaling strategies that work in today’s global marketplace,” added Watyoka.
The adoption of “Builders Who Scale” by the Maryland SBDC not only marks a personal triumph for Michael Tendai Watyoka but also highlights the global relevance of Zimbabwean entrepreneurship in shaping business education and practice abroad.-herald
