It has been a while since I last did an entrepreneur profile. Today I am profiling a young Zimbabwean entrepreneur who asserts that: “Entrepreneurship is not a straight road. You do not get to the finish line (you never get to the finish line!) all hyped up; you get there in sweat and blood. Some people and circumstances will try to stop you, attack you, and stifle your confidence and growth. Ignore it all and focus on the dream, on the victory that will come.” His name is Gilbert Eugene Peters.

Who Is Gilbert Eugene Peters?

Gilbert Eugene Peters is a young Zimbabwean who was born on the 10th of May in 1988. He is married to Sabina Takure and they have two children. He was born in Kadoma and was raised by a single parent (his mother).

He is the CEO and Founder of Spidex Media, an advertising and media company. He is also the Creative Executive Director. He has comprehensive experience in areas such as interactive print, packaging, copywriting, and design. He is also experienced in the naming and branding of companies and products. Landing pages and ads have also been his areas of speciality over the years. He designed and co-managed an entertainment and education portal called Colorgenics.

Gilbert Eugene Peters is also the Chairman of Gilcorp Group. This is an Investment and Holding Company with diverse interests in Real Estate, Media, and Technology. He is a member of the World Economic Forum Global Shapers. He is also an Associate Member of the Institute of Directors Zimbabwe (IoDZ).

Education Profile

He did his primary education at Mbizi Primary School. He then proceeded to St Peter’s Kubatana for his secondary education. He finished off his secondary education at Churchill Boys High and Gifford Boys High.

He holds a Bachelor of Creative Arts (BCA) in Advertising and Design from the University of Cape Town. He also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Corporate Governance and Strategic Leadership from Midlands State University.

His Early Days

His love for Graphic Design started with Microsoft Paint. This was when he was around the age of 15. It so happened at the time that an NGO had introduced a computer literacy program in Highfields. That was the first time he got exposed to computers. Upon completion of the program, he got a certificate.

His first job ever was as an Internet Café Assistant. This was just after completing his Ordinary Level education. In addition to that, he was working part-time as a Home Satellite Dish Installer. This part-time hustle grew to a point where he brought in 2 of his buddies to help out. This would later scale to a point where they installed home satellites for over 2000 homes. This all happened when he was aged 19 and essentially marked the birth of his entrepreneurial journey.

The Birth of Spidex Media

This is a company he set up in 2009 when he was only 21 years of age with just US$300.It is remarkable to note that at one point his girlfriend gave him her whole US$160 salary to use for office space rentals. This girlfriend would, later on, become his wife, Sabina Takure. Gilbert Eugene Peters married when he was quite young and got ridiculed and disowned by close friends because of that. It is refreshing to see how they stood together despite the challenges.

“I am a firm believer in God. I believe that when you step into your purpose, there are people that are put in your path to help you along your journey.”

– Gilbert Eugene Peters

Spidex Media was an idea he conceived in trying to provide speedy advertising and design services. The thrust was to have a framework that makes it possible to deliver finished work in a day or less. Today Spidex Media is one of the biggest advertising and media companies in Zimbabwe. The company has grown over the years and today it has offices in South Africa, Lesotho, and Zambia as well.

Accolades

2020 40 under 40 African Business Icons (Business Elites Africa)

2019 Entrepreneur of the Year (Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce)

2018 Forbes 30 under 30 (Forbes)

2018 Global Leadership Medal of Honour in Business (African Leadership Magazine)

2015 Businessman of the Year (Megafest Awards)

2014 Young Director of the Year (Institute of Directors Zimbabwe)

2014 Top 10 Young Outstanding Persons in Zimbabwe (Junior Chamber International)

2013 Top 10 Creative Young Entrepreneurs (Junior Chamber International)

2013 Young Manager of the Year 2nd Runner-up (Zimbabwe Institute of Management)

2013 Entrepreneur of the Year 2nd Runner-up (Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce)

Gilbert Eugene Peters says the one thing he wishes he had known sooner was, ‘that sometimes when an idea is still at birth, not many will see it the way you do but you have to believe in it yourself. He also highlights that the best business decision you can ever make is hiring the right people. On the flip side, the worst business mistake you can ever make is partnering with the wrong people. He even says he had to ride solo because of hurdles that had arisen from bad partnerships.