Difficult roads lead to beautiful destinations

Desiree Gases

Gloria Kapingana went to primary school in the north at International Primary School and attended high school in Windhoek at Concordia College. She started her journey with Bank Windhoek in 1999 at the age of 19. Kapingana embarked on her studies right away and she is now a certified associate of the Institute of Bankers, holds a BCom in banking, PGD In development finance and an MBA. She was fortunate to also participate in various development programmes hosted by the Group as well as Katuka Mentorship. Kapingana was initially a mentee under the Katuka Mentorship and is now a mentor under the same programme for the past five years. She has worked in various departments of the bank from teller to back office, sales and credit. In 2017, Kapingana was assigned to the Capricorn Group subsidiary Bank Gaborone for three years with a specific focus on setting up the micro loan department and migration of the book and employee into the organisation.

“Of my 22 years with the bank I have spent 10 years with Corporate and Institutional Banking and I am currently assigned to Capricorn Group’s #GoBeyond Project to lead some strategic initiatives,” says Kapingana.

Kapingana became a Capricorn Citizen in 1999 as Candidate Banker Training Programme, now known as the Bank Windhoek Graduate Programme. She started her journey with Bank Windhoek Credit department as a filing clerk and working her way through various department while embarking on her academic qualifications. In addition to the retail roles, she was part of the founding team for the BW Finance Department and subsequently got assisted to Bank Gaborone to aid with the setup of the Micro Loan book in Botswana and as well as a member of the Bank Gaborone Executive Team. The last 10 years Kapingana has been at Bank Windhoek Corporate & Institutional Banking (CIB). She started as a relationship support manager and was promoted to account executive and subsequently joined the management team of the division. Kapingana is currently assigned to project team as Lead: Active Sales and Relationship Management.

Careers asked Kapingana what a typical day looks like for her at work and she said: “I get up at 05:00 daily and apply a 20/20/20 rule (Devotion, Exercise, Plan), grab some breakfast, take the kids to school. Once I arrive at work, it normally starts with checking in with the team, followed by design sessions throughout the day. Evening is family time, ending with reading a book or listening to a podcast.”

Her accomplishments include a successful basketball career, having received awards such as sportswoman of the year and coach of the year. In addition, she was selected in 2003 to participate in the African Best and Brightest Bankers Programme in the USA. Only three individuals were selected in the whole of Namibia. Her biggest accomplishment has been staying with the Capricorn Group for 22 years and enjoying tremendous growth and contribution to the evolution of the Group. Her message to young people is: “Do not let your circumstances put a ceiling on your dreams. Get up each day and put your best foot forward.”