Rising from nothing: what it takes to move beyond survival
Some people start with a foundation, while others have to build their own. This conversation explores what it takes to do that.
Starting without a safety net
Everyone’s starting point is different.
Some people begin their journey with opportunities, support, and a clear path. Others start in survival mode, just trying to get through each day.
In the latest episode of When Shift Happens, Saray Khumalo talks with Frank “Dr Mags” Magwegwe about what it takes to move from survival to stability and meaning.
Resilience is built, not given
As a young man arriving in Johannesburg, Frank found himself homeless and navigating life without a safety net. Long before any career, recognition or professional identity, he had to make decisions that would determine whether he could move beyond survival.
That experience shaped the way he sees resilience. Not as something you are born with, but something you build over time.
Through discipline. Through choices. Through the ability to keep going, even when the outcome is uncertain.
From reacting to rebuilding
A key part of that shift came through education. Not only formal learning, but also the willingness to keep seeking knowledge and using it as a tool to change direction.
The conversation also explores the mental shift required to move from reacting to circumstances to shaping them. Survival sharpens instinct, but it can also keep people stuck in a cycle of short-term thinking.
The discipline behind lasting change
ALSO READ | LISTEN: The climb that changed everything: Saray Khumalo’s story
Breaking out of that requires a different kind of focus. It requires belief, but also structure.
Today, Frank’s work as a behavioural scientist and financial wellness expert reflects that journey. His insights are grounded in lived experience and in a deep understanding of how people make decisions, especially under pressure.
At its heart, this episode is about building a life when you don’t have a clear starting point.
It’s also about how small, steady choices can start to change your path.
Listen to the full episode: click the player at the top of this page or use the embedded player below to hear the conversation now.
About Frank Magwegwe
Frank “Dr Mags” Magwegwe is a researcher, keynote speaker, applied behavioural scientist, and resilience and wellbeing expert. His work combines academic insight with lived experience, following a journey from homelessness in Johannesburg to leadership in financial services and academia.
He is also an academic associated with the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), where he contributes to conversations around leadership, decision-making and financial wellbeing.
Frank focuses on helping individuals, teams, and organisations navigate adversity, make better decisions, and build sustainable success.
Meanwhile: What happens when leaders leave people out?
In the previous episode of When Shift Happens, Saray Khumalo speaks with Helena Dolny, a respected leadership coach and organisational change expert, and Busisiwe (Totsie) Memela-Khambula, a transformational executive and global conscious coach.
Together, they unpack a common but often overlooked leadership pattern: what happens when leaders stop including their teams, and how that quiet shift can lead to disengagement long before it is visible.
Listen to that conversation below:
About Saray Khumalo
Saray Khumalo is an award-winning mountaineer, business executive, speaker and author. She made history as the first Black African woman to summit Mount Everest and has also completed the Seven Summits challenge, climbing the highest mountain on each continent. Beyond mountaineering, Saray has built a successful corporate career and is the founder of Summits with a Purpose, an initiative that raises funds and builds physical and digital libraries in disadvantaged African communities. Through her partnership with Jacaranda FM, she now brings her leadership insights to audiences through When Shift Happens, a JacPod Original podcast dedicated to helping others navigate change and realise their potential.
Missed an episode? Catch the full 'When Shift Happens' podcast channel here.