Dr. Harold Mayaba

Agri-Food Consultant & Speaker

Dr. Harold Mayaba is a Purpose, Hope, and Resilience speaker, entrepreneur, and market research expert with a PhD in Agribusiness from Lincoln University, New Zealand. His journey from rural Zambia to international recognition is a story of unyielding determination, personal growth, and transformative leadership.
 
Growing up with limited resources, Harold’s pursuit of education was far from easy. At a critical point in his youth, he was kicked out of his home, faced homelessness, and battled deep despair—nearly losing hope and considering suicide. But through resilience and faith, he chose to fight for his future. That decision changed his life forever.
 
He began his academic journey with a Certificate and Diploma in General Agriculture in Zambia, laying a strong foundation in agricultural sciences. He went on to earn a Graduate Diploma in Agribusiness, a Bachelor’s in Business Administration, a Bachelor’s in Applied Management, a Bachelor’s in Agribusiness and a Master’s in Agribusiness . His academic path culminated in a PhD in Agribusiness, where his research focused on consumer preferences and willingness to pay for ethical food attributes using choice experiments—offering valuable insights to the agri-food industry and shaping future food policy and marketing strategies.
 
Harold is the founder of H|M Agri-Food Consulting & Speaking, a platform that combines his passion for food consumer preferences, strategic growth, and motivational leadership. He also founded TRADEit Zambia, an e-commerce platform designed to empower local businesses in Zambia.
 
Today, Harold speaks globally about purpose, hope, and resilience—helping individuals, institutions, and entrepreneurs rise beyond adversity and lead with intention. His life is a testament to what’s possible when vision meets courage.
 
Through his work, Harold demonstrates how aligning purpose with deep consumer insight can drive more ethical and impactful marketing strategies. He believes that when businesses understand what truly matters to consumers, they can deliver solutions that not only succeed in the market, but also serve a greater good. Harold calls himself a lion hugger, a term that reflects his fearless approach to adversity and his training to face life’s toughest challenges head-on. His signature message to audiences is: "Unleash the lion within and let your roar be heard."