Writings
Recent
What It Will Take: Building an Autonomous Africa
At the perimeters of the 80th United Nations General Assembly, I had the privilege of speaking at a webinar hosted by the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and Digital Frontiers Institute — a global conversation on Scaling Impact Through Women in Digital Finance.
Lady at the Helm – Africa’s First Female Inland Marine Captain
For as long as I can remember, I have lived in the light of a name larger than my own. My mother, Captain Lonnie Kalua-Manduwi, was the first female marine captain in Malawi — a woman whose brilliance and determination defied the boundaries of her time.
Coloniality of Knowledge: The Making of the Grateful Scholar
In every corner of the continent, you will meet them: some of the brightest minds of their generation, armed with prestigious degrees from world-class European universities, fluent in the language of global policy, and deeply committed to Africa’s development.
Africa’s Hea(r)t: A Youthful Populus
Permission to Nerd Out — Demographer Style This past weekend, while preparing a Consumer Insights
September, 2025
For twelve years, I have curated this blog (and by extension newsletter) as a personal journal — a window into my journey from Malawi to the United Nations, to Microsoft, and beyond. As I step into a new decade and a new chapter, I feel the need for something different: a space not just to chronicle my life, but where both you and I can make sense of the systems we are all navigating.
Entrepreneurship within Education: Not Either/Or
When I was pursuing my undergraduate studies, it was almost framed as a choice: education or entrepreneurship. specially in developing contexts, it’s often assumed that young people must choose between “staying in school” and “chasing a dream.” But what if that decision never needed to be binary?
The Burgess Institute of Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Why I Chose Michigan State
The Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation is the reason I chose MSU. At Burgess, students don’t have to wait until after graduation to start building. They are encouraged—and equipped—to test ideas, fail fast, iterate, and grow while still in school.
Read My Books Online: Amazon Kindle
If you’ve ever wanted to explore my work but weren’t sure where to start, the easiest way is to read my books digitally on Amazon Kindle — even if you don’t own a Kindle device.
Future of Work, Youth & AI: BBC Town Hall (UNGA80 | Focus on Africa)
This week at UNGA80, I had the privilege of joining the BBC Town Hall alongside Assistant Secretary-General Ahunna Eziakonwa (UNDP), ministers of digital transformation from Nigeria and Morocco, and fellow innovators to explore the future of work in Africa in the age of AI.
Feminine Silence Launch: New York City
I am delighted to share that my second book, Feminine Silence: Walking on Glass Shells, was officially launched in New York City last week, on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly.
