Changes | Career Update

In October, 2020, I wrote my dad a lengthy email – expressing to him that I was leaving my permanent job with the Malawi Revenue Authority.

I expressed in very many words after serving for a good 3 years that even though I absolutely loved being a public officer, I was not passionate about my job collecting taxes. I did not find that this job aligned with my purpose. I desired to return to my base – the development sector.

First Payday Without A Paycheck | Post Employment

At the time, Ntha Foundation was in the midst of contract negotiations with the World Bank through the Public Private Partnership Commission (Malawi Government) to be one of the 6 organisations entrusted to operationalised the Digital Malawi – Digital Skills for All Project.

1 year of Digital Malawi | Highlights

I was not exactly jumping into absolute uncharted waters with entrepreneurship. I had been doing this work for years (since 2013). I had wanted to do this work fulltime, and I was ready to commit myself to the Ntha Foundation for a while (5 years, as per my plan). I am so glad that I did.

Within the year, I realised that though I was excelling and doing a fairly good job at managing both people and the organisation, I still needed expertise to be able to run this organisation as it needed from me.

There were specifically three things I was trying to figure out:

1. How to run an organisation which has multiple business ventures under it
2. How to better execute the Nyenyezi Fellowship Programme
3. How to better execute the M’mawa Management Training Programme

I am deeply passionate about development work. I am particularly passionate about entrepreneurship, and believe it is the future for Malawi. I am intent about getting better at it.

As Ntha Foundation, we have two flagship programmes, and I am very passionate about them. We have the Nyenyezi Fellowship Programme, and the M’mawa Management Training Programme. I am intent on executing them in the best way possible.

With this knowledge, I did 3 things:

1. I applied for a Master of Science in Entrepreneurship degree at the Malawi University of Science and Technology
2. I applied for the Westerwelle Foundation Young Founder’s Programme
3. I applied for a Graduate Programme

I was successful in all three applications.

First was my masters. I have been with the Malawi University of Science and Technology, pursuing my Master of Science in Entrepreneurship since March, 2021. I have completed (with good grades) the first year of my studies, and I am currently working on my thesis.

I also recently completed 6 months of the Westerwelle Foundation‘s Young Founder’s Programme, making it to the top 10 of my cohort; and awarded a fully-paid trip to the Berlin Conference in Germany.

Top 10 Young Founder’s Programme | Westerwelle Foundation

Lastly, I have been matched to an office in New York, as part of my on-the-job training with the the Graduate Programme.

After a year of running the Ntha Foundation fulltime, I have to leave – maybe for a short while, maybe for a long time. Ntha Foundation is my legacy, and even in my absence, it will continue to serve Malawi. I will make certain that it does.

Ntha Foundation | The Legacy

I realise it is not as per my 5 year plan to have to leave so soon, but realise I need this growth, and I am ready for this growth. I realise I owe it to myself to be challenged in new ways. I am optimistic about growth ahead, and know the Ntha Foundation will in the longrun thank me for taking this chance.

What’s next for my work in Malawi?

Thanks always for taking this journey with me.

To all who have been trying to get a hold of me personally or professionally, I deeply apologise for my inconsistency in replies and availability. This transition has been much bigger than I anticipated, and I will be in touch in a few weeks/months, once my world (re)stabilises.

All my love,

Ntha

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