Meet the NeXtGen_Board members

Capricorn Group officially introduced its maiden NeXtGen_Board in March. Chaired by Bank Windhoek chief financial officer James Chapman, the NeXtGen_Board members comprise a group of 12 employees, mandated to contribute to the Capricorn Group strategy. The NeXtGen_Board will serve as a formal body where millennials and Generation Zs (GenZs) will engage with the group’s executive management and give inputs that lead to creating an organisation for the future. Below are short interviews with the 12 NeXtGen_Board members.Name and surname: Morné Labuschagne Job title: Credit portfolio managerAge: 30Qualifications: ND entrepreneurship, Bachelor Economics, CFA Level 2 candidate Who inspires you? My lovely wife. Which three words describe you? 1. Saved, 2. Changed by 3. Christ.How will you inspire millennials/GenZs to make a difference? I will inspire the younger generation through breaking the stereotype of what millennials are perceived to be. Being a disciplined, curious and respectful young professional carries with it a lot of weight at the workplace. For example, I have disciplined myself to wake up at 04:00 on weekdays in order to cope with the demands of a full-time job, demanding studies, being husband and a NeXtGen_Board member. The following truism from Proverbs 22:29 hits the nail on the head: “Do you see a man skilful and experienced in his work, he will stand in honour before kings.” My end goal is to be an ambassador of Jesus Christ, being a genuine individual who shines the light not on himself but on the one who loved him first. Name and surname: Vincent ShikombaJob title: Software developerAge: 24Qualifications: Degree in IT: software engineeringWho inspires you? Muhammad Ali. Which three words describe you? Sanguine, content and observant. How will you inspire millennials/GenZs to make a difference? It is important that we realise that the future is entirely up to us, since it depends on what we do today. Bringing millennials and GenZs to this realisation will inspire them to get up and work towards taking ownership of the future.Name and surname: Fenni EndresenJob Title: Business risk officerAge: 36 Qualifications:· BSc. mathematical statistics (from UCT, South Africa);· MPP financial markets and regulation; international macroeconomic policy (from KDI, South Korea);· Diploma: Treasury and international banking (from Unisa, South Africa); and· International certificate: risk management (from IRM, United Kingdom).Who inspires you? People from different lifestyles inspire me. They usually exhibit courage, intelligence, humour, are daring and influence the world, their communities or families as a result. I am lucky to be inspired by my friends, my family, my colleagues and strangers - both fiction and non-fiction. A specific example would be my late mother.Which three words describe you? Optimist, curious and happy.How will you inspire millennials/GenZs to make a difference? We inspire through our words and actions. I hope to inspire others through the very acts of kindness and openness to our diversity, and being an ally in working together to bring impact to passion. Name and surname: Taamba NangoloTitle: Branch administrator: Ongwediva branch Age: 32Qualifications: International diploma - logistics and transport management - from the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust), through the German Institute of Logistics.Current: Certificate - MDP with Stellenbosch University; and B- Tech: Business management final year at Nust.Who inspires you? Women, especially those who aim to make a difference in others’ lives namely Michelle Obama, Isabel dos Santos and our very own Baronice Hans, inspire me.Which three words describe you? Motivated, go-getter and humble How will you inspire millennials/GenZs to make a difference? I inspire them to have a positive attitude towards life, to seek knowledge and pursue further studies to make a meaningful contribution in growing the country’s economy, in general, and to contribute to the bottom-line of the bank, in particular. I believe young people should be given opportunities to unleash their potential and should have a ‘let-us-do-it’ attitude in order to accomplish their objectives in any organisation; therefore concerted effort supported by a true paradigm shift will be my area of concentration, to inspire the millennials/GenZs.Name and surname: Glory IndongoTitle: Capricorn head of corporate reportingAge: 28Qualifications: CA (Namibia), B.Com (accounting)Who inspires you? My parents. They made many sacrifices for my siblings and me.Which three words describe you? Perseverance, analytical and funny.How do/will you inspire millennials/GenZs to make a difference? By pushing through preconceived notions of how to conduct business in Namibia and showing what is possible in our country with hard work and perseverance.Name and surname: Daniela MainTitle: Manager: management accountingAge: 33Qualifications: BCOMT with articles and certificate in CIMAWho inspires you? Michelle Obama. She is very intelligent, supportive and humble.Which three words describe you? Driven, compassionate and focused.How do/will you inspire millennials/GenZs to make a difference? I believe in encouraging individuals and making them feel comfortable and unjudged. The power to make a change lies within people and I believe that all should be offered an equal chance to express themselves. I aim to be that platform and channel.Name and surname: Ruan BestbierTitle: Treasury sales and sustainability analyst, Bank Windhoek treasury departmentAge: 30Qualifications: · Master of Science (agricultural economics);· International trade economics and applied econometrics - Stellenbosch University;· Bachelor of Science (agricultural economic analysis and management);· Agricultural economics, financial economics and financial management - Stellenbosch University; and· ACI - dealing certificate - The Financial Markets Association.Who inspires you? My late father-in-law. He was a man of great wisdom and always, said: ‘Any intelligent fool can complicate a matter; it takes a touch of genius to simplify it.’Which three words describe you? Economical, pedantic and millennial.How do/will you inspire millennials/GenZs to make a difference? Action speaks louder than words; I intend to inspire, by highlighting how banking and a passion for sustainability can assist in transforming the economy to build a sustainable future for people and the planet.Name and surname: Madelaine OppermanJob Title: Wealth managerAge: 26Qualifications: B.Com Law (writing my last two subject in May 2019)Who inspires you? Elon Musk.Which three words describe you? Insightful, logical and persistent.How do/will you inspire millennials/GenZs to make a difference? In all aspects in life to realise that you should stop comparing yourself to others and setting goals based on that; as you are unique, and not everyone fits into the same box. Maybe you are meant to fit in a glass. The only person you should compare yourself to, is to the person you were and to build on that.Name and surname: Joel Eelu Title: Senior systems analystAge: 32Qualifications: Bachelor IT (honours): computer networks Who inspires you? The hardest working person I have ever met, my father.Which three words describe you? Fortunate, optimistic and curious. How will you inspire millennials/GenZs to make a difference? As millennials, we have to embrace our uniqueness and change the world to meet our demands in a sustainable manner. As a Chinese proverb says: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago; the second best time to plant a tree is now.”Name and surname: Marizelle PienaarTitle: Head: analytics and financial riskAge: 31Qualifications: Master’s degree in applied mathematics, teaching diplomaWho inspires you? Individuals who care for the wellness of others, and make time for others, irrespective of their own circumstances.Which three words describe you? Energetic, motivated and positive.How do/will you inspire millennials/GenZs to make a difference? I aim to live in such a way that I inspire the next generations in everything I do. I hope to teach others that they should make the most of every opportunity. By placing importance on relationships with friends and colleagues, I hope to inspire others to do better and make a difference, because they are comfortable to be themselves.Name and surname: Carmen-Rae BridgensTitle: Head: Brand marketingAge: 30 Qualifications: B.Com (marketing management), BPhil (transport and logistics) and B.Com honours (marketing management) Who inspires you? My eldest sister, Hedwig, inspires me. She is an incredibly hardworking individual whose life and positive impact in her field, community and family has been exemplary. Which three words describe you? Goal-achiever, curious and creative. How will you inspire millennials/GenZs to make a difference? I intend to inspire others through my actions. By being an example of how a difference can be achieved, through vision and perseverance.

Meet the NeXtGen_Board members

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-10

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Meet the NeXtGen_Board members

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-10

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