Bridging the Digital Divide: A Rapidly Changing World

In August 2024, my thesis on digital transformation in Malawi was submitted for publication, and today, I woke up to the email that it was published.

My research, The Entrepreneurial Opportunity in Malawi’s Digital Transformation: Modelling Public Information Management Systems for Development, explores how digital transformation in Malawi presents both opportunities and challenges, particularly in the adoption and creation of Information Management Systems (IMS). Using the extended Technology, Organizational, Environmental, and Individual (TOEI) framework, I conducted a cross-sectional study to identify the factors influencing IMS adoption and innovation.

Watch my presentation of the findings at the African Graduate Students Association 2025 Annual Conference

Key findings include:

IMS Creation: Factors such as perceived benefits, innovation, cost, and competitor pressure significantly influenced the likelihood of IMS creation. Higher levels of innovation and external support increased the odds of IMS creation, while cost was a limiting factor.
IMS Adoption: Perceived benefits were the most significant predictor of IMS adoption, reinforcing the idea that users adopt technology when they see clear advantages. However, factors like customer pressure and innovation had mixed effects on adoption.
Digital Divide: the study highlights Malawi’s position in the digital transformation landscape, where despite increasing connectivity, structural and systemic barriers persist, particularly in technology access, cost, and readiness.

READ THE FULL MANUSCRIPT

At the time of submission, I framed the digital divide as a challenge rooted in access—the lack of devices, unstable internet connectivity, unreliable power, and insufficient digital literacy. My research suggested solutions that are often recommended by international development partners: tech hubs, digital skills programs, infrastructure development, and policy interventions. It was a strong framework, one that addressed what I understood then as the barriers to digital progress.

But today, reflecting on that work after spending 3 years in the U.S., I realize that I was missing a crucial perspective.

Experiencing the Digital Divide from the Other Side

One of my most eye-opening moments came during my MBA school tours. While exploring different programs, I traveled from New York to Boston to visit Harvard Business School. It was a routine trip, but what I witnessed on that train ride changed the way I think about digital transformation.

The moment I boarded the train, almost everyone opened their laptops and started working. Emails, meetings, research, coding—this was a fully mobile workforce in action. Work didn’t stop at the office; it seamlessly transitioned to trains, cafés, and homes.

This was when I realized that the digital divide is not just about access—it’s about integration. Malawi’s challenge isn’t only getting people online but ensuring they use technology in a way that keeps pace with the rest of the world. The West isn’t just connected; it is in a constant state of optimization, where technology enables continuous growth, efficiency, and innovation.

The Role of AI: the Future of Work

When I first started writing my thesis, AI was still a futuristic conversation. By late 2022, with the launch of ChatGPT and other Large Language Models (LLMs), that changed overnight. Today, AI is not just a tool—it is rapidly shaping industries, automating tasks, and redefining what the PRESENT of work looks like.

I have been an active user of ChatGPT since its launch, and I am continuously fascinated by its evolution. AI is moving at a much faster rate than policy, education, and workforce development can keep up with. The risk? A new kind of digital divide—not just in who has access to the internet, but in who understands and effectively applies AI to their work.

This realization is critical as I prepare for my Business Development role at Microsoft. My work will align directly with these questions:

How do we ensure developing nations are not left behind in this AI-driven transformation?
How do we bridge the gap between those who merely have access to technology and those who know how to leverage it for economic growth?
What policies and education models need to be in place for people to adapt to AI and automation?

What’s Next?

These reflections have also reshaped my academic aspirations. I am deeply invested in understanding and influencing digital transformation at a policy level, which is why I plan to pursue an EdD in Innovation and Leadership at NYU. My goal is to study:

How digital transformation policies can be more dynamic to keep up with rapid technological advancements.
The role of AI in shaping the workforce and how education must evolve to match these changes.
Strategies to future-proof developing nations against technological obsolescence.

The Digital Divide is Evolving—Are We Ready?

When I first wrote my thesis, I was focused on getting people online. Today, I realize that digital transformation is about more than just access—it is about how people use technology, how fast they can adapt, and whether they are being left behind as AI and automation redefine the workplace.

The world is moving at an accelerated pace, and if we do not rethink how we approach digital transformation, we risk creating an even deeper divide—one where entire economies fall behind not because they lack the internet, but because they lack the ability to use it effectively.

I don’t just want to study these changes. I want to be part of shaping them.