Kerlin Nghunza: Kindness, Culture, and Nurturing Relationships

When Kerlin Nghunza moved from the Congo to Belgium in 2006, he thought he would become a doctor. Life took a different turn. Over the years, he reshaped his identity through education, hardship, and resilience, with one consistent through line: kindness. Kerlin’s life has been shaped by acts of kindness—from strangers, mentors, and family—and now he builds his business and leadership style to reflect those values.

In our conversation, Kerlin described a series of pivotal moments in his life where the generosity of others shaped his path. A friend’s mother who drove for hours to help him secure a visa. A host family member who treated him like a son after a relative passed away. A Belgian woman who waited three months so she could hire him despite visa delays. A PhD student who coached him through his master’s thesis, asking for nothing in return.

Kerlin's story shows the humility of someone who has had to reinvent himself multiple times—moving countries, navigating academic systems, and facing three years of job searching. He spoke openly about how this period taught him to find worth beyond titles or salary. “You have to build your confidence on other stuff than having money or power,” he said. “I had to survive without a job and still be the happiest guy in the room.”

That mindset became the foundation for his view of entrepreneurship. Kerlin had long admired entrepreneurs, and recently chose to build a venture that helps couples reignite the joy of being together—what he calls nurturing “two seeds into a tree.” For him, business is not just about innovation or opportunity, it is about nurturing relationships.

Cultural identity also plays a key role in how he thinks about kindness. He described the contrast between his upbringing in the Congo, where sharing and community were essential for survival, and Belgium, where individualism and personal achievement are more common. “You need to find a balance,” he said. “The right way is not Africa, and it is not the West. It is somewhere in between.”

Kerlin hopes to be remembered as a gardener, someone who nurtures life, brings life to people. He believes that kindness is not just an idea, it is a practice, a lineage, and a way to build things that last.

“There is no way I would be able to bring the value I bring into this world without the kindness that I received and learned from others.”

Kerlin Nghunza’s story reflects the essence of Investing in Kindness: how generosity across borders and barriers can shape a life and inspire a mission. Keep an eye out for more interviews.