A Different Kind of Entrepreneurship: Lessons from Singida, Tanzania
Lessons from Singida, Tanzania (March 2025)
In March 2025, our CEO Chi Le traveled to Singida, Tanzania, an experience that continues to shape how we think about business, resilience, and impact.
Not just because of the long travel days or the physical distance covered, but because of the conversations and the quiet strength witnessed on the ground. This trip marked Chi’s first time in Africa, and also the first opportunity to meet Tina, the founder of Mwiru Sunflower Oil Enterprise, after months of working together virtually.
The collaboration began online through the MEDA FEGGE program (Mennonite Economic Development Associates), where Marble Mountains Media provides business and marketing advisory support to selected women entrepreneurs in developing countries such as Tanzania. After countless video calls and planning sessions, meeting in person added a new level of depth and understanding to the work. During the visit, Chi had the opportunity to spend time with Lorraine Dias and Christa Muzanila from the MEDA team, partners whose commitment to inclusive economic development is evident both online and on the ground.
The Journey to Singida
Reaching Singida is a journey in itself.
From Vancouver, Cananda, the trip involved nearly 36 hours of travel to Dar es Salaam (the biggest city of Tazania), followed by a 4-hour electric train ride to Dodoma (the capital of Tanzania), and then another 3-hour drive into Singida. It’s a remote region, far removed from the pace and infrastructure of major cities, yet rich in community, determination, and shared purpose.
Being there offers immediate perspective. Infrastructure is limited. Resources are scarce. Climatic conditions are harsh, marked by prolonged drought abd extreme heat.
And yet, businesses operate, families sustain themselves, and entrepreneurs continue building with what they have.
Entrepreneurship Beyond the Highlight Reel
Spending time in Singida, our team had the opportunity to learn more about the business, the challenges it faces and the opportunities that Africa represents.
We also gained a deeper understanding of the broader social and economic context in which it operates. In Tanzania, being a woman often comes with significant limitations, including reduced access to education, fewer employment opportunities, and limited structural support for entrepreneurship.
Tina, the founder and CEO of Tina Mwiru Enterprises, comes from a large family with 14 siblings. She operates her sunflower oil business in a region with a very short harvest season, just a few months each year. Processing takes place in a shared facility, and access to equipment and capital is limited. Growth, in this context, isn’t about rapid scaling or quick wins.
And still, Tina moves forward. With quiet strength. With long-term vision. With consistency.
Her leadership is not loud or performative. It shows up in steady progress, thoughtful planning, and a commitment to improving her business not only for herself, but for the wider community around her.
The Role of MEDA’s FEGGE Program
The Feminist Entrepreneurs Growing Green Economies (FEGGE) program by MEDA is designed to support women entrepreneurs in rural and under-resourced regions like Singida. The program focuses on:
- Business advisory and mentorship
- Access to financing
- Practical tools to build resilience and long-term growth
Through Marble Mountains Media, our team is working closely with Tina and the MEDA advisors on a three-year business plan centered on two core goals:
Increasing production capacity
Expanding into new markets across East Africa through marketing
This work extends far beyond branding or campaigns. It involves building realistic systems, planning around seasonal and infrastructure constraints, and aligning growth strategies with on-the-ground realities.
A Perspective That Stays With Us
This visit reinforced an important truth: entrepreneurship doesn’t always look like what we see on social media.
It isn’t always fast.
It isn’t always polished.
And it’s rarely built under ideal conditions.
More often, it is slow, local, and deeply rooted in place. It is built with determination, limited resources, and an unwavering belief in what’s possible.
For Marble Mountains Media, the lessons from Singida continue to inform how we work, who we partner with, and how we define success, well beyond March 2025.
