For so long, Malawi has sat quietly in the center of the storm — untouched not by design, but by circumstance. Unlike so many of our neighbors, we have never fought wars over land, resources, or identity. There was no great battle for Malawi, because for decades, there was no perceived wealth worth fighting over. And in that quiet existence, something dangerous settled into our national psyche — the belief that survival itself was enough.
If you have been following this blog for a little longer than 5 years, then you know that I was once a travel and food blogger. When I started exploring agriculture at Michigan State University, I thought of it as a natural extension of my work with Kwathu Farms—an opportunity to learn about modern farming techniques and contribute to food security in Africa. But it wasn’t until a conversation with my classmate Ramy that I fully realized the deeper connection between my past and present.
For me, Broad wasn’t just a casual decision; it was a deliberate step toward understanding how we can innovate in farming, particularly in Africa. Among the many reasons I chose MSU, one of the most visually striking and intellectually compelling was its greenhouses—a symbol of advanced agricultural research and innovation.
As I sit here reflecting on the past two months, I can’t help but marvel at how quickly time is flying. It feels like just yesterday that we started, yet we’ve already wrapped up key courses—including today’s final presentations for our ‘Designing and Delivering Impactful Business Presentations’ course.
Nthanda Manduwi is a Malawian storyteller, entrepreneur, digital transformation advocate, and community builder driven by the mission to empower Africa’s economic landscape through innovation and technology.
