From strength to strength

Elizabeth JosephMusic industry game changer turned revolutionary entrepreneur Right after matriculating from Windhoek High School, after moving between schools, Winkler jumped straight into business. He has always had an entrepreneur’s eye. From selling books, tickets and sweets this taught him that he had to hold his own most of his life.Apart from his music career from which he stepped back, he has embarked on other exciting business ventures such as being the founder of the GMG group of companies. He is also a member of the Youth Entrepreneurs Group (YEG). “By no means defined by my current titles,” Winkler says because he does not want to be known or classified under any of his titles. He describes himself as a ‘well-blended human cocktail raised in the heart of Windhoek, Soweto’ and says that he has always been a hustler from the earliest memories he holds of himself.His journey to successFast forward 061 Music and Quido made some industry strides. During this time he and his team managed to get multiple nominations and awards. “My music career came to a slow end when I ended up in hospital due to marijuana ‘overuse’ and I had already stopped alcohol four years prior to the incident. I had an epiphany and post this event I decided to drop the mic and focus on my other dreams - Entrepreneurship. I am a four-time varsity drop out, however I teach myself through internet and reading,” Winkler says.He is currently in the business of employing others and building enterprises. The CEO and founder of GMG group of companies where his job entails running several companies. Winkler also oversees and steers the ship of these companies. “From human resources, operations, marketing and management - my tasks vary from day to day, but overall my team and I are in charge of running day to day activities of the companies,” he further adds.He jumped ship into fulltime entrepreneurship in January 2016 following his drop out from the Namibia University of Science and Technology. One of the biggest challenges he has experienced in his career to date was realising that he has a limiting belief and already moulded mind-set. “Personally, I have and I am still re-wiring my thinking. This would be my biggest challenge. Life is made of the journey and that the destination isn’t the biggest satisfaction,” he says.He says his biggest weakness is doing many things simultaneously and at the end not accomplishing any.“I would also love to see more successful partnerships between us youth. “Alone we can go fast, together we can go far” African proverb.” Winkler said.The success storySome of his biggest career accomplishments stretch from learning Chinese/Mandarin and winning several awards in China, wining a NCRST N$500,000.00 award for a concept, starting Street Cuisine and starting Umbuso – their convenience company just to mention a few. “From earning a gross income of 160,000 per year working at MTC to employing +30 people, and an annual turnover of 6.5Million. We are making a difference. Freedom from money and corporate mental enslavement can topple all the accomplishments above – it’s a game I tell myself,” he says.He loves and is passionate about living life without boundaries of ‘our social and environmental circumstances’.“I love starting up things and building things from nothing (brands, businesses or ideas) into opportunities that can expand our thinking.Young me’s, I would strongly suggest that we start reading as early as possible. Do, do and do more - in whatever law abiding direction possible. It is only through doing that we discover life is full of opportunities. Don’t take yourself too serious - life is fun. Learn every day, we need to keep the inner child in us by staying In touch with our imaginations and keep dreaming.” he says.They are currently busy with developments at Street Cuisine with a total rebranding and makeover.

From strength to strength

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-05

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From strength to strength

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-05

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