One of the privileges that comes with being a PA to a Chief Technology Officer is getting to attend high-level events like the Next Gen Founders Business Summit organised by Investors Edge Africa. This year’s summit at the Golden Peacock Hotel in Blantyre brought together incredible leaders who shared real-life insights on what it means to lead, innovate, and build sustainable businesses in today’s world.
The lineup of speakers was nothing short of impressive:
- Florence Mataya opened with “From Idea to Impact”, reminding us that entrepreneurship starts with an idea but gains power when it transforms lives—something she’s proven through her business, One Stop Pharmacy.
- Nohaata Seven followed with “Funding Young Ventures”, speaking directly to the struggles young entrepreneurs face and sharing how finding the right resources can turn dreams into reality.
- Michael Walker brought energy with “Digital Domination”, highlighting why building an online presence, and how you portray yourself online is key to business growth today.
- Kondwani Makwakwa shifted to investments with “Strategic Investment on the Malawi Stock Exchange”, showing how accessible investing can be, with opportunities starting from as little as 500 kwacha per share.
For me, being part of this summit wasn’t just about listening; it was about learning, reflecting, and aspiring. Every speaker, every question, every shared story reinforced the idea that entrepreneurship is not a straight path but a journey of resilience, innovation, and community.
As usual, I couldn’t help but think about my own aspirations. I may be attending these events today as a PA, but I hold onto the vision that one day, I will be recognized as a founder and CEO of my own product. And perhaps, someday, I’ll stand on such a stage—not as part of the audience, but as one of the speakers, sharing my story with the next generation of dreamers and doers.