"Having the right mindset and networking usurp talents in you." - Andrew Mahiga

"Before letting into a little bit about myself and my work, I’d like to share a life lesson that is something that I hope we as young people come to realize rather sooner than later. I also don’t want what I write afterwards to influence your perception of who I am and what I’m doing. As Tanzanians specifically, and Africans in general, we tend to quickly accept our fate – our situations at face value. We tend to pass the buck to people, things and situations – environments we grew in, schools we went to and situations. That type of thinking is very dangerous to ourselves and to the people around us. Everybody has personal battles which have nothing to do with the above mentioned circumstances.


I am Andrew Mahiga, Managing Director of Maanisha! (www.maanisha.co.tz). I was born in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania and moved around the world soon after. I studied at Olympio Primary School in Upanga for 1st Grade then moved to Greenacres Boarding School in Kenya for 2nd Grade. My mother was awarded a Master’s degree scholarship to study in Australia. Subsequently, I completed my 3rd to 5th grades in Australia.

I returned to Tanzania to complete 6th and 7th Grades before going to Swaziland (Southern Africa) for 5 years of high school. My university education was in The City College of New York (U.S.A). I received a Bachelor’s Degree in International Studies. University period was probably the most important time in my life. Not only did I discover my passion, but I also discovered myself – what made me happy, what made me sad, how I acted around people etc.


My globe trotting exposed to different cultures and mindsets with people around me influencing my perception. I developed a passion for marketing, media (and social media), advertising, fashion and branding.


So that is where I began volunteering and interning while studying and realized success has more to do with whom you associate with from whose brains you can pick up something."

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