Hey, my name is Muunda Mudenda!I am a Zambian researcher and creative catalyst building a career at the nexus of industry, academia, and government through ideation and innovation in science and startups. I have led two (2) teams in East Africa in ideation, product development, and funding acquisition through captivating pitches and demo days. As a masters degree holder and research scientist, I work in industry (Natural products design, development, and validation) and extend a hand to mentor university students in leveraging changing landscapes to position themselves for innovation, employability, or gaining clarity about options available to them in the new world.At the core, a knack for innovation, research, development, and advocacy drives me. My passion for the same has enabled me to execute duties for global organizations as a regional promoter for iGEM in Africa, Hult-Prize On-Campus Director, and Science Policy Advocate trained by ASBMB and the University of California, Irvin.Coupled with experience as a growth and business developer, I have honed the art of working with teams, leading teams, and building strong teams to deliver projects. I believe that Africa can improve, but only by challenging the status quo. This belief explains why I advocate for the growth of innovation, research, and development on the continent and for creating an enabling environment for Young African Scientists (YAS).When not working, I love travelling, seeing new places, going on hikes, playing guitars, and holding conversations with friends and strangers alike. I am open to new and exciting challenges, partnerships, and collaborations, in person or remotely. But more importantly, I am excited to help you achieve better and gain relevance in the new world.