Nangula Nelulu Uaandja: A career built on skill and purpose

Nangula Nelulu Uaandja has built a career defined by service, leadership and a steadfast commitment to Namibia’s economic development.

She brings a rare blend of private and public sector experience. Uaandja spent 24 years at PwC, rising from trainee to managing partner, before moving into public service as the founding CEO of the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), a position she held for five years. Along the way, she was named Namibia’s Businesswoman of the Year in 2011, a milestone that also sharpened her focus on the country’s economic challenges.

Initially, Uaandja envisioned a career in science. Strong in mathematics and the sciences, she imagined working in a laboratory. But after returning from school in exile in Sierra Leone shortly before independence, she saw her father’s business struggling, particularly with tax matters. That experience redirected her toward economics and accounting, ultimately leading her to qualify as a chartered accountant.

Growth

Her long career at PwC gave her exposure to multiple sectors of the economy and progressively greater leadership responsibilities.

“Each step required a completely different skill set,” she reflects, noting that this constant growth kept her engaged and prepared her for more complex leadership roles.

Over time, her attention shifted beyond corporate success toward the broader health of Namibia’s economy. Concerned about weak collaboration between government and the private sector, Uaandja returned to academia, completing a master’s degree and later beginning doctoral research focused on public-private collaboration. In 2019, she was appointed to President Hage Geingob’s high-level panel on the Namibian economy, an experience that further strengthened her resolve to work at the intersection of policy, business and development.

This experience eventually led her to NIPDB, where she transitioned from auditing into investment promotion, marketing and economic development. “It was a big change,” she admits, “but it was exactly where my heart had moved.”

Impact

At the core of Uaandja’s leadership philosophy is a strong belief in attitude before skill.

She emphasises responsibility, service and a willingness to learn as the foundation of meaningful success. She is particularly passionate about job creation, especially for young Namibians, and believes the services sector holds significant potential to absorb both school leavers and graduates.

For Uaandja, leadership is ultimately about impact. “If we collaborate deliberately and focus on the right sectors,” she believes, “Namibia can do far more than it is doing today.”

Earlier this month, Emeraldsand Platforms announced a key leadership transition with the appointment of Nangula Nelulu Uaandja as executive director, effective 1 July 2026. She will succeed Albe Botha, who has led the company for the past 13 years.