99FM ROYAL HUSTLERS

Denille Roostee

Leading by serving

With only 10 years of experience in various marketing positions, Denille Roostee finds herself in the role of Group Executive for Marketing at Momentum Metropolitan Limited, Namibia. She lives her values, walks the walk and makes time for the most important part of her life: her family. Denille shared her journey and continuing search for balance in a highly demanding industry, and her advice for living a life of meaning.

Denille was blessed with “solid parents” and deep-rooted family values. Speaking of her folks, she says, “They didn’t talk about values, they lived them… They walked the walk.” And now, whether in the office or at home with her teenage daughter, Denille leads by serving. “Stay humble”, she says. “Which doesn’t mean you should be a walk-over. Use your authority, exercise your mandate, but do it with the purpose to serve those around you.”

Denille’s career is built on an academic foundation. A Bachelor of Business Administration in managerial sciences from the University of Stellenbosch was followed by post-graduate diplomas in marketing and advertising from the Red & Yellow Creative School of Business and in business and administration from the University of Stellenbosch Business School. She also holds an MBA from the University of Stellenbosch Business School and completed the Design Thinking Innovation programme at Maastricht University in the Netherlands.

While she constantly strives for better, Denille is comfortable with failure. “My imperfections keep me grounded, that’s for sure”, she says. “And it’s everyday you get to face your imperfections.” Her advice to those who want to get where she is: “Failing, failing often. Once you get comfortable with failing, you’re on the right track.”

Denille openly admits that balancing work and family is difficult at times. Meeting deadlines can upset the balance. “Let’s be honest, it’s a continual mission”, she confided. “Like any juggler starts off missing a few balls you might still drop a few but it gets less. Just don’t drop the glass ball: family!”

She is energetic and enthusiastic about her team at Momentum Metropolitan. “I love the team I get to work with. When we start engaging, it’s pure energy! That’s the best part.”

Denille Roostee has worked in marketing and advertising in Namibia for more than ten years. Most of those were spent in the insurance industry, where she started as a marketing consultant at Old Mutual and worked her way up the ranks to group marketing manager. She then joined Sanlam, where she was responsible for the group's marketing, communications, brand and corporate social responsibility (CSI) initiatives.