In a world where competition has become the order of the day, leveraging markets for business owners is one strategy for survival and excellence. However, for Tisungane Thomson-Kamba, helping and directing others to perform better in not only a unique accolade, but one that may deemed as loss of focus. Nonetheless, Tisungane has chosen her career path to help others and she will not stop until she sees something tangible in them.
She observed that empowering girls and women economically is one of vital undertakings which help society beat poverty and thrive.
Again, Tisungane said empowered women are likely to make independent decisions, contribute to society and escape violence.
It is this conviction which inspired Lilongwe-based woman business coach and entrepreneur to venture into her domain to create spaces for entrepreneurs, especially women, to become independent.
She said with the current troubled economic times, small business owners, particularly women, need a boost in finding their footing.
“I specialise in helping girls and women move from survival mode to building structured, scalable and profitable businesses,” she said.
Tisungane noted that it is important to empower women to creates a ripple effect that goes far beyond the individual.
She said when a woman earns, she doesn’t just improve her own life, she supports her family, invests in education and contributes to her community.
But beyond that, Tisungane observed that economic empowerment gives women a voice, confidence and the ability to make decisions about their own lives.
As a woman business coach, she offers structured coaching programmes designed to help entrepreneurs grow and manage their businesses more effectively.
Her services include business foundation, branding and positioning, marketing and sales, pricing and profitability, expansion and growth just to mention a few.
“I also provide one-on-one coaching and group sessions where I work closely with entrepreneurs to identify gaps in their businesses and implement practical solutions that lead to growth,” said Tisungane.
From a business perspective, she said women were already active in entrepreneurship in the country. However, many were operating without the tools, structure, or support needed to grow. Therefore, she moved to equip them with the right knowledge and resources.
She emphasized: “We are not just helping them survive, but enabling them to build sustainable businesses that can create jobs and drive economic growth. This is true empowerment which can set women free.”
Informally, Tisungane has impacted at least 200 individuals through her business coaching. This year alone, she has directly worked with 17 entrepreneurs and women groups, helping them structure their businesses and improve profitability.
She has masters of business administration degree from the Malawi School of Government.
Tisungane went to Chigoneka Full Primary School in Lilongwe and Lilongwe Girls Secondary School. She was selected to the University of Malawi (formerly Chancellor College) where she pursued and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities.
She founded Akhada Baskets and said she was inspired by her own journey as an entrepreneur to become a woman business coach and make a difference in the lives of other women.
“While building my business, I realised that hard work alone was not enough. I needed structure, systems and the right knowledge to grow as well as initiatives to impact the lives of other people by empowering them to understand how to run a business strategically.
“At the same time, I was surrounded by other business owners, especially women, who were putting in so much effort, but still struggling to see results. That’s when it became clear to me that the gap was not in passion, but in access to practical guidance,” she said.
Tisungane said it feels both empowering and purposeful to impact the lives of other people, including women, through business coaching.
“Being in this position allows me to support, uplift and equip them with the tools they need to grow confidently and sustainably,” she said.
Her vision is to empower a generation of women entrepreneurs that make a difference.
“My vision is to see a future where Malawian businesse, especially women-led businesses are not only thriving locally, but also competing regionally and globally, creating jobs, wealth and opportunities for their communities,” said Tisungane.
She, however, singled out mindset change as one of the biggest challenges in her business coaching career.
“Shifting from a survival mindset to a growth mindset can take time and patience.
“Another challenge is trust and perception. Some business owners are hesitant to invest in coaching because they are unsure of the value it provides, or they think success comes from hard work alone. So, convincing them that guidance, strategy and systems are just as important as effort can be difficult,” said Tisungane.
Apart from coaching entrepreneurs, she runs the Akhada Baskets, a handcrafted basket and cane chair business based in Malawi exporting to Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and The Netherlands.
Through Akhada Baskets, she has employed 74 local artisans.
She is also the co-founder of The Baby Business, which provides safe, gentle, eczema-friendly products and a trusted space for stories and support for families facing similar challenges.
Tisungane was born to Stephen and Eggrey Thomson and is the first child in a family of three.
She is married to Yanjanani Kamba, and together they have a son, Tayanjana.
In her free time, she enjoys traveling and cooking, activities she said inspires her to explore new experiences and culture.
