After graduating from The Copperbelt University(CBU), I had no grand career plan. In fact, during my third year, I was simply happy with the free Eduroam Wi-Fi and just going with the flow. But everything changed when I stumbled upon machine learning through the Africa Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS). While working on my application for the African Masters in Machine Learning, I decided to share my journey discovering the tech industry and local community on a WordPress blog and X(formerly Twitter). Little did I know, this would lead to a software engineering internship at tech startup The Zig!
In 2019, I entered the thrilling world of tech startups learning how to code on the job. After an amazing welcome and orientation from the tech community, my first reality check to my coding skills was publishing a React website that was, let’s just say, a disaster to the eyes and a user’s experience! After my flop at developing a website, I discovered UI/UX design using Figma and low-code tools like Webflow. For a while, I leaned on no-code solutions and boilerplate code, which slowed down my development of foundational programming skills. However, once I overcame that hurdle, I gained a significant advantage—I became a valuable contributor throughout the entire product lifecycle, blending design and technical expertise to create some websites and apps with pretty cool user experiences.
As I reflect on my five years in the Zambian tech industry, I realize there’s a lot to unpack. I’ve encountered numerous challenges and triumphs that have shaped my career so far, leading me to three key lessons that I believe are essential for anyone navigating this dynamic field. These insights have not only guided my professional growth, helped me understand the landscape better and also decide how I will navigate my career. However, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows—there are also a couple of regrets that linger in my mind. In this first part, I’ll delve into the lessons I’ve learned, and in part II next week, I’ll share those regrets along with another valuable quote that has stuck with me. So, let’s dive into the wisdom gained from my rollercoaster ride of the tech world!
1. The World is full of opportunities and creating even more.
I’ve had the opportunity to work on a diverse range of products for various clients, including startup founders and enterprise companies across industries such as banking, finance, health, beauty, agriculture, education, and automotive. Initially, I held strong opinions about startup ideas; however, I quickly recognized the importance of understanding each client’s unique vision and values when developing products. This experience has provided me with valuable insights into user needs and preferences, enabling me to identify opportunities for creating inclusive experiences that deliver real value. By fostering empathy in my design process, I’ve been able to contribute meaningfully to projects that resonate with users while aligning with business objectives.
Working with founders in the idea and early stage startups majority from the United States of America (USA) has literally inspired me to take a bet on myself. Unlike the growing mindset in my country that associates young financially independent people with negative paths like prostitution or money laundering, I see a different picture and path for wealth and financial independence. I don’t even believe I need to work twice as hard as my parents did at my age, and maybe I could retire earlier. If you were born after 1996 and received a basic education, you have access to far more leverage—whether as an entrepreneur or an employee—than previous generations ever did.
Yes, competition is now fierce, and not every idea is a winner. But those who succeed often do, quickly and on a large scale, thanks to the power of the internet. With just a phone or laptop and an internet connection, you can run a business online and outsource almost everything else. What used to cost ZMW 1M-2M to set up now costs only ZMW 10K. Building a product that once required ZMW 5M can now be done for ZMW 250K, and going to market that used to cost ZMW 20M now only requires ZMW 1M. In 2021, Africa reached a population of 1 billion, with over 37% having internet access—potentially opening doors for your product or content. Network effects are stronger than ever; some businesses can quickly become natural monopolies. Most web products have no marginal cost of replication, meaning adding new customers translates directly into profit. This shift requires less labor, less capital, and lower costs to scale—all while accessing larger markets with cheaper marketing.
No one is necessarily getting smarter or working harder; it’s just that the leverage available to seize opportunities is unprecedented—and it’s only increasing. The returns for being smart, young, skilled, and energetic have skyrocketed, leading to profound implications for society: the savvy are getting richer. As someone pointed out on Hacker News, “the internet’s vastness creates a few big winners while allowing many small players to thrive—players who might have struggled in the past. However, we’re missing that traditional middle ground. We’ve moved from a normal distribution of outcomes to a power-law distribution where the median is significantly lower than the average. This shift presents challenges for businesses that depend on achieving average results—like mid-stage venture capital funds and moderately-capitalized companies—and for societies that value equal outcomes”.
2. You Can Have Your Cake and Eat It Too
In 2020, amidst the COVID19 challenges, I was busy designing the Hrvst marketplace app for farmers with AIponics-Inc and developed a newfound interest for farming and agriculture. While conducting the market and operations research, I got exposed to the varying capital needs, business models, and profits in agriculture, which led me to choose to invest in greenhouses and precision agriculture. I decided early on I wanted to be in the game for the long run. That year my entire salary after contributing to household expenses was funneled into buying seed, growing media, learning to grow and saving for a greenhouse. It hasn’t been easy—balancing my 9-to-5 job with my agricultural ventures has required resilience, effective project management and delegation. However, the effort I put in from 5 to 9 is now paying off, as my businesses provide me a sustainable income while I build my startup.
The culture at The Zig fosters curiosity, making it fulfilling to transfer knowledge between my work and personal life. During one 1:1 with The Zig CEO Christopher Chileshe, he shared how his mentor encouraged him to “have the cake and eat it too”—balancing his job at Microsoft while building The Zig in its earlier years. This idiom “you can’t have the cake and eat it too” traditionally suggests you can’t enjoy two good things at once, but our conversation focused on navigating the trade-offs between financial security and pursuing personal passions. This mindset kept my curiosity alive and helped me grow into a knowledgeable, practical and all round contributor on the team.
3. Key Personal and Work Metrics
Beyond my curiosity-fueled explorations, I wore many hats at work—one of the perks of being in a startup. For startups and their employees, adaptability and cost-effectiveness are vital survival tactics, which helped The Zig and the team to get through challenging times during the COVID19 pandemic and recently the layoffs in the tech industry that caused me a fair amount of anxiety when it came to looking for new opportunities.
As I matured in my role, the company evolved too. In its early days, juggling multiple responsibilities was rewarding, however, as the company grew, the need for specialized creatives became apparent and soon I was promoted to design lead to manage a team of 5 other creatives. With regard to how I fared as a manager, I will quote what Sun Tzu said, “The control of a large force is the same principle as the control of a few men: it is merely a question of dividing up their numbers”. Small teams tend to be efficient and people-focused, while larger teams require advanced interpersonal skills to clearly communicate goals, delegate and establish effective hand-off channels.
As the company evolved from serving early-stage founders to catering to data-driven enterprise clients, I found myself grappling with two big challenges: creative block and burn out. With our core business shifting toward data solutions, professional development increasingly prioritized technical skills over creative growth. This shift made it even more important for me to align with the organization’s business strategy, and get involved in strategic discussions. During this transition, I started to feel a loss of accountability and a disconnect from my creative strengths. To navigate these feelings, I sought out more conversations with the CEO about the differences between managing small and large teams. I learned that small teams often foster efficiency and a strong focus on people, while larger teams require advanced interpersonal skills to effectively communicate goals and establish smooth hand-off channels. Reflecting on these insights was invaluable. It reinforced the idea that maintaining creativity in a rapidly changing environment is essential not only for personal fulfillment. Another important lesson came during a session with my mentor, Felix Lee of ADPList. He emphasized the importance of taking responsibility for at work, which helped me regain a sense of control—not just over my personal challenges but also over my career trajectory.
Now, speaking of personal and work metrics—specifically focusing on measuring work-life balance. In today’s fast-paced world, where the lines between personal and professional life often blur, it’s essential to ensure that activities in one sphere positively benefit the other. These metrics deserve more attention and can be effectively integrated into self-assessments and audits. Both quantitative and qualitative approaches can provide valuable insights. I genuinely enjoy my work tasks as much as I cherish deep connections with others and pursuing a shared purpose. However, being at extreme ends of this spectrum can be overwhelming and hard to manage but It is very possible to cultivate a harmonious relationship between your work responsibilities and personal aspirations.
For instance, time tracking can reveal how much time you spend on work-related tasks versus personal activities, including hours worked, commuting time, and time dedicated to family or hobbies. Identifying significant imbalances may signal a need to reassess your priorities. Additionally, reflecting on your personal values can help you visualize key aspects of your life—such as career, health, investments, and relationships—and align your daily actions with your aspirations. While this may seem like an extreme measure, such awareness is crucial in a world that constantly competes for our attention.
Unlike the traditional work-life balance from our parents’ time—which emphasized strict boundaries—work-life integration recognizes that these spheres can coexist harmoniously. For example, integrating personal commitments into your work schedule—like how I would attend my siblings school events during the day and making up for it later— really gave me satisfaction in both areas. Personal challenges often spilled into my work life. However, the flexible work environment at The Zig, combined with open communication with my supervisors and teammates, empowered me to manage both my personal and professional responsibilities effectively.
The lessons I’ve learned in the first five years of working in the tech industry have been invaluable in shaping my approach to both personal and professional growth. From understanding the importance of aligning with organizational goals to recognizing the need for balance between work and personal life, these insights have equipped me with the tools to navigate opportunities with optimism. As I continue to reflect on my experiences, I look forward to sharing the second part of this journey, where I will delve into the two regrets along the way and the additional lessons that have emerged from them.
Stella Muloongo xx