ROYAL HUSTLERS

Selma Kaulinge - Hard-work is the golden thread

Selma Kaulinge is an inspiring Namibian woman. She is creative, highly determined and now the Manager for Communication and PR at Nedbank Namibia. She has already learned that there are no shortcuts. It’s hard work all the way to success.

Selma was born in the north but grew up a Windhoeker, the sixth of seven girls. Her father was a pastor who gave her a foundation of confidenceand spirituality, while her mother raised her to be independent and to “have a voice.” Growing up with mostly women in the house had a big impact on Selma. She learned to go after what she wanted but also to make space for other women.

She read voraciously as a teenager and decided at a young age that she wanted to be a writer. Her favourite authors cover almost every genre, from Maya Angelou and Toni Morrison to John Grisham and Eckard Tolle. Journalistic articles and fiction, even theatre shows and movies – Selma is passionate about all forms of storytelling. This love for reading and stories has set her up for success in each arena she has stepped into.

In 2012, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from UNAM. This young Namibian already has 10 years experience in the corporate space. She also has a strong creative side, having studied PR and art for advertising and worked at the National Art Gallery of Namibia. Her career has flowed from journalism to public relations and most recently to being promoted to manager for communication and PR at Nedbank Namibia.

Her artistic essence comes through in her laid-back disposition, but don’t be fooled. Selma says the thing people get wrong about her is that she is not as laid back as she appears. In fact, she is motivated by challenges. “If someone says I can’t do something, I’m probably going to do exactly that”, she says. (We should tell her she can’t become president…)

Selma was promoted to her current role in 2021, during the height of the pandemic. No-one has come out of this experience unscathed, and Selma has compassion for herself and others who are trying to be strong. She says that these days it’s about the “simple things”. It’s about the people in your tribe. It’s about doing what is important to you. All the motivation and encouragement you need is inside you. “I think everybody has the answers within themselves,” she told Mo.

In this noisy high-speed world, she advises young people to quiet all the voices – social media, parents, etc. – and listen to your heart. Now this doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy… Selma credits her soaring career to listening to her heart and working hard. There are no shortcuts. Once you know what you want from life, you have to do the work.

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