Retired principal wins bronze on global stage

  • 13 Hours Ago - 2026-02-04 11:19:00
Former school principal Erica van der Hoven has claimed third place in the NextTopSpeaker Tournament Season 4, competing against 4,700 speakers from six continents. The week-long competition, hosted by speaking coaches Kaley Chu and Richmond Dinh with entrepreneur Russell Brunson, ran from 23–31January this year. Contestants from the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and other nations competed in five elimination rounds via Zoom, reducing the field from 4 700 applicants to the top 200, then 100, then 10, before crowning three winners. Van der Hoven's seven-minute speech, titled "This Is Me," addressed the identity crisis many face when leaving long-held careers a reality she lived after 36 years in Namibian education. "For most of my life, Teache and Principal were just not titles," van der Hoven told the international audience. "They were my name and when they disappeared, I did not know who was left." Her speech explored grief, reinvention and the realization that professional worth does not define human value a message that earned her standing among the tournament's top three finalists. This is van der Hoven's strongest performance in the NextTopSpeaker series. A member of Kaley Chu's international mastermind program, she previously placed in the top 10 during a 100-speaker tournament. "I coach others to speak with confidence, as I have to live what I teach" she said. Van der Hoven now works throughout Namibia delivering keynote speeches and workshops on confidence, communication, leadership and purposeful living. Her clients include schools, corporate organizations and retirees navigating career transitions. In 2024, she addressed psychological retirement preparation at Debmarine's Long Service Award Ceremony. "Keep going and keep growing," van der Hoven says. "That is my message. That's my practice." She is available for bookings for the following events: schools,corporate events, leadership training, retirement preparation, student development programs. Contact: Erica van der Hoven on 081 280 9952 or email her at [email protected]