As the business development coordinator at the Cosdef Arts and Crafts Centre at Swakopmund, Beatrice Schultz spends her days bridging the gap between local creative talent and practical market opportunities.
Her routine fluctuates between strategic planning, pitching proposals to prospective partners, and arranging activities that help local artisans showcase their work to a broader audience.
Beyond her daily work at Cosdef, Schultz is the founder of the LeadHership Foundation, an initiative aimed at fostering leadership and entrepreneurship among women. She is also an author, public speaker, facilitator and a TEDx organiser.
Schultz’s professional trajectory was not mapped out from the beginning. She holds an honours degree in media, specialising in public relations and visual arts, and is a qualified early childhood development teacher.
Her transition into business development evolved as she sought ways to merge creative communication with strategic growth.
“People have always interested me,” Schultz says.
“I enjoy learning about their experiences, understanding what drives them, and seeing what they can achieve when they have the right opportunities.”
Her skill set expanded further in 2023 when she was selected for the Mandela Washington Fellowship, completing the leadership in business track at the University of Notre Dame in the United States. There, she focused on human-centred design, business strategy and entrepreneurial finance.
She has also undertaken transformational leadership training with the African Leadership Institute.
Looking back at her path, she says formal qualifications in fields like marketing, business administration, economics or communication offer a strong start, but practical application remains crucial.
“Skills such as communication, negotiation, research, financial literacy, relationship management and strategic planning are equally valuable,” she says.
Key skills for business development:
• Strategic planning and research
• Clear communication and storytelling
• Financial literacy and proposal writing
• Relationship management and negotiation
While business development offers varied paths across sectors like tourism, mining, banking and the development space, working within Namibia presents distinct challenges, particularly for small-scale entrepreneurs and artisans.
Schultz says many local creatives struggle to turn their technical skills into sustainable enterprises due to limited funding, restricted market access and a lack of professional networks.
“Within the creative sector, there is also a need to change how people view arts and crafts,” she notes.
“These are sometimes seen mainly as hobbies or cultural activities, even though they can generate income, create jobs and contribute to the economy.”
She emphasises that business development requires patience, as securing partnerships and funding can take months of negotiation without guaranteed outcomes.
To address these hurdles, Schultz aligns her work with Cosdef’s guiding ethos: learn to earn. The goal is not simply to impart a technical trade, but to ensure individuals have a clear route to earning a sustainable living from their craft.
For young Namibians considering a career in business development or entrepreneurship, Schultz offers straightforward guidance:
Stay curious: Take time to understand how different industries function and what problems organisations need solved.
Build strong communication habits: Focus on active listening, asking relevant questions, and maintaining professional trust.
Identify gaps: Look closely at everyday challenges and consider practical ways to resolve them.
Seek practical experience early: Volunteer, assist small local businesses or participate in community projects to build hands-on experience.
Remain adaptable: Be open to career turns and continuous learning rather than expecting a rigid path.
“Start where you are, make the most of the opportunities available to you and keep learning as you go,” Schultz advises.
