The younger sister to two older brothers Hilma Talohole Enduwa was born and raised in Windhoek. She started her schooling at the Madume Primary School before moving to the Olof Palme Primary School where she finished her Grade 7. Hilma then enrolled at the Centaurus High School where she moved into the hostel. In her final year she was elected the hostels Head Girl and the Deputy Head Girl of the Learner Representative Council (LRC) in 2008.
“Growing up I was very quiet and reserved. At school I enjoyed my science subjects and a bit of home economics. Staying at the hostel taught me how to be responsible for myself.”
Hilma enrolled with the University of Namibia (Unam) where she studied Management and Taxation. Despite her little interest to further her studies she completed her certificate course. In 2011 Hilma took the Estate Agent Board exam which she passed and joined the Executive Real Estate as a Real Estate Agent for six months. Hilma went her separate way from Executive Real Estate, and in 2012 started her own company called Potential Properties assembling her own team of agents. Hilma soon after changed the name of her company to Gako Group Investment, as she looked to exploring different business opportunities. Today Gako Group Investments has several subsidiaries from property Management Company now called Gako Group Realtors, and nail spar called Gako Dream Nails
“I like surfing the internet and looking for new and fresh ideas to turn into business opportunities and I came across the digital nail arts printer, which was the first of its kind in the country. As the market was already so congested it was not easy starting at first but once I started advertising, and the word spread, business has been growing from strength.” Hilma has taken another significant step in building her empire by venturing into 100% juice manufacturing. This project is already in its advance stages and Hilma is confident to have everything in place by 2014. Hilma plans on calling the juice the Gako Juice. She intends to have it marketed in all major outlets in Namibia by January 2014.
“The juice has been tasted by relevant authorities and Hilma has approached TEAM Namibia to brand her juice products as well the perfume products she also started manufacturing and selling with the same Gako label. Hilma currently employs two women, whom she insists are as much a part of the company as she is. Empowering fellow women is a passion Hilma has and wishes in future to continue to do so. Hilma is dedicated in building her group of companies into an African power house but when she is not working, she enjoys spending time reading, surfing the internet and watching television series. Her message to the youth is that they should believe in themselves, be determined, work hard and stop at nothing to achieve their goals. “When you fall pick yourself up, dust of your shoulders and continue with your head high. Nothing comes easy in life. You just have to believe and be passionate about your dreams.”
By Kevin Kamati