Mutale Colaco 🇿🇲🇬🇧

Founder @KestrelAgro, Engineer, Entrepreneur, World traveller and creative soul

[Mutale Colaco 🇿🇲🇬🇧 @MutaleCColaco]

When you dont have the budget for a kitchen installer, you DO IT YOURSELF. #womenwhobuild #kitcheninstall

[Mutale Colaco 🇿🇲🇬🇧 @MutaleCColaco]

Female Engineer and founder..... it's rough in these streets.

[Yusan Lin @yusan_lin]

An investor once pressured me to meet him at a hotel at night.

I said no. I asked if we could meet during the day, at a coffee shop or in an office.

He replied: “If you’re serious about this, you’ll meet me on my terms.”

That’s just one of many moments I’ve stayed silent about—until now.

As a female founder, I’ve faced harassment and dismissiveness more times than I can count.

I’m not sharing this to portray myself as a victim. I’m sharing it because silence only protects the behavior. And because I know I’m not alone.

Since starting my company, I’ve experienced:

- An investor who texted me late at night while drinking, saying he missed me—and asking whether I “show enough skin” in my party outfits, after a single coffee meeting about business.

- One who asked, “How many white guys have you been with for your English to be this good?”

- Another who interrupted me mid-sentence while I was sharing an important partnership update to say, “Bring your pretty friends to my island next time.”

- One who told me, “You’re too pretty to be a founder. Just be an influencer,” and then showed me photos of women online wearing very little, suggesting I could do the same.

- An investor who said he kept forgetting I could code—because I “don’t look like someone who can.”

- A founder I distanced myself from after multiple uncomfortable invites, who recorded and took photos of me without my consent. When I got upset, he said I was missing out on funding opportunities because he could’ve introduced me to investors.

- Another founder who made an unwanted sexual advance the first time we met. When I ignored his repeated messages, he told me he hoped my startup would fail.

These aren’t just awkward moments. They’re degrading. They’re exhausting. And to say they haven’t taken an emotional toll would be a lie.

I don’t want to be objectified, or reduced to an image these men create in their minds.

I hope we build a culture where this behavior is no longer tolerated. One where female founders don’t have to brace themselves before every investor meeting. One where we feel safe at work, at networking events, and in every room where decisions are made. One where competence isn’t overshadowed by appearance. One where boundaries are respected—without needing to be justified.

To be clear: These experiences do not reflect the majority. I’ve been fortunate to meet far more incredible, kind, and principled investors and founders than not.

But until this kind of behavior ends, stories like mine need to be heard too.

[Mutale Colaco 🇿🇲🇬🇧 @MutaleCColaco]

Designed by me. Installed by me. Is it perfect? No. Do I love it? Hell yeah!!! And this voice over..... my countrymen are something else. Now just this pot filler......
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[Mutale Colaco 🇿🇲🇬🇧 @MutaleCColaco]

@_melbamay @BuyoyaJonah 😆😆😆

[Mutale Colaco 🇿🇲🇬🇧 @MutaleCColaco]

@Chemicalgonga Would love to see your progress when you get going

[Mutale Colaco 🇿🇲🇬🇧 @MutaleCColaco]

DIY Skylight complete. I still get to shower under the stars and skies but no longer have to worry about tiny leaves clogging the drain and baby monkeys falling in......
#womenwhobuild
#outdoorshowers

[Mutale Colaco 🇿🇲🇬🇧 @MutaleCColaco]

@Zambiamust Thank you

[Mutale Colaco 🇿🇲🇬🇧 @MutaleCColaco]

Loving the progress on my living walls. 2.5yrs of growth on the ivy and 1.5yr on my pergola made from leftover steel

#womenwhobuild
#selfbuildjourney

[Mutale Colaco 🇿🇲🇬🇧 @MutaleCColaco]

Decided to install my kitchen MYSELF to save money 🙈(Zambia has excellent kitchen designers but🤑🤑🤑) It is challenging EVERY, SINGLE, OCD bone in my body 😫😫😫

[Mutale Colaco 🇿🇲🇬🇧 @MutaleCColaco]

From pinterest inspo boards, to sketch pads and finally in living colour. Love it
Bafika aba nyoli nyoli
#womenwhobuild
#ChandaNaKay

[Mutale Colaco 🇿🇲🇬🇧 @MutaleCColaco]

Creating gives me life........ #womenwhobuild #rusticdecor #rustichomedecor
https://t.co/nRT32pUimp

[Mutale Colaco 🇿🇲🇬🇧 @MutaleCColaco]

Sometimes, you just need to MAKE IT WORK. Industrial chic solution didn't pan out. Plan B doesn't suck too bad.
Sliding classroom whiteboards.
#womenwhobuild

[Mutale Colaco 🇿🇲🇬🇧 @MutaleCColaco]

@ShiMutale98 @FavardThandi 😆😆😆

[Mutale Colaco 🇿🇲🇬🇧 @MutaleCColaco]

@FavardThandi Please tell them to stop "doing business according to the size of your problem." It is worth what it is worth

[Iberdrola Power @Iberdrola_En]

🎉Let's celebrate the contribution of the world’s engineers for a better, more sustainable world!

Essential in our business every day, helping us to build the energy of the FUTURE 👷‍♀️⚡️

Happy #WorldEngineeringDay!

[Mutale Colaco 🇿🇲🇬🇧 @MutaleCColaco]

Fastest project EVER! Traffic jam so I jump out, choose a "waste" piece from the timber guy. 30 mins later, I have a rustic bench! Take your shoes off and put on some slippers. Needs sanding and varnish but I LOVE IT! Carpenter and Workers at home think I am nuts but I LOVE it!🤣

[Mutale Colaco 🇿🇲🇬🇧 @MutaleCColaco]

@monicamusonda @javafoods My daughter says to her father "remember daddy it has to be Ezee noodles!" As he ia heading out Yes!

[Mutale Colaco 🇿🇲🇬🇧 @MutaleCColaco]

@Space2013M @BangweuluTv 🤣🤣🤣

[Mutale Colaco 🇿🇲🇬🇧 @MutaleCColaco]

I find this HEARTBREAKING.....

[Mrs Hamunyanga ❤️ @Futurecelebrit7]

Our irresponsible habits of waste disposal is of serious concern and a danger to ourselves.

Ngwerere Bridge in Lusaka after the heavy downpours experienced.

As a concerned citizen, what would you suggest should be done to deal with plastic pollution?

[Mutale Colaco 🇿🇲🇬🇧 @MutaleCColaco]

Do it anyway!!!

[Monica Musonda @monicamusonda]

Good morning world! Comfort is your enemy…let’s get moving!

[Mutale Colaco 🇿🇲🇬🇧 @MutaleCColaco]

@bellamufazi My pilates instructor was an Ex army Israeli....... yeah....... sorted my weak core so fast!!!!