ROYAL HUSTLERS

Windeline ‘Wendy’ Kausiona on living the dream

Wendy Kausiona is an illustrious and inspiring business woman who has established herself as a leader in her industry.

Officially launched in 2005, Wendy’s Creations Events has become synonymous withluxurious, professionally put together events. Dubbed ‘Namibia’s Fairy Godmother of Weddings’ by clients and industry peers, Wendy’s passion is giving people unforgettable events to celebrate special life and personal milestones.

While she is most notable for the elegant weddings she helps put together, she has also worked on a number of high-level events, including national events where various heads of states were present. In this sit-down on the ‘Royal Hustlers’ show, she sheds light on her inspiring journey to the top.

Small town, big dreams...

Born and raised in the tiny town of Outjo, Wendy was raised by a domestic worker single mother. Describing her small-town upbringing as the thing that shaped her into who she is today, Wendy is proud of how she was able to transform her life despite the challenges she faced in those early years.

Wendy’s childhood dream was to become a child psychologist, in order to better understand her own behaviour and why people differ. “Up until the age of 30, I was the most misunderstood human being. I had been labelled as a problem child,” she recalls. With her curious nature and determination to question everything, she often found herself wondering why she was so different from other children.

Reigniting a passion

While her number one dream was to become a psychologist, Wendy was unable to immediately enrol in a course in that field when she arrived in the capital city, Windhoek, a little too late for university registrations.

On the advice of a lecturer at what was then the Polytechnic of Namibia, she enrolled for a political science programme instead, since besides psychology she was also interested in governance at national level. She went on to obtain a Bachelor of Technology degree in Public Management (specialising in Human Resources) and a Masters in Public Management.

As a child, Wendy always loved beautiful things around her. Colours, shapes and textures mattered to her from an early age, and this was revived at the Polytechnic. It was during these early years at university that her passion for decorating started to bloom, starting with invitation cards that she designed herself. “I can trace my love for beautiful things back to my need to have even my school books look different and beautiful,” she says. While this often got her into trouble at school, as a university student she was free to unleash her creativity.

The beginning of Wendy’s Creations Events

When she got married in 2005, Wendy’s dream came true as her husband gave her full control of planning, designing and styling the wedding. “I said ‘Hallelujah! Finally I can do things the exact way that I want’,” she recalls fondly. The excited bride soon took over every detail of the wedding, from the design of her dress to the bridal party’s outfits – every last detail including the stickers on the water bottles for the reception.

Years on, and after finally going into business as an event designer and stylist, Wendy’s business is thriving.

With Wendy’s Creations Events, she has since provided strategic and creative leadership to a team of 25 permanent employees and over 80 casuals. Today, 15 years later, she has become the most sought-after event designer and stylist and is well-known for designing, styling and producing magical and thrilling event experiences for both Namibians and international clients in Namibia. One of the testaments to her success came when she won the Namibia Young Entrepreneur Competition in 2000.

Wendy has been able to create and build this brand that now inspires upcoming entrepreneurs in the sector. To give back, she offers on-the-job coaching sessions through her annual coaching workshops.

Tune in to The Royal Hustlers on 99FM every Monday to Friday from 07h35, with Namibian Royal Hustlers featured on Tuesdays and Thursdays.