ROYAL HUSTLERS

Beatrice Schultz – inspiring women to stand in their power

woman who brings harmony to the workplace through training, Beatrice Schultz wears many different hats. She is a coach and a mentor, training facilitator, speaker, founder of Akoma Trading cc and Ambassador of Future Females Swakopmund.

With her exceptional background and the fantastic things she does for women entrepreneurs, it was a nobrainer to bring Beatrice to the Royal Hustlers show to share details on her career and entrepreneurial journey with us.

A solid foundation for success

“My biggest dream when I was growing up was to become an architect because I believed that architects made loads of money. I also wanted to be a housewife with a driver and start a finishing school – one that positively influences society by teaching people etiquette,” she says when asked about her childhood career goals. Beatrice hasn’t entirely gone the architectural route but found a new career and business goals as an adult. Still, she achieved one of her childhood dreams of becoming a modern-day housewife by creating a business that she is able to operate anywhere, either at home or in the office. She is equally passionate about her household as she is about the boardroom.

Beatrice graduated with an Honours degree in Media Studies, specialising in public relations and visual arts with a budding career in fashion. She is also a qualified teacher passionate about training, which inspired her to co-found Akoma Trading cc.

Empowering women through training

Very few people know that Beatrice is a truck driver. Having broken into this male-dominated sector herself, she strives to help other women take up careers previously reserved for men. "I would love to see more female entrepreneurs enter more male-dominated industries. As a truck driver I'd like to see more female truck drivers... I'd love more women to make their voices heard."

One of the ways she helps women reach their full potential is through the work she does with Akoma Trading cc – a company she founded with her sisters. “One thing about all my sisters is that we love speaking, and we love training, so being training facilitators comes naturally to us,” says Beatrice. One of the lowest points in their journey was the COVID-19 pandemic, but Beatrice notes that it was also a turning point for Akoma Trading, as they found new opportunities online.

Currently the Swakopmund Ambassador for Future Females, Beatrice prides herself on being a conscious coach who empowers teams to build better leaders and “solidify workplace cohesion and integrate diversity more effectively into their departments and processes.” They also host entrepreneurship workshops for the deaf community with sign language interpreter Linea Kapofi who is Beatrice’s sign language teacher as well.

Weathering the storms

Future Females Swakopmund was also able to adjust very well to the harsh impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the business world and proved to be just as effective in times of crisis. “We gave our ladies the right skills to continue their businesses despite the pandemic. We held workshops on gardening, others on using social media to harness and grow your business, and we also created online networking opportunities bearing in mind that we’re in a pandemic,” says Beatrice.

Apart from Future Females, Beatrice is involved in other social enterprises seeking to empower communities. And while she strives to make a difference in the larger community, her biggest passion is for women, children and the youth.

Through the fantastic work that she is doing for entrepreneurs, Beatrice hopes to inspire more women to stand in their power and go for everything they want in their lives and careers.

“I want women not to be afraid to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams because we are here to help equip them with the tools to succeed – I got you,” she says with a sparkle in her eyes.

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