Penetrating new industries

Sharing her career journey, University of Namibia (UNAM) alumnus Alisa Amupolo was recently appointed as Namib Desert Diamonds’ (Namdia) CEO.

She is pivoting to a new career and penetrating new industries, which she said is about repositioning herself as a value adding citizen to intentionally contribute in a more impactful way.

“I am feeling excited about my future prospects and I’m filled with enthusiasm about the opportunities UNAM has unlocked for me,” she said.

Amupolo narrated that she was a typical, shy, rural girl who migrated to the capital city in search of tertiary education after graduating from Oshigambo High School in northern Namibia. This paved the way for social transformation and exposed her to student leadership roles like house committees. She met her first formal employer during the course of her studies, she said.

Her interest in communication and technology, which she calls her first love, was sparked by an American-donated English communication lab fully equipped with cutting-edge technologies, which enabled the teacher to facilitate learning electronically.

“I knew I wanted to explore that space more, whatever it was called. The nearest course offering was a bachelor of arts degree in media studies, which also paved my way to corporate communications as my journey unfolded,” she added.

UNAM was the only institution in the country which offered the programme. She was part of the third intake accepted for undergrad studies in the United States. However, UNAM was much more affordable and was also where she could secure Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) funding before her second love for business sprung along in a totally unexpected manner while serving in that industry, so she took a deep dive into it.

Amupolo said she is currently in a career transition which is a growth journey she is excited to embark on, with current endeavours entailing effectively deploying her skills in the communications and technology industry at non-executive or board level of various private sector entities and national bodies, both on pro bono and professional bases.

“I am privileged to have a unique opportunity to serve on the boards of Energy Utilities Assets and The Namibian. I have also recently been appointed as a commissioner for the National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST). I further serve on a pro-bono basis as a president of the Stanford Seed Network’s southern African chapter and a non-executive director treasurer at the Namibia Internet Exchange Points Association as well as my new appointment at Namdia as CEO.”

It is against a backdrop of serving in fairly male-dominated industries and, in some instances, novelty industries that have not matured yet where she laid her foundation and got her hands dirty. It meant learning, failing fast and forward and adapting to the local context post an international postgraduate studies and stunt working career in London in the United Kingdom (UK).

Amupolo is most proud of successfully completing her five-year tenure as CEO at PowerCom in 2021 and passing on the baton to her successor, leaving the company in a sound financial position and poised for success. As the first female CEO in that industry, it meant transcending barriers and breaking glass ceilings amidst single parent responsibilities.

“I am also proud of having been awarded a joint scholarship from the Canon Collins Trust - FCO Chevening - University of Leeds, after stiff competition to pursue my master’s in the UK, which I successfully completed with merit. All thanks to UNAM’s credibility, admission to internationally recognised universities like Leeds, which is part of the Russell group, was easy to access,” she said.

She is currently working towards her doctorate in business administration (DBA) and is seized with her thesis at her alma mater’s business school. She sees it as a springboard to a career transition in a quest to broaden her horizons and add value to new industries from a commercial perspective.

“This will hopefully pave the way for me to extend myself in a more impactful manner towards much-needed economic transformation, after possibly one of the worst crises Namibia has witnessed - Covid-19. I wish I had known to been more mindful of the city fast life and that naivety is not always your best friend. The fresher’s gullibility, especially for those hailing from villages, makes them vulnerable and easy targets of social ills and not to rule out peer pressure, particularly for hostel students,” she said.

She added that it was by the grace of God that she - along with others - were spared from worse crises students face, and that the wisdom and teaching of parents and caretakers kept them grounded throughout their academic journey, as challenging as it was.

“We all know that many - if not all - freshers arrive at the university not only with their baggage, but the well wishes and prayers of their parents,” she said.