Beyond the Pivot
Beyond the Pivot
Podcast Description
Welcome to "Beyond the Pivot" with hosts Martin Vitek and Kabwela Malupande. Join Martin and Kabwela as they bridge the worlds of Europe and Africa, sharing personal stories and insights into the dynamic landscape of entrepreneurship in both regions. From Martin's experiences with entrepreneurship education in the Czech Republic to Kabwela's work fostering innovation in Zambia, each episode explores unique opportunities, challenges, and inspiring stories.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast centers around themes of entrepreneurship, investment trends, and innovation in Africa, with specific episodes discussing topics like venture capital challenges in Africa, healthcare logistics, and financial inclusion for underserved communities. Episodes feature insights from guests like Haïle Amegashie discussing startup scaling, and Mwansa Chalo focusing on medical delivery innovations, showcasing the diverse entrepreneurial landscape and unique challenges faced in different sectors.
Welcome to “Beyond the Pivot” with hosts Martin Vitek and Kabwela Malupande. Join Martin and Kabwela as they bridge the worlds of Europe and Africa, sharing personal stories and insights into the dynamic landscape of entrepreneurship in both regions. From Martin’s experiences with entrepreneurship education in the Czech Republic to Kabwela’s work fostering innovation in Zambia, each episode explores unique opportunities, challenges, and inspiring stories.
In this episode of Beyond the Pivot, we sit down with Mark Ireland, Team Leader of Enterprise Zambia, to explore what actually works in climate-smart agriculture and rural SME development.
With more than 20 years of experience in international development, Mark shares why long-term impact in agriculture comes from supporting viable agribusinesses rather than short-term projects. He explains why profitability, practicality, and strong business fundamentals matter more than buzzwords when it comes to climate-smart farming.
Drawing on real examples from the Enterprise Zambia Challenge Fund, Mark breaks down how agribusinesses are improving farmer incomes through organic cotton, poultry value chains, mechanization, solar irrigation, and better access to finance. He also offers an honest look at why many development programs fail — and what needs to change.
This conversation goes beyond theory and into the realities of grant funding, SME growth, compliance, risk, and long-term sustainability in Zambia’s agricultural sector.
What you’ll learn
- Why climate-smart agriculture only works when it makes economic sense for farmers
- How agribusinesses help small-scale farmers access finance, inputs, and markets
- Why grants are not “free money” — and the real cost of compliance
- The role of mechanization, solar irrigation, and technology in rural productivity
- Why patience, honesty, and practicality matter more than perfect proposals
- How Zambia’s SME ecosystem is evolving — and where the biggest constraints remain
Links & Resources
Ways to Work With Us
Partner, sponsor, or collaborate: www.beyond-pivot.com or through e-mail: [email protected]
Visit our Learning Hub and Offer it to Your Community: www.beyond-pivot.com/learning-hub
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Follow Beyond the Pivot for more conversations with founders, operators, and ecosystem builders shaping Africa’s future.
What do you think matters most for climate-smart farming — technology, finance, or market access?
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