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Businesswomen enjoy stunning Windhoek views from Avani’s roof

Businesswomen enjoy stunning Windhoek views from Avani’s roof

Attending the first breakfast meeting of the Economist Busineswomen Club are Vanya Lessing, the CEO of Sure Travel in South Africa, Afra Schimming-Chase of Chase & Associates, Baronice Hans, the Managing Director of Bank Windhoek, Oiva Angula, Head of Corporate Communications and Public Relations at Telecom Namibia, Hendrina Ashetu of Sure Ritz Travel in Windhoek, Elizabeth Petrus, a consultant at Sure Ritz Travel, Desèré Lundon-Muller, the Marketing Manager of the Economist and Hayley Allen, the Marketing Manager of the Novel Motors Group.

For the first breakfast, Afra Schimming-Chase entertained her mostly female audience with her humorous style, spinning funny tales of the many times she had to face problems. “2016 was a tough year for many people and businesses” said Afra citing examples of personal crises she had to endure. “At one point my bookkeeper said I am working only to pay the bills” she jested.

However, she said the prospects for 2017 are considerably more positive and on this note she advised the women to take a step backward, examine their own lives, identify the positive aspects and build on these for this year. “Set goals for every 100 days and work to achieve them” she advised, explaining the importance of consistently measuring progress during the year.

Vanya Lessing, the CEO of the Sure Travel Group in South Africa did a travel presentation on do’s and don’ts, telling the women what they must avoid when travelling. Her focus was on safety, particularly when going overseas. The local Sure Travel franchise, Sure Ritz Travel was responsible for the travel arrangements of the incumbent Businesswoman of the Year, Baronice Hans, the Managing Director of Bank Windhoek, when she attended an international conference in Warsaw as part of her Businesswoman award.

Vanya advised all women to stay as close as possible to the lifts or the stairs when staying in a hotel they are unfamiliar with. Muggings often take place in long hotel passages and by staying close to the point of entry, this risk is neutralised, she advised. “Today there are some international hotels that offer female guests the option of staying on a floor where all the rooms are allocated to women. This gives the women some assurance on their safety” she said.

The first breakfast meeting of the Economist Businesswomen Club drew a record crowd of more than 120 women. The club members ascended to the Moringa Room on the top floor of the Avani Windhoek Hotel & Casino Windhoek, a favourite spot for its breathtaking vistas of the city and the Khomas Hocland on the western horizon.

The Businesswoman projects, including the breakfast meetings are sponsored by Telecom Namibia. At Friday’s breakfast, Head of Corporate Communications and Public Relations, Oiva Angula, announced Telecom’s continued sponsorship for this year. Hayley Allan, the Marketing Manager of the Novel Motor Group also confirmed that the Jaguar brand is again a sponsor for the 2017 Namibian Businesswomen of the Year Awards.

The next breakfast meeting is scheduled for the first week of April.

(Photograph by Nataza Afrikaner, Internal Communications Practitioner at Telecom Namibia)

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The staff reporter is the most senior in-house Economist reporter. This designation is frequently used by the editor for articles submitted by third parties, especially businesses, but which had to be rewritten completely. - Ed.