A feature in the Malawi News Paper about Nthanda Manduwi, by Sam Banda.
Today’s Woman: Nthanda Manduwi’s Walk to Drive Change
It takes hard work to climb the ladder of success, and even in the event that you encounter challenges or tumble, it is important to dust off, remain focused, and keep walking.
Nthanda Manduwi has remained focused in her walk, and today she is singing tunes of triumph, looking at her works and academic achievements.
At the 2024 YouthConnekt Africa Summit in Rwanda, Manduwi took to the stage to share her insights, experiences, and unwavering dedication to youth and women’s empowerment across the continent.
Invited by the Government of Rwanda in collaboration with YouthConnekt Africa and Mastercard Foundation, Manduwi’s keynote speech addressed over 40 countries’ youth delegates—an audience filled with change-makers, innovators, and aspiring leaders from the continent.
Reflecting the African Union’s 2024 theme, ‘Educating an African Fit for the 21st Century,’ Manduwi continues to advocate for the transformative power of education.
Through various keynote addresses, often in diplomatic settings, she has consistently highlighted the importance of preparing Africa’s youth for a rapidly digitizing world.
Her messages frequently draw upon her journey and achievements, illustrating to policymakers what education can accomplish and emphasizing the critical role of technology in Africa’s future.
At YouthConnekt Africa, Manduwi introduced the work of her Ntha Foundation, an organization she founded to drive innovations for skilling and employability.
It is this initiative that grew into the Kwathu Kollective, a platform dedicated to fostering creativity, innovation, and skill development among African youth.
“Kwathu Kollective started with a small training cohort of 30 in 2020, which expanded to 500 in 2021 and then scaled to impact over 10,000 as of 2024, fostering real workforce development,” she said.
Academic and Professional Achievements
Presently pursuing a STEM MBA at the Eli Broad College of Business (Michigan State University) in the United States, specializing in Business Development Management (Marketing Management and Business Analytics), she also holds a Master of Science in Entrepreneurship from the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST), specializing in Digital Transformation.
Aspiring to pursue an Education Doctorate in Leadership and Innovation, Manduwi has vast experience in Business Development, Digital Innovation, and Knowledge Management. She also holds a Bachelor of Social Science from the University of Malawi, where she dual-majored in Economics and Demography.
With over nine years of professional experience, Manduwi describes herself as a digital creative, social scientist, and development professional. She also has five years of experience in research and data analysis.
From Entrepreneurship to Digital Solutions
While pursuing her undergraduate studies in 2013, Manduwi noticed a gap in the digitization of Malawi and established what she describes as one of the fastest-growing business development and digital solutions agencies in the country—Bien Corporation Africa.
“I have eight years of experience working with over 50 brands in Southern Africa, helping them digitize,” said Manduwi, who also founded Digi Savvy Online Learning in 2019, bringing digital skills to people in remote areas of Malawi.
Her accomplishments have gained international recognition, including the prestigious Best International Youth Empowerment Award at the 2024 African Achievement Awards.
The event, held in Seattle, Washington, USA, brought together luminaries from across the continent to celebrate transformative contributions to Africa’s development.
Manduwi describes this honor as a reflection of her decade-long commitment to empowering young people through her work with Ntha Foundation, Kwathu Kollective, and other impactful initiatives.
Known for her unwavering dedication to education, digital innovation, and creativity, Manduwi has consistently worked to inspire and uplift individuals and communities across Africa and beyond.
In her acceptance speech, she dedicated the award to every African striving for a brighter future, emphasizing the collective responsibility to build “the Africa we want.”
Turning Vision into Action
Manduwi’s recognition at the African Achievement Awards is a testament to her leadership and ability to translate vision into action, as well as her enduring belief in the power of young people to drive change.
Born to Phillip and Lonnie Manduwi in Mangochi, she is currently based in the USA, where she is pursuing her studies. Prior to that, she lived in Manhattan, New York, working with the UNDP Independent Evaluation Office.
She has also worked as the Project Lead in the World Bank-funded Digital Malawi – Digital Skills for All project, as operationalized by Ntha Foundation on behalf of the Malawi Government through the Public-Private Partnership Commission.
Manduwi also worked as a Revenue Officer with the Malawi Revenue Authority.
Since 2013, she has established two companies, including one nonprofit. “The two companies co-own more than 10 innovations and solutions and have created over 50 jobs during their existence,” she said.
A Passion for Storytelling and Digital Media
Manduwi revels in creation and storytelling through writing, digital skills education, and media production.
A storyteller at heart, she published her first book, By the End of Your Teens, in 2018, sharing her journey of self-development for teens aspiring to achieve greatness while staying true to their purpose.
Through blogging and storytelling, she has grown her audience to over 250,000 followers and readers across various digital media platforms.
As an extension of her blog, she launched her YouTube channel in 2016 and later produced a television show called My Malawi.
Her accolades include being named Media Icon of the Year at the Future Women Conference in Nigeria in 2020 and the Best Speaker among 83 participants at the World Miss University in Cambodia in 2017.
Looking to the Future with Microsoft
One of the biggest highlights of her career is her recent selection for an MBA summer internship with Microsoft Xbox, where she aims to learn as much as possible about the gaming industry.
Manduwi believes her work exemplifies Africa’s digital and entrepreneurial potential, and she remains optimistic about the future of Malawi’s growth.
“I believe that Malawi, and specifically Malawian young women, deserve to be represented. This work is not just about personal success; it is about creating a movement of young Africans ready to lead the digital economy,” she said.
She added, “By reinvesting in the communities we serve, we are proving that social impact and profitability can coexist, paving the way for a thriving Africa led by its youth.”
Want to engage Ms. Manduwi as a speaker at your event, in other professional capacity? Get in touch.
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