At the end of May, 2025, I was awarded the Most Inspiring Female Corporate Leader in Malawi. A huge honor.
As I received the award, what I felt most was less pride, and more reflection.
Reflection on what it has taken to become visible in a world that often demands excellence from women but offers very little space for us to shine on our terms. Reflection on the conscious, strategic decisions Iโve made over the past decade to stand outโnot out of vanity, but out of necessity.
When I began my journey, I knew there were many women doing incredible work in Malawi and across Africa. What I didnโt see were younger, relatable, public role models in business and leadershipโespecially women who looked and sounded like me. I wanted to fill that gap. I wanted young girls, like the one I used to be, to know that they could be excellent, present, stylish, impactfulโand visibleโall at once.
So I made a deliberate choice: to be seen.
The Power of Visibility
That choice to step into the public eye changed my life.
It is how I built my brand(s). It is how I got into rooms I once only dreamed of. It is how I found myself in New York City, working for the United Nations. It is how I earned scholarships and opportunities to pursue my MBA at Michigan State University. It is how I landed a role this summer as a Business Development Manager at Microsoft, where I get to work on one of the most exciting teams in techโXbox.
Visibility amplified my voice and validated my work. It attracted global partners to the Ntha Foundation, the nonprofit I started in Malawi in 2018 to equip youth with digital skills and entrepreneurial tools. Over the years, weโve raised over $400,000, built two innovation hubs, and empowered over 10,000+ young people across the continent.
And now, weโre scaling.
Weโre working to build the Kwathu Innovation and Creative Centre, launch more hubs across Africa, deepen our flagship Nyenyezi Fellowship and M’mawa Apprenticeship Program, and pilot our student exchange program with Michigan State Universityโbringing African talent into direct contact with global innovation ecosystems.
None of that wouldโve been possible without being seen. Or… perhaps, it would have. I suppose we will never know.
But Thereโs a Price
Visibility is not free.
When I worked at the UN, I quickly became known: not just for my output, but for my presence. I was visible. I showed up to work polished, styled, confident. I shared my journey on social platforms, I celebrated my wins, and I didnโt dim my light to make anyone else comfortable.
That unsettled some people.
There were moments when I could feel the discomfort in the room. When my professionalism was called into questionโnot because of a lack of competence, but because my confidence wasnโt quiet enough. I was reminded, subtly and overtly, that I should learn to โblend in.โ
But blending in was never the assignment.
I didnโt leave Malawi, cross oceans, and navigate some of the most complex institutions in the world to become invisible. I came here to leadโauthentically, unapologetically, and intentionally.
Still, it stung. The price of visibility is often misinterpretation, envy, isolation, or being held to impossibly high standards. Youโre expected to perform, inspire, never falter, and never ask for too much.
Yet, I wouldnโt trade it.
The Lessons: Best Practices for Young Corporate Leaders
For anyone coming up in leadershipโespecially Black women, especially Africansโhere are a few lessons visibility has taught me:
- Own Your Narrative Early
If you donโt tell your story, someone else will. Be deliberate about how you introduce yourself, how you show up, and what you stand for. - Visibility is a Strategy, Not a Performance
Itโs not about being loudโitโs about being intentional. Align your presence with your purpose. Donโt just show up; show up with meaning. - Find Mentors Who Champion, Not Compete
Ana Rosa Soares, my Brazilian manager at the UN, is the reason I am where I am. She celebrated my visibility, not feared it. Find people who believe in your glow and help you shine brighter. - Your Impact is Bigger Than Recognition
The accolades are affirming, but donโt let them be your compass. Focus on the people you serve, the change you spark, and the legacy youโre building. - Protect Your Peace and Privacy
Visibility doesnโt mean full exposure. You get to choose what you share and what you keep sacred. Curate your storyโbut keep your soul.
I didnโt pursue visibility to be seen.
I pursued it so others could see themselves in me.
So hereโs to all of us building audacious careers, living loudly, and daring to be visibleโknowing full well the price, but choosing the power anyway.
with Unrelenting Hope,
Ntha
CONNECT WITH NTHANDA ONLINE:
About the Author
