In a small home in Mzuzu City, a young girl once dreamed about being seen, heard and counted.
She was not sure how, or when, but she wanted to be on the frontline.
That girl is Wangiwe Kambuzi.
Today, she is Emerge Livelihoods founder and managing director that empowers youths and women across the country to believe in the power of their own potential.
Her story is one of resilience, reinvention and relentless purpose.
“I have always been curious and eager to lead. But back then, I did not know that those little moments were shaping the leader I was meant to become.”
Wangiwe’s early career looked like a success story by any standard.
After finishing school, she secured jobs in customer care and the banking sector.
“I was earning a stable income, but I was not satisfied. I was not making the kind of impact I envisioned. I knew there was something more,” she said.
In 2017, Wangiwe made a decision that shocked many when she left her secure banking job to take a one-year professional break.
During that time, she attended workshops, leadership trainings and volunteered for youth-led organisations, puzzling her friends and family.
“People kept asking me why I left such a good job just to attend events. I did not have a clear answer, but I felt I was doing what was right for me,” she explained.
It was during this time that she began to deeply understand the challenges facing young people in Malawi such as unemployment, lack of capital and a broken support system for entrepreneurship.
Wangiwe realised she was not alone in her struggles.
In 2016, she started her first venture, Crystal Dazzle, a small startup with big dreams.
But without the knowledge, funding, or mentorship, the business struggled to take off.
“I made many mistakes and did not know how to manage or scale a business. I failed countless times,” she said.
But instead of giving up, Wangiwe leaned into the lessons.
“I realised that failure is not the end, but a different kind of education. I knew I was not the only one facing these challenges. I decided to build something bigger, not just for myself, but for others too,” she explained.
What emerged from that experience was Mzuzu E-Hub, a bold initiative designed to support young and emerging entrepreneurs with skills, networks and capital.
It began as a local space for innovation and has since grown into a national social enterprise known as Emerge Livelihoods.
Through Emerge, Wangiwe and her team provide youth and women with business incubation, digital skills, mentorship and seed financing to equip them with tools to build sustainable livelihoods.
“We are not just training entrepreneurs, we are building a culture of self-reliance,” she said.
Her work is personal. She remembers learning to use a computer at the age of eight in 1998.
Now, in 2024, Wangiwe still meets children in rural Malawi who have never even seen one.
“How can we expect them to compete in the job market when there are so far behind digitally? That is why digital skills and technology are core to what we do,” she explained.
Over the years, Wangiwe’s efforts have been locally and internationally recognised as a social entrepreneur and ecosystem builder.
In 2025, she was selected for the International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP) by the U.S. Department of State, where she was named an Honorary Citizen of Nebraska.
She has also been featured on Wealth Magazine’s 2024 list of 100 Inspiring Women in Malawi and named a Meaningful Business 100 global leader in 2019.
Wangiwe said: “It is humbling, but I do not do this for the awards. I do it for the communities, young people who feel stuck and women who want to rise.”
Despite her achievements, she is open about her challenges.
“There were times I felt overwhelmed balancing work, family and expectations. I have struggled with saying no. I have made bad financial decisions because I was trying to help everyone, but I have learned, time is a great teacher,” she added.
As a woman in leadership, Wangiwe has had to work extra hard to prove her worth.
“You walk into rooms where you are not taken seriously until you deliver again and again. But I do not mind proving myself anymore. I know what I am capable of,” she said.
She credits mentorship, coaching and a growing self-awareness for helping her navigate difficult moments.
“The more I invested in understanding myself, the more effective I became as a leader,” she said.
Today, Emerge Livelihoods is a thriving enterprise reaching communities across more than 10 districts in Malawi.
The organisation has trained over 3 000 youths in Information and Communication Technology and employability skills.
It has supported over 850 small businesses and created more than 1 100 jobs.
Through the Emerge Fund, they have provided over $150 000 in seed capital and connected more than 120 entrepreneurs with investors and funding partners.
Wangiwe’s team has grown to 30 with eight board members.
Her organisation has raised over $2.2 million in funding from partners such as the World Bank, GIZ, Lenovo Foundation, UNDP and Segal Family Foundation.
“This is bigger than me now and that is exactly how it should be. We are building something that will outlive us,” she said.
To young women and girls who feel stuck or unsure of their potential, Wangiwe offers hope and action.
“You do not have to stay where you are. You can rewrite your story and you are more than what you see in the mirror and more than what your current environment is telling you. You can start something small. If it fails, start again. Just do not give up,” she said.
She added, “While you are doubting yourself, someone out there is admiring your strength. Keep going.”
As she plans for the future, Wangiwe is preparing to transition into a more strategic advisory role at Emerge, grooming new leadership to carry the vision forward.
“I do not want the organisation to depend on me forever. True leadership is about building systems and people who can thrive in your absence,” she said.
Off the clock, she finds joy in raising her son Bright and sharing life with her partner Daniel Mvalo.
She said: “Life has taught me that with the right mindset, support and boldness, anything is possible. I want every young girl in Malawi to believe the same.”
