My favourite quote comes from the French author, André Gide: ‘You cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.’ This emphasises that exploring new opportunities often requires taking risks and moving away from familiar territories, which I have always tried to do in my career.
My father suggested I should go into accounting. I had little knowledge about it, but he said the profession is for smart people and I liked that idea. I started my ACCA studies in 2001, qualified in 2008 and by 2014 I had become a fellow. From a junior accountant, and after a rewarding career so far, I have risen to my current position as director of finance for the University of Malawi.
To have a varied career you have to take up challenges and embrace change
Joining Deloitte back in 2011 was a dream come true, but then a development bank came calling that opened me up to a varied career in finance. I have since worked for an NGO, in television, for a regulator, in agriculture and, finally, in a public institution. It’s all been down to taking up challenges, embracing change and being driven by career progression. Each one of my roles has resulted in professional growth and increased responsibilities. These diverse experiences turned me into the complete executive that I am today.
The major challenge facing the university today is financial constraints. This is due to decreased government funding, increasing operational costs, and the need for investments in infrastructure and technology. Maintaining and promoting academic integrity while addressing issues such as plagiarism, especially with the arrival of AI, poses a continuous challenge for all universities. However, embracing online education and expanding offerings for lifelong learning can help universities reach a broader audience which is good for their growth and for society.
What I enjoy most about my job is meeting people and learning from them. I have high-level engagement with the vice chancellor, corporate executives, senior government officials and many other stakeholders. I get to learn from their insights into society and the economy, which enhances my own knowledge.
My appointment to a senior management position within the University of Malawi is a highlight of my career. However, my appointment into the CPD and Memberships Committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Malawi is a feat that I also cherish, as it enabled me to serve my profession and benefit society at large.
If I had law-making powers, I would stop land cases in remote villages being decided on the basis of a case from a different jurisdiction, as the economy and circumstances often differ greatly between jurisdictions. I would like to see cultural or national examples used to determine local land disputes.
I could have been a professional pool player if I had taken time away from my work
If I wasn’t in finance, I would have enjoyed being a journalist. I would have aspired to foster accountability through uncovering corruption, fraud and abuse of power. Protecting democracy and ensuring transparency are the issues that would have interested me most.
In my spare time I play pool and snooker. I could have been a professional pool player if I had taken time away from my work. At my peak I captained the Malawi National Pool team that played at the 2008 All Africa Pool Association Tournament. I also love travelling.
