Beyond The Bench Blog-by Judith Mbita

📍 Community Impact Diaries
I’m excited to start a small series where I’ll be sharing my experiences working with women and young people in community development spaces.
This journey is both a learning and growing experience for me. I have learned, and I will continue learning, from the strength, resilience, and creativity that exists within communities especially among women and youth who continue to push forward despite challenges.
Through this series, I’ll be sharing real stories, reflections, and lessons I’m learning along the way as I engage in community work and empowerment initiatives.
My hope is that these stories will inspire, connect, and spark meaningful conversations around youth and women empowerment.
Looking forward to growing and learning together 💛

Darling of a Biochemist Working in Construction

I am a biochemistry graduate from the University of Namibia, yet, interestingly, my first paying job came in the construction sector. You might ask, “How did this happen?”

I graduated in April 2023, and like many fresh graduates, I dived headfirst into applying for training programs, internships, and even volunteering opportunities in my field. Unfortunately, no opportunities arose that would allow me to learn or work within biochemistry.

Despite this, I dedicated my time to sharpening my leadership skills and enrolled in various short courses. One of the most transformative experiences was participating in the Leadership and Entrepreneurship Program offered by Kectil Centre for Youth Excellence-Zambia. Upon completing the program, I continued volunteering there, and it was during this period that I was deeply inspired by one of the mentors, Madam Charity Chanda Lumpa.

Madam Lumpa shared her remarkable journey, starting as a secretary and eventually becoming the Managing Director of Access Bank, among numerous other achievements. Her story highlighted an important truth: what you study in university is not always a direct predictor of your career trajectory. She emphasized that a degree is proof that you are teachable, and that willingness to take opportunities even those seemingly unrelated to your fieldcan open doors to unexpected success.

Her story made me reflect on my own path and consider a career pivot. I looked for examples of young professionals who had successfully transitioned across fields and was inspired by individuals like Florence Jedidiah Mulenga Page , a trained pharmacist working as corporate social responsibility for YANGO TAXI ZAMBIA , while also promoting STEM education and youth development, and Bibian Chibelushi, who studied education but now works as a Project Officer at ActionAid Zambia and whose journey I’ve followed closely sinced her time at Copper Rose.

When the opportunity arose to work in construction as a data entry clerk, I embraced it even though it was something I never imagined myself doing. I soon realized that this role was exactly what I needed. The position required someone with basic Excel skills and an understanding of units of measurement and conversions, knowledge I had gained in my first-year biochemistry courses.

This experience has taught me that not knowing can actually be a superpower. It opens the door to asking questions and I’ve discovered that the one who asks often finds the breakthrough. I have come to appreciate the importance of accurate data entry and the critical role of communication in construction. I now work closely with engineers, recording work from the site so that it can be inspected and approved.

Although I am far from analyzing microorganisms or designing scaffolds for drug compounds, I find many parallels between the labs in construction and my biochemistry background. I witness and record work in the soils lab, asphalt lab, and curing room, learning about materials, designs, and processes. I’ve learned techniques like sieving and particle size grading, which are key tests used to understand how soils and aggregates will perform in concrete and asphalt mixes. Some of the equipment even resembles what you’d find in a kitchen there’s a large mixer in the asphalt lab that works much like a flour mixer, blending materials to precise specifications.

These experiences have shown me that lab skills are transferable, even if the context is different. The attention to detail, the analytical mindset, and the curiosity that guided me through biochemistry are just as valuable in construction.

I am beginning to understand that the laboratory bench did not just teach me science it taught me how to observe, to question, and to remain curious in any environment I find myself in.

I’m thrilled to share that I’ve been accepted into Cohort 1, 2026 of the AI-Integrated Leadership Program (AILP) by Aspire Institute 🎉 Aspire Leaders Program

This program will help me develop practical AI skills, deepen my leadership capabilities in an AI-driven world, and learn directly from industry experts. As I continue my journey in data science and bioinformatics, this is an amazing opportunity to bridge AI with real-world impact.

I look forward to connecting with fellow participants and sharing insights as we explore AI’s potential together. If you’re also passionate about AI for real-world solutions, let’s connect! 💡

Key: Keep Educating Yourself 🌟
Many of us start learning journeys with big dreams, but life often challenges us to adjust our goals. Personally, there were times I thought, “If I get selected for this, I’ll do my best,” only to face moments where finishing seemed enough.
In December 2024, when I learned I had been selected for the 2025 Kectil Program by The Kectil Program, I made a promise to myself: I would aim for the Certificate of Superior Performance.
The journey wasn’t easy. One of my strategies was to start assignments immediately, tackling a question a day whenever possible. There were hurdles like finishing an assignment but lacking internet to submit it, and having to call my brother to help me upload it.
Each challenge reinforced the power of consistency, determination, and seeking support when needed.
I’m honored to have completed this transformative program and to have earned the Certificate of Superior Performance. This experience has strengthened my commitment to leadership, youth empowerment, and continuous growth, and I’m excited to carry these lessons forward in my journey toward bioinformatics and community impact.
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DATA SCIENCE JOURNEY — EPISODE 1: THE BEGINNING
February 23, 2026
Today, I officially begin my Data Science training with alx_africa.
I am excited.
I am nervous.
I am determined.
This marks the beginning of a 16-month journey that I am choosing to document intentionally. I want to look back and see the growth, the discipline, the milestones, the sacrifices, and the investment I made to step further into achieving my dreams.
This is more than a course for me.
It’s preparation.
It’s obedience to purpose.
It’s stretching myself beyond comfort.
This is a step toward bioinformatics.
Toward deeper knowledge.
Toward impact.
I know it will require consistency, late nights, resilience, and courage. I know it will stretch me. It will demand discipline. But I also know I am capable.
For the next 16 months, I am choosing growth over comfort.

📍 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. — 2 Timothy 2:15

This season is about studying diligently. Sharpening my skills. Showing up fully not just on the easy days, but especially on the hard ones.
Future Judith, I hope you are proud of this version of you the one who decided to begin.
Here’s to discipline.
Here’s to growth.
Here’s to stepping boldly into Data Science.
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🔑 KEY – Keep Educating Yourself (Part 2)

As I continue striving to educate myself across different fields and projects, one thing I’ve been noticing is how hard I can be on myself when I make mistakes.

As a crochet artist, a mistake doesn’t mean quitting it often means simply undoing part of the project, correcting the error, and sometimes even starting over. Yet, in learning, work, or applying for opportunities, I don’t always embody this same patience.

Today, I had to pause and remind myself: “Stop being mean to yourself.” As humans, we tend to be kinder and more forgiving of others’ mistakes than our own.

So here’s to embracing mistakes as learning milestones, not as reasons to avoid trying or to be overly self-critical. Every error is just another step on the journey of growth, learning, and mastery.

Cheers to learning, to undoing, and to starting over when needed!

🔑 KEY – Keep Educating Yourself

For the past four years, I’ve lived by this simple mantra: KEY – Keep Educating Yourself. Every year, I challenge myself to explore new opportunities, learn something different, and grow beyond my comfort zone.

Most of my previous trainings focused on leadership and entrepreneurship, shaping me in ways I never imagined. But 2026 is my year of open doors, and I felt it was time to step into a field I’ve always been fascinated by: technology.

In 2022, I participated in the AgriTech Hackathon in Windhoek as a project manager, where our team won third place. That experience taught me how collaboration and technology can create real-world solutions for agriculture.

In 2023, I joined the PEPFAR Zambia Condom Innovation Challenge, where our team designed a digital learning platform giving young people private access to HIV prevention information. This fueled my passion for biotechnology and research, inspiring me to explore how tech can drive healthcare innovation in Zambia and Africa.

And now, I’m thrilled to start my Data Science journey with ALX- Africa on 23 February 2026! 🎉 This isn’t just learning a new skill it’s building a foundation to merge technology, research, and innovation for meaningful impact.

2026 is my year of open doors, and I’m showing up open, committed, and ready to learn.

To anyone reading this: find your KEY. Keep educating yourself, embrace opportunities that challenge you, and watch how new doors open not just for you, but for the impact you can create.

Third time’s a charm

I’m excited (and honestly a little emotional) to be facilitating again with AWEC this time in partnership with Zanaco, the very bank I’ve proudly used since opening my first account.

This Thursday, I’ll be supporting a breakout session during the Zanaco x AWEC MSME Day webinar, where we’ll engage women entrepreneurs in peer-led conversations around one key theme:

“Grow Smarter: Using Customer Insights to Improve and Expand Your Products and Services.”

We’ll start with insights from Dr. Gordon Adomdza, Director at CEIBS Africa, followed by small group sessions where we reflect, share challenges, and co-create solutions.

This will be my third time contributing to an AWEC event, and though I’m still completing my Community Champion Builder project, I’m incredibly grateful to the team for trusting me to facilitate again.

Funny story I recently told a friend to switch to Zanaco because her international bank kept failing her. I said, “Even if war breaks out, a local bank like Zanaco will still be here!” 😂

It’s truly a full-circle moment to be facilitating for a partner I also bank with, and for a cause I deeply care about: women entrepreneurs and community-driven growth.

📍Quick Reflection from Yesterday

Yesterday reminded me just how powerful it is to step outside our comfort zones. For the longest time, I’ve created platforms for others to shine—to speak, to teach, to express. But taking the center stage myself has always felt foreign… until now.

Since February, I’ve been intentionally stretching myself, learning to speak, to teach, and to connect more deeply with young people. It hasn’t been easy, but the impact I’ve seen so far has made every step worth it.

Yesterday’s Masterclass on Mastering Business Problem Solving—a practical guide for women entrepreneurs—pushed me even further. Teaching a younger audience about how world changers like Dr. King, Mandela, Kaunda, and Kofi Annan were problem solvers in their time reminded me that they too had fears, but they showed up anyway.

The energy in the room was electric. My co-speaker delivered such a powerful session on financial management and entrepreneurial systems—it was truly enriching.

I’m still reflecting, but I’ll be writing more soon on how women entrepreneurs are turning their challenges into recovery and growth. One step at a time, I’m learning to embrace the stage. And maybe, just maybe, I belong there too

🚀 Exciting News!

I am thrilled to announce that I’ve been selected as Zambia’s 2025 Community Builder Champion for the African Women Entrepreneurship Cooperative (AWEC)! 🎉

As the founder of Welvies-crotchet-hearts and an AWEC Cohort 6 alumna, I am on a mission to empower 500 women entrepreneurs, university students, and schoolgirls with practical business problem-solving skills in 2025. This initiative will run in Lusaka, Kitwe, Ndola, and Kabwe, with plans to expand across Zambia!

💡 Why This Matters
Many talented women struggle to scale their businesses due to financial barriers, limited networks, or a lack of strategic problem-solving skills. Through AWEC, I’ve learned how to raise funds, diversify revenue streams, refine marketing strategies, and improve financial management—and now, I want to help other women do the same.

🔥 Upcoming Training: February 28, 2025 – Lusaka
Join us for Mastering Business Problem-Solving: A Practical Guide for Women Entrepreneurs, where we’ll tackle real business challenges and share strategies to raise capital, scale operations, and lead with confidence.

🤝 Let’s Connect!
I’m excited to collaborate with Children's future society , Mimiart & Designs, and Big Fish Media on this initiative. If you’re an entrepreneur, mentor, or organization looking to partner, support, or attend, let’s talk!

📩 Reserve your spot via WhatsApp: +260979903723

Together, we can empower women, transform businesses, and drive economic growth in Zambia! 💡✨

🌟 Exciting Opportunity for Women & Girl-Led Organizations! 🌟

The Women and Girls Fund is gearing up to launch a Call for Concept Notes in Zambia, Malawi and Rwanda!

If you're a women or girl-led organization/movement working to empower communities, this is your chance to access funding and make a lasting impact.
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