Finding joy in a range of responsibilities
Building skills
Newly appointed as the personal assistant to Old Mutual Group's chief operating officer and human capital executives, Frieda Nambwadja shares the highlights of her work.
A strong personality, good organisational and planning skills, excellent communication skills, computer proficiency, a professional appearance, and a high standard of writing skills are the necessary blend of qualities and abilities recommended by Frieda Nambwadja that aspiring personal assistants (PAs) come equipped with.Nambwadja, who recently joined Old Mutual Namibia, brings prior experience to the job.
She previously served as a PA to the managing director and general manager for human capital at Air Namibia, as well as to the general manager of ground operations. Additionally, she worked as a receptionist at Bank Windhoek for 11 months.
While seeking to advance and grow within her career, Nambwadja started studying for a bachelor’s in business administration at the University of Namibia.
A new path
Among the challenges she has faced in her career are to bounce back from making mistakes.
Another is: "Right now, my major challenge will be getting used to working with and reporting to two executives. I have faith that with time it will be a walk in the park," she said.
She said she looks forward to learning new skills, gaining fresh experiences and getting to know more of her colleagues at the 'green machine' group – Old Mutual Namibia.
Nambwadja described some of her personal qualities as being loyal, trustworthy, hard-working, and able to be relied upon to always maintain confidentiality when needed.
She added that her work will attest to these characteristics. "My attention to detail, passion for excellence, and love for helping others be their best have made me a great PA over the years."
Variety motivates
Nambwadja finds great satisfaction in the wide range of tasks and responsibilities she handles on a daily basis.
The variety of work is due to the complex nature of her employer's job. She said the nature of her work prevents her from falling into a monotonous routine, as she encounters new and exciting challenges every day.
Moreover, she takes her duties seriously and derives enjoyment from being the person entrusted with organising and planning various aspects for her employer.
Valuable career lessons she has learned relate to trust, communication skills, interpersonal skills, time management, and being flexible.
Nambwadja not only plans to grow her career at the company, but also plans to continue studying and work on her personal growth.