In a world where women often face glass ceilings in climbing the corporate ladder, Marcelline Kaunda dared to break free and forge her own path. This trailblazing entrepreneur traded in her marketer’s briefcase for a trio of thriving businesses: Phalombe Sweetness, Starico Residence in Nkhata Bay, and Breeze Lounge. Today, her name is synonymous with innovation, resilience and community impact.
Marcelline’s transition from corporate to entrepreneurship was motivated by a desire for growth and a frustration with the slow pace of advancement in the corporate world.
“As a woman, it takes a lot to reach higher success levels,” she notes. “Women give in way too much and growth is slower compared to male counterparts.” This realisation sparked a fire within her to take control of her own destiny.
Despite the challenges, Marcelline’s corporate background provided a solid foundation for her entrepreneurial ventures.
She identifies service, organisation, and discipline as essential transferable skills. “It doesn’t matter where you work; that experience moves with you wherever you go,” she emphasises.
Her marketing expertise, honed in the corporate world, remains a cornerstone of her business strategy. “I’m a marketer at heart,” she confesses. “All these are marketing projects rather than business ideas. When you’re good at marketing, you can sell anything.”
At the heart of Marcelline’s success lies her ability to build and trust a strong team. She surrounds herself with capable individuals, groomed to take on leadership roles. “Having the ability to surround yourself with people you feel comfortable running a business with is key,” she stresses. This approach allows her to focus on growth and expansion.
For Marcelline, growth is the ultimate motivator. “I have the drive to push myself every day to see what else I can get done with my team.” However, she acknowledges that rejection is an inevitable part of the entrepreneurial journey. “If you’re a person who can’t stand rejection, then business isn’t for you,” she advises. “You will be beaten up, scolded, ridiculed, and laughed at.” Yet, with time and resilience, she’s learned to overcome the noise.
To aspiring entrepreneurs, Marcelline offers wise advice: “There’s no better time than now. Ideas are God’s gift to anyone willing to execute them.” She emphasizes the importance of planning, execution, and sustainability. “Make a good plan and go for it. Have a plan to sustain yourself while you figure things out.” Above all, she stresses the need to take risks. “Good businesses have no fall back.”
So, how did Marcelline’s diverse portfolio of businesses come to be? She shares the inspiring stories behind each venture.
“Phalombe Sweetness was born out of a tourism marketing project my company spearheaded in 2020 during Covid-19,” Marcelline recalls. “I saw an opportunity to push Malawian products to the world. Herbs were essential then. Everyone was looking for some kind of remedy. We saw an opportunity to sell Malawi that way and we jumped on it.” Remarkably, Phalombe Sweetness was first marketed abroad, with its success later replicated locally.
Starico Residence, Marcelline explains, was also a child of the same marketing project. “That project birthed Bay Breeze in Nkhata Bay. Being a tourism place, we wanted to offer people more than just residence but also a place to have fun and experience Nkhata Bay.”
Edge Beauty, on the other hand, stems from Marcelline’s personal passion. “I love makeup, and I wanted to share that experience with the world,” she says with a smile.
To maintain her remarkable work ethic, Marcelline prioritises planning and discipline. She dedicates specific hours to personal time, sparing Sundays for family and self-recharge. This balance enables her to tackle the demands of her businesses.
Marcelline is expanding her empire, exploring new markets for Phalombe Sweetness, Starico Residence, and Breeze Lounge. Her sights are set on global expansion, targeting areas with significant Malawian diaspora communities. “Our products have demand in countries where Malawian migrants are in large numbers,” she says.
Beyond business, Marcelline is committed to giving back to society. Through Next Malawi, an entity she founded, she supports community development initiatives. Currently, they’re building a school block in Balaka and providing educational support to needy students. “We believe any business should have an outlet to help out communities in need,” she emphasizes.
As Marcelline, who is married and a graduate of Bunda’s Lilongwe University of Natural Resources (Luanar), looks to the future, she hopes to be remembered as a pioneer who revolutionised the industry with boldness and fearlessness. Her legacy will undoubtedly inspire generations of entrepreneurs to come.
