The transition from university to the corporate environment can be a challenging experience for many individuals, particularly when they do not possess the necessary skills to succeed.
Local lawyer and personal development coach Umunee Mariine Matundu is dedicated to helping young individuals close the gap between their academic credentials, and the practical skills required in the professional realm through her initiative Super Soul Care.
The organisation aims to equip young people with crucial skills and knowledge. Acknowledging the difficulties faced by many in making this transition, Matundu has focused on offering guidance in areas such as personal and professional branding, goal-setting, and the importance of understanding one’s unique value proposition.
“A lot of times, these things are not taught in school. Super Soul Care was birthed from this place of wanting to share knowledge and skills I had learnt in building my brand, and positioning myself for the opportunities I wanted, whether it was something as seemingly minor as boardroom engagements or something more practical like design thinking. All of these are valuable skills young people need to build unique value propositions. My work and commitment to helping young people to build skills and capacity started there,” she said.
Super Soul Care provides a variety of services, which encompass educational resources, coaching, mentorship and transformative discussions. Through workshops, seminars and individualised sessions, the initiative empowers young individuals with essential tools for success in both their professional and personal endeavours. By prioritising self-awareness and practical empowerment, Matundu says Super Soul Care aspires to cultivate a generation of self-assured and competent individuals. To date, she and her team have done coaching and mentoring of nearly 1 000 young people, significantly influencing their lives.
Acknowledging the value of collaboration, she said the organisation is actively pursuing partnerships with schools, universities and other entities to broaden its impact, and ensure sustainability.
“Being selected as one of the Global Changemakers 2024 is truly humbling and an honour. The selection is based on impactful work that addresses the sustainable development goals (SDGs). The work I do with coaching and mentorship addresses SDG 10 (reduced inequalities) among others. My mission is to ensure every person who undergoes my coaching or professional skills training is able to engage with confidence and awareness with a skillset that gives them access to opportunities. There are a lot of talented young people with valuable solutions to share. However, sometimes the inequalities people are exposed to create exclusion and a lack of foresight insofar as them being able to identify what they bring to the table, and how to capitalise on that,” she said.
Global Changemakers is currently hosting young leaders worldwide to a convention in Cape Town, South Africa, from 21 to 25 October this year.
The summit promises to be more than a mere gathering; it will serve as a vibrant exchange of ideas, cultures and aspirations aimed at fostering a brighter future. She emphasised her belief that global challenges are best-addressed at local level, highlighting that each individual has a distinct role in advancing the world towards the achievement of sustainable development goals.
-pmukokobi@nepc.com.na