Race starts to find the new Namibian Businesswoman of the Year
The adjudication process to determine who will be the new Namibian Businesswoman of the Year started this week Tuesday when the nominees met the jury for the first time. The excitement was tangible when the judges were introduced one by one, followed by a run down of the list of nominees in the three main categories and in the separate category for Young Businesswoman.
Ladies from all walks of life and professions came together to mark the beginning of the official judging process for the Namibian Businesswoman of the Year 2017. Consoled by the current Namibian Businesswoman, Baronice Hans of Bank Windhoek, the eighteen nominees who made it through the nomination process saw for the first time who the competition is. “A year ago I also sat here in bewilderment, meeting so many excellent women, wondering what I am up against, and how it will turn out. It was then that I decided just to be myself throughout the judging” Hans advised the current nominees.
In an atmosphere loaded with anticipation, the awards organiser, Desere Lundon-Muller introduced the jury to the large group of title hopefulls. “This year’s judges are Gerson Katjimune, a business owner, Claudine Mouton, Managing Director of SME Compete, Josephat Mwatotele, Managing Director of AshBurton Investments, Helen Vosloo, Head: Economics and Sector Research at CRAN, Hannelie Eksteen, Founder and CEO of Business Process Transformation Consulting Services and Jantje Daun, a former finalist and now with the Ministry of Public Enterprises,” she announced.
“Judging is based primarily on the information submitted on the official entry form followed by interviews,” she added. The first round of interviews was conducted on Wednesday 20 September.
The nominees, according to category, are:
In the Business Owner category;
Mariane Akwenye, Founder and CEO of Nomad Holdings,
Ina Cramer, Managing Director of Cramer Ice Cream,
Ashante Manetti-Maasdorp, Owner of Distinctive Art,
Ingrid Mettler, Managing Director of International Training College Lingua,
Claudette Nahum, Managing Member of Solid Ground Investments and Leading Edge Management Consultants,
Rosalind Schlabitz, Owner of Rosalind Julia Photography,
Paichon Shey, Owner of EDI Administration,
Irene Simeon-Kurz, Chief Executive of the Steelform Group as well as the owner of Usakos Engen,
Irma Solomons, Managing Director and Founder of Afrisay Group Holdings.
In the Community and Government Sector category;
Helena Namene, Founder and Teacher at Amateta Primary School,
Elsie Shinedima, Executive Producer: New Business at NBC,
Louise Shixwameni, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Enterprises.
In the Corporate and Private Sector category;
Nangula Kauluma, Managing Director of Old Mutual Short-term Insurance,
Mildy Samaria, Managing Director of Cornastone Information Technology Services,
Trula Zoganas, Head: Private Banking at Nedbank Namibia.
In the Young Businesswoman category;
Ilke Akwenye, Manager: Transformation and Communications at Old Mutual,
Namtenya Aksel, Owner of Tenya Investments,
Esmerelda Katjaerua, Owner of Katjaerua Legal Practitioners.
The finalists in each category are chosen by the jury based on the interviews. They are then inteviewed in their place of work to determine the winner in each category. The grand title Namibian Businesswoman of the Year is selected from the winners of the three main categories. The Young Businesswoman winner is not eligible to be the overall winner.
“This will be the 18th recipient to receive the Namibian Businesswoman of the Year title.
This award gives recognition to the innovation, perseverance and creativity of women who have achieved success. It also rewards and encourages high quality businesswomen and entrepreneurs for their excellence and to showcase them as role models,” said Lundon-Muller.
The new Namibian Businesswoman of the Year will be announced on Wednesday 18 October 2017 at a Gala Banquet at the Safari Conference Centre in Windhoek.
The headline sponsors are Telecom Namibia, Bank Windhoek and Jaguar Windhoek. Supporting sponsors are Roots Importers and Regus Business Centre.
