Name: Simonee Shihepo Mulamata

Title: Ms

Organisation: African Leadership Perspectives

I am a Namibian national with a Background in Health and Development and worked in Public, Corporate and INGO sectors respectively. Concerned with growth and development in Africa and development nations across the world Currently Mentorship for Emerging and Transitioning Leaders ,consulting and freelance lecturer in Political Leadership, Public Administration and Governance.

Thank you to the 2,000 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 Questions on Leadership!

I hope Simonee's answers will encourage you in your leadership journey. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Jonno White

1. What have you found most challenging as a leader?

Bearing the consequences of leading consistently,with integrity against all ods in a corrupt world.

2. How did you become a leader? Can you please briefly tell the story?

My first leadership position I can recall was at the age of 13 when I agreed to Marshall at a political rally while we were surrounded by police and armed forces who waited on us to finish our meeting before they started shooting and throwing teargas at us. I was so young I did not understand that it was a leadership position I only chose to follow an assignment.

3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?

I always start my days with prayer, listening to something motivational for the day, go over my plan for the day, execute the plans whilst responding to communication and unplanned issues, attend to children and cooking in the evening, including faith based activities, family time after 7.30 PM. Prayers ,Relax for an hour and a half, taking stock of the day and my early morning hours assignment.Do something motivational like writing my book at present and listening to something motivational before bedtime

4. What's a recent leadership lesson you've learned for the first time or been reminded of?

Time is not money, it is the energy invested in time that cost you more money.

5. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your leadership so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted your leadership?

Think and Grow Rich(First) It taught me about how valuable an asset your mind can be. You've got to be Hungry(Latest) It revived my downcast spirit and reminded me that nothing is impossible. How valuing yourself and what you've been born to do can drive your destiny.

6. If you could only give one piece of advice to a young leader, what would you say to them?

Never lead by assumption.Remain teachable as you lead. Treasure lessons from forerunners. The good ones will be a guide and the bad ones will teach us how we can do things differently. The failure of a leader you are criticizing could only be 10% of the individual's capacity to lead. Search for the 90% that makes the leader. Never stop learning.

7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as a leader, so far?

Having been thrown in the deep end in most of my most successful leadership interventions