Meke Namindo, an award-winning entrepreneur and the founder of Mekenificent, is on a mission to inspire people to be the healthiest versions of themselves.

 Meke Namindo’s entrepreneurial journey started when she worked as a counter assistant to pack goods in a supermarket just because she wanted to buy some sausages for herself. Once she had made enough money she would usually just leave.



Her first full-time job was at the United Nations where she worked as a Communications Assistant at UNESCO. She wanted a more challenging role so she resigned to work at the Football League in Namibia.

“That was a nice challenge which saw me realise my strength and capabilities,” Namindo says.

 Meke also worked at Meatco and moved on to being part of the team that started the Namibia Statistics Agency.



“I was highly involved in the 2011 census and the labour force and forming the information unit, which taught me a lot about Namibia,” she says proudly. My last job was at the Agro-Marketing and Trade Agency and Virgin Active. “I honestly don’t enjoy office bound work”, she complains. 



Education Background

: 
Meke is quite nerdy, She studied a lot of disciplines, like Corporate Communications, Industrial psychology, Graphic Designing, Marketing & Advertising, she also studied Human Anatomy and Sport Physiology.

“Currently I am a Wellness Consultant, a Fitness Instructor, Chef, Sports Massage Therapist, Graphic Designer, Public Speaker, Author as well as a Team Building Coordinator. 

One of Namindo’s challenges was starting a business with zero capital. “I wanted to do more but I just couldn’t.

"I used to get mad when I wanted people or the banks to help with start-up capital but the rejections and demands were discouraging,” she says.

 She adds that this sort of service is only now gaining momentum because she needed to first sensitize Namibians about the importance of living balanced lifestyles.

“Can you imagine telling a Namibian that having a kapunda (big belly) does not mean he/she is healthier, wealthier or happier?” she says with a laugh.



Namindo says African men and women were taught that one should look prosperous and well fed. “Unfortunately, people took that same thinking into the cities but forgot that the earlier generations had a nomadic lifestyle. I’m glad to see that we are making changes; more men and women are having a mind shift,” she says.



Namindo admits that it’s good to see people running and exercising on their own but still, they need Mekenificent to help them with their diet and strength conditioning. “You just have to consult us to improve the eating. Mekenificent has helped people crack weight and fitness levels they had battled for years.”

One of her achievements is to have managed to set up a self-funded company which now employs more than 10 people.

“I want to create more employment opportunities as I expand the business”

 Her typical day is spent on doing a lot of research and reading. Her hobbies and inspirations are Reading, Shopping, Travelling and listening to music.

She also loves doing random things just to see what happens. She mentions that she is inspired by the knowledge that enables her to do and be anything that she wants to be.

The advice she would give to aspiring young people out there is to be aware that their dreams are valid. “If you do not give up, you will be great and do not be afraid to be self-taught,” she says.

 Namindo adds that a formal education is good, but it does not guarantee you anything. “I’m saying formal because you need to read and be educated and do not be afraid to try,” she says.

She encourages them by telling them that they should be ready to fail but keep getting back up.

“No one will save you; only you can save you. You have to make daily deliberate efforts. Do not forget to have fun. Live life, love life,” she concludes.



10 Facts about Meke Namindo
:

· She is an ambivert.

· She does not work out every day.

· Her laugh is strange.

· She is a self-taught Chef and Therapist.

· She has a photographic memory.

· Meke loves kids.

· She can bend backwards.

· She is shy, which is hard to believe.
. She is a Taurus.
. She can whistle like a cowboy.