“To empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.”
A mission statement that speaks directly to my heart — a season I am most thrilled to step into.
Brief life update: I moved to Redmond, Washington!
This May, I joined the Microsoft team as a Business Development Manager for my Summer MBA Internship. I will be working with the Developer Accelerator Program | ID@Xbox team, supporting the mission of bringing great games from independent publishers to Xbox.
For me, this moment marks more than just the start of an internship: it represents a significant career pivot, from a decade spent in public sector policy, development work, and international collaboration (through experiences with the United Nations, The World Bank, the European Union, the Malawi Government, and multiple regional development initiatives), into the fast-paced world of tech innovation and private sector leadership. This internship will culminate in me turning 30, and I am very excited for this next season.
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Happy New Week, and wishing you a Fabulous June ahead!
All my love,
Redmond: The Innovation Capital
When I interviewed with the Xbox team six months ago, one of the most impactful questions I was asked by one of my interviewers was:
“Why make this shift — and does it align with your purpose?”
It was not a typical interview question, and it stayed with me.
As an economist, policy analyst, and entrepreneur, my work has always been guided by the belief that innovation is not just a tool for economic growth — it is a necessity for our global sustainable future. Whether it has been through my work building Digital Skills For Africa, or supporting young innovators at the Kwathu Kollective, my focus has been on how we leverage creativity, technology, and business to unlock new possibilities for development.
Joining Microsoft Xbox allows me to deepen my business understanding — to see first-hand how global innovation ecosystems operate, how business strategies evolve in real-time, and how the intersection of creativity, innovation, and business development can drive both commercial success and broader impact.
I have spent the past year pursuing my MBA at Michigan State University – Eli Broad College of Business, sharpening my skills in Business Development Management (Marketing Research and Business Analytics), and I believe this journey with Microsoft will not only make me a stronger business leader, but also equip me with new tools and insights to contribute meaningfully to the global innovation landscape.
If you are in the US tech space — especially in business development, gaming, innovation strategy — or just in the Seattle/Bellevue/Redmond area — I would love to connect 📩 hello@nthanda.com | nthanda.com/microsoft
Personal Development: Of Starting Over
Starting over doesn’t always mean beginning from scratch: sometimes, it’s stepping into a version of yourself that’s long been waiting.
Moving to Redmond has felt like crossing an invisible threshold; mostly because I’ve allowed myself to begin again, and this time with intention.
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This new season feels more inward-facing. Less about proving, more about pacing. I’m learning that clarity often comes after the leap; and not before it. What matters now is not who I’ve been, but who I’m becoming.
Professional Growth: Private Sector Management
Over the past two weeks at ID@Xbox, I’ve been immersed in an incredibly dynamic onboarding process.
What I appreciate most is how my managers have entrusted me with real leadership opportunities right from the start. From leading weekly meetings to managing comprehensive data analyses, I’ve been given the reins to drive impactful projects.
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One of my key responsibilities has been categorizing the extensive library of Xbox games by theme and diving into sales data analysis. This hands-on experience is not only sharpening my analytical skills but also providing valuable insights into the performance and impact of the Developer Acceleration Program over the years. I’m thrilled to continue leading these initiatives and exploring deeper data analysis to drive even more strategic decisions.
Entrepreneurship & Innovation: Kwathu Moves to Mangochi
On the 19th of May, 2025, the HQ of Kwathu moved to Mangochi!
This was not an impromptu decision. From the very beginning, my vision was always to set up the KICC in Mangochi. At the time, we were encouraged within the project to stay within the Capital City, so I could be mentored, and learn from experienced hub managers.
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Going forward, my sister, Chimango, takes over as Operations Lead. I am simply thrilled to witness her growth, and what she will be able to achieve in this new chapter.
Living: The Archer, Redmond
For my MBA Internship, I am staying at the Archer, in Redmond. It is a gorgeous Boutique hotel, and I could not think of a better to recenter, as I turn 30.
Redmond has been kind to me. The mornings are quiet, the energy is intentional, and I’ve found myself craving simplicity: long walks, tea before bed, soft music as I work. I’ve come to appreciate how space holds you when you’re moving through change.
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The Archer Hotel has offered more than a place to stay. It’s been my soft landing. The Microsoft interns welcome party here was a joyful blur of introductions and laughter — but what I’ll remember most is the stillness in between. The quiet moments that whispered, “You’re exactly where you’re meant to be.”
Featured: Is an MBA For You?
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of chatting with the GMAC team about my MBA journey. It was a full-circle moment, reflecting on how it all began with an MBA Tour in New York City in February of 2023.
That is how the Michigan State University Broad College of Business first discovered me, and invited me to their Diversity Preview Day—when I fell in love with MSU.
The good news: there are several MBA Tours happening over the next few months! In this issue. See below details on upcoming MBA Tours near you, how they benefitted me, and how you can find the right business school; and maybe, your next big chapter too:
Up Next: Exploring Washington’s Innovation Hub
As I settle into Washington, I’ve started exploring the pulse of innovation in the Pacific Northwest.
From global tech giants to local creator spaces, there’s a rhythm here that feels quietly revolutionary — like transformation is always within reach.
I’m looking forward to mapping what this means for my long-term work. Not just professionally, but for how I want to live: curiously, creatively, and in community with others building bold futures.
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June’s edition will be all about be exploring one of the world’s most dynamic tech hubs. Join me as I dive into the vibrant ecosystems of industry giants and groundbreaking startups alike.
Spotlight: Let’s Play!
Until recently, I had never played Xbox games. I came into this internship from the worlds of innovation, international development, and business strategy—curious about the industry but not immersed in its player experience. That changed quickly. As I settled into my new role, I made it a point to explore the very ecosystem I was working to understand. I started playing Ori and the with of the Wisp (on ChatGPT’s recommendation), and South of Midnight, one of Xbox’s most anticipated narrative-driven titles. I’m fully obsessed with both.
Ori is stunning: visually ethereal and emotionally grounding. I’m currently stuck at the wolf (send tips please), but even in the challenge, I find myself completely immersed in its world.
South of Midnight, on the other hand, is giving me everything I didn’t know I needed. The story is rich and haunting, layered with folklore, rhythm, and history. I’m only in Chapter 2, while my boss Annette is already in Chapter 8, but that only makes me more excited to keep going.
This entire pivot… toward storytelling, world-building, and culture-rooted experiences, is part of the Xbox vision under the leadership of Sarah Bond.
Her strategic clarity and creative intuition are shaping an ecosystem that welcomes new audiences, expands beyond the console, and centers voices we haven’t historically seen in gaming. It’s an honor to witness this transformation up close; and even more so to play my part in it.
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