ROYAL HUSTLERS

A look back at some of our most inspiring Royal Hustlers of 2022.

Reem El Sherif, Strategy and Business Development Manager at RMB Namibia

Reem has experience in academia and worked for UNDP on the Harambee Prosperity Plan 2 and the NDP 5, saying that she is "passionate about producing new knowledge."

The move to commercial banking was strategic. She says, "Even though I’m not passionate about how the stock markets work, I’m passionate about how finance drives economic development."

Reem credits much of her current success to her parents who sacrificed a lot to provide their children with the best education possible on their journey from Cairo to Windhoek.

Wilko Aschenborn, entrepreneur and founder of the Buddy SuperApp

Like many entrepreneurs, Wilko learned by trial and error before he found exactly what he wanted to dedicate his life to. “It was all about failing often, failing forward and failing with success,” he reflects wisely.

The Buddy app came together in a moment of enlightenment between Wilko and his dog named Buddy. This moment inspired the app logo. Buddy helps users find what they are looking for – be it food (BuddyEats) or accommodation (TravelBuddy). The app also serves as a business networking platform.

Robin Rhode, Senior Brand Manager of Namibia Breweries Limited

Sparks fly when passion and career intersect. From working in a call centre to studying HR, Robin describes joining the O&L Group of Companies as the moment “where all the fun started” in his career.

He is a firm believer in the importance of practicing gratitude and living a purposeful life. The wide open spaces of Namibia called him back from abroad for a life of intentionality.

David Namalenga, founder of Dinapama Manufacturing

David operates on a 'we rise' philosophy. Having to overcome a childhood of difficult circumstances, he has built a company that serves the nation. “I believe Namibia can be served by its people, no one must lack anything.” This is one of the guiding principles that Dinapama is rooted in.

Says David, “Life is like a one-time pin. If you don’t use it wisely, it’s gone!”

Samuel "Ninja" Ndahangwapo, auditor by day and martial arts enthusiast all the time

According to Samuel, many of the challenges we face as a nation are rooted in a culture of taking instead of giving. But, he says, his father taught him to focus on what is really important in life. "With every encounter that I have, I think of what I can give to that individual in terms of monetary value or skills instead of just thinking about what I can get from them.”

He believes Namibia's future lies in becoming self-sustaining, producing what we consume and industrialising to meet our needs. "Once we get to the stage where we as citizens move to the mindset of producing everything that we consume, we will have done a good job.”

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