A million-dollar smile

Elizabeth JosephAlthough Lurdi Kandi Aron always moved around in the early stages of her life. She knew what she wanted and that kept her grounded and served as a push factor. She responds to her second name, as she puts it. Aron grew up in Swakopmund, which was also one of the towns she lived in, apart from Windhoek and Otjiwarongo. She started at Total Namibia in 2015 as an intern right after school. Aron was working and studying towards her bachelor’s degree in business administration, majoring in strategic marketing, at the University of Namibia (Unam). “It was super hard, but I loved it,” she says. In 2016, Total South Africa sent her to Dubai for a year, under the Africa Middle East programme (Africa and the United Arab Emirates) to join the marketing team, and acquire skills and experience as a marketing support affiliate in the UAE. Aron then came back to Total Namibia in 2018 as a marketing coordinator. “This is really about providing ground level support in the implementation of marketing strategy, support in the development of consumer-focused promotions, project management (Total Startupper Challenge), marketing communications, etc,” she added. She says there is nothing that really separates or sets her apart from the rest of her colleagues and that it is all about teamwork and getting the job done. “My boss can make any human laugh and that really complements my style in life. Laughter is everything the face and soul needs, so we are a good team,” Aron adds.A day in the office “A lot of admin, but mostly planning for the next event I may be having. As we are an oil and gas company, I sometimes ride along with the salespeople to check out the retail sites, basically expanding my horizons from my job scope. I walk the stairs a lot, back and forth to my supervisors’ offices, making sure all their job requests are being met,” Aron says. ChallengesAs tiny as she is, Aron is a perfectionist and says the most challenging thing has been to remember that a little patience goes a long way. “Trying to not be OCD about perfecting most of my life events and jobs. I always want to get things done at that time, and I cannot always have it my way. “Accomplishments, that’s easy. I am privileged to have been able to place myself in an advantageous position. I am able to travel when I want to and I believe that is the type of life I have always wanted. “Having been chosen as the ambassador at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China was the biggest event that set everything else in motion. The excitement never left me. I carried on with wanting to see more of the world and wanting to understand other people’s cultures, and their way of thinking,” she says.A closer look She is an advocate for happiness and respect and says she prays everyday on her way to work, which helps set the mood for her day. “After prayer, you walk into the office and immediately the respect for your colleagues kicks in, ultimately making you in charge all the way. God really thought this whole earth and people thing out. It’s beautiful,” Aron adds. The future“Just the mere fact that you’re young, gives you the advantage,” says the young professional. “You may not have the knowledge of everything yet, but energy is one of our biggest assets. Energy to take risks now, energy to talk your way into opportunities, energy to place yourself in the eyes of other people.” Her future plans include being an ambassador to different countries, because she believes that there is so much knowledge to be shared and practiced. Aron also wants to study international relations and one day be a marketing consultant, maybe a chef or a choreographer. “All of it. Why not right? I walk into every day and place knowing I have what’s needed to fit into that place at that time. And one day that will come together as my future.”

A million-dollar smile

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-10

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A million-dollar smile

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-10

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