Hafeni soars to new heights
Well-known businessman and entrepreneur Hafeni Nghidipaya was recently chosen as one of two Namibian nominees for the Crans Montana Forum of new leaders of tomorrow for his outstanding work in business and leadership.
Nghidipaya told Erongo that his biggest dream is to inspire his peers.
“I want to inspire my generation through business and leadership so that they can help themselves. My dream is to see that the majority of my generation has a house and sustaining their families.
I want to inspire young people to be more positive participants of society instead of being part of negative things like drugs. Many of the young people are lost and there are no opportunities for them. I want young people to transform themselves and business is a tool which they can use to create this prosperity,” he said.
Nghidipaya, who is the executive chairman and founder of Hafeni Tours and Travel, elaborated on how he handled challenges which he faced as an emerging entrepreneur.
“When I look back to when I started in 2011 as a tour guide, I mentally prepared myself that business and social activism are going to be part of my life. The first two and half years were difficult because nobody knew me, but I told myself that I will be someone extraordinary in business and that the Heinrich Hafeni brand would be a Namibian brand irrespective of the obstacles that were in my way. Self-motivation and perseverance carried me through with the goal of having a legacy one day,” he said.
Nghidipaya said that he was inspired by his mother to become an entrepreneur.
“I was raised by a single mother in Walvis Bay. She was domestic worker selling clothing and sweets. She inspired me because I knew that one day I was going to be the man of the house. As I grew up I was also inspired by documentaries I watched on TV. At the age of 16, I realized that I want to be an entrepreneur one day, but I didn't know what type of business I would be in until I was introduced to tourism and started off as a dishwasher, waiter and later a tour guide,” said Nghidipaya.
He said he will use the experience and networking opportunities he has gained through the Crans Montana Forum to impact his society in a positive way.
Nghidipaya is a former alumni member of Mandela Washington Fellowship and was also part of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) young leaders programme in Germany.
Other notable Namibians who were Crans Montana new leaders of tomorrow nominees in the past include business moguls Sydney Martin and first lady Monica Geingos.
Hafeni soars to new heights Article