Quick facts
- Episode
- The Blueprint for Landing Big Corporate CSI Budgets for Your Township Business
- Podcast
- The Resonate Podcast
- Host
- Michelle Expert
- Guest
- Khabo Mnguni, CEO of ZS Uniforms
- Format
- Video podcast (YouTube)
- Premiered
- 24 August 2026
- Topic
- Winning corporate CSI sponsorships as a township business, trial hiring, and in-house manufacturing
The Resonate Podcast
The Blueprint for Landing Big Corporate CSI Budgets for Your Township Business
Premiered 24 August 2026 on the Michelle Expert YouTube channel. If the video does not load, watch it directly on YouTube.
On 24 August 2026, host Michelle Expert sat down with Khabo Mnguni, CEO of ZS Uniforms, for an episode of The Resonate Podcast built around one practical question: how does a township business actually get a corporate CSI budget to take it seriously, rather than write it a once off cheque.
The conversation was framed around three threads: turning small, early sponsorships into repeat corporate partnerships, the trial-hire structures that protect a business while it is still small enough for one bad hire to hurt, and the decision to bring manufacturing in house rather than rely on third party suppliers. Watch the full episode above.
From First Sponsorship to Corporate Partner
ZS Uniforms and its community arm, Threads for iKasi Foundation, have built a track record of corporate-backed uniform handovers, including recognition through Standard Bank's Empower Her Programme. The episode uses that track record as the starting point for a wider conversation on what corporates actually look for before they commit a CSI budget to a small, township-based supplier, and how a founder builds the case for a second and third round of support rather than a single donation.
Trial Hires and In-House Manufacturing
The episode also touches on two operational decisions behind ZS Uniforms: using short trial contracts to protect a growing team from a bad hire, and moving school uniform manufacturing in house rather than depending on third party suppliers for sizing, quality and delivery timelines. Watch the full episode above for that part of the conversation in context.
Episode Credit
Interview by Michelle Expert, host of The Resonate Podcast.
Visit the Michelle Expert ChannelThe Resonate Podcast also publishes on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Follow @resonatehub_ on Instagram for episode updates.
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Questions people ask about this episode
Where can I watch Khabo Mnguni on The Resonate Podcast?
The episode premiered on YouTube on 24 August 2026, on Michelle Expert's channel, and it is embedded on this page.
Who is Michelle Expert?
Michelle Expert hosts The Resonate Podcast, a YouTube interview series. She interviewed Khabo Mnguni, CEO of ZS Uniforms, for this episode.
What does this episode cover?
The episode is framed around how a township business moves from its first small sponsorship to a formal corporate CSI partnership. It also touches on trial-hire structures for a growing team and why ZS Uniforms brought manufacturing in house.
Has ZS Uniforms worked with corporate CSI partners before?
Yes. Khabo Mnguni and ZS Uniforms have previously been recognised through Standard Bank's Empower Her Programme, among other corporate and community partnerships, ahead of this episode.
Who is Khabo Mnguni?
Khabo Mnguni is the CEO of ZS Uniforms, a school uniform manufacturer based in Tembisa, Gauteng, and co-founder of Threads for iKasi Foundation.
What is Threads for iKasi Foundation?
Threads for iKasi Foundation is the community social investment arm connected to ZS Uniforms, working to get school uniforms to learners in need across Tembisa and surrounding communities.