Select Page

Women encouraged to start businesses

Women encouraged to start businesses

“It is very essential that you lean and utilize your networks,” said Catherine Cupido at the recently held Economist Businesswomen Club breakfast meeting at Arebbusch Travel Lodge in Windhoek.
Cupido is the Chief Executive Officer of Mergence Investment Managers, which is the first women owned asset manager, advised the ladies always to do a Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities and Threats (S.W.O.T) analysis of their business. “This might be a cliché to most people but when you approach investor, it is important that you know your business inside out, and always have a business plan because it will show investor that you are serious,” she said.
She explained that at Mergence they are currently concentrating on solar and renewable energy funding and they plan on working on projects that are infrastructure orientated that will have a social impact in the communities. “Therefore come up with business ideas that will benefit your communities and make use of investment opportunities to achieve growth and financial freedom,” she emphasized.
She also encouraged women not to look for investment opportunities in Namibia alone, because there are companies outside that will be welling to invest in their ideas especially SADC oriented companies. “Think outside the box and work hard to achieve your dreams and you will reap the fruits of your labour,” said Cupido.
She went on to say it is very important to invest in your staff, and uplift them, because they are the back bone of the business. “For the business that I will be opening in July this year, I have 46 staff members who are currently on training in South Africa and the majority of them are women, plus I have given them the opportunity to have shares in the company,” she explained.
The Economist Businesswomen Club provides a forum for exchange of ideas and expertise, through planned networking and encourages the personal development and management skills of its members and advances the standing and power of women.

About The Author

Typesetter

Today the Typesetter is a position at a newspaper that is mostly outdated since lead typesetting disappeared about fifty years ago. It is however a convenient term to indicate a person that is responsible for the technical refinement of publishing including web publishing. The Typesetter does not contribute to editorial content but makes sure that all elements are where they belong. - Ed.