The Katuka Mentorship Programme for 2021 concluded on Wednesday 24 November with the awarding of certificates to 29 mentors and mentees who completed the programme.

The programme, sponsored by Bank Windhoek and hosted by the Namibia Economist, empowers and encourages female entrepreneurs and professional businesswomen to achieve success in their careers through mentorship by other more experienced business and professional women.

“It is a method of advancement, which provides support and training through relationship building. It is about matching a mentee and mentor with a similar personal and professional interest in a process of support, sharing and learning to help entrepreneurs and businesswomen, who want to start up or successfully run or achieve success in their existing field of business and reach their full potential,” Desèré Lundon-Muller from the Namibia Economist said at the event.

The training is conducted by HR Specialist, Sabine Ruegg. Currently, in its 20th year, the programme has produced significant results in the careers of the participating mentees. To date, 430 entrepreneurs and businesswomen have completed the programme. For the 2022 programme, 40 mentors and mentees have registered for the programme and orientation training is scheduled for the first week of February 2022.

The mentees completed mentorship with: Annemarie v/d Riet (General Manager, Avis Fleet Services); Simoneé Shihepo (Owner of Protégé, Investor International), Ritta Khiba, (Town Planning Consultant); Regina Ambambi (Entrepreneur, CVTC and RENA Investments); Dunja Berger (Group Marketing Specialist, Momentum); Hendrina Hango-Ndakola (Pharmacist, Natu Pharmaceuticals); Janet Njembo (Acting Project Manager, Nampost); Abena Tambrescu (GM: Corporate Communication, Marketing & HR at NSI); Ailly Hangula-Paulino (Chief Corporate Communications Officer, TransNamib); Olivia Nghaamwa (Senior Tax Manager, Deloitte); Rebekka Tangi Amakali (Director, Good Roofing); Yamillah Katjirua (Head of Risk and Compliance, Ashburton Investments); Uajorokisa Akwenye (Owner, Namcrete); and Elke Hanstein (Human Resources Manager HRD & OD, DebMarine).