Shiwomeho Kalla lets us in on how she handles her busy schedule and shares a little about the plans she has for her brand and business “Shiwa The Baker”.
What inspired you?
I never had aspirations of becoming an entrepreneur, let alone a baker. A few years ago I was employed at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and at the same time I was a presenter for a business and economic news program on NBC TV called Business Today. Now working at the forefront of private sector Namibia, I was always surrounded by entrepreneurs. Their fortitude and determination to establish remarkable enterprises inspired me to eventually set up my own. So far, it has been an exhilarating and unbelievably rewarding experience.
What’s your earliest memory of baking?
My earliest memory of baking was when I was around 9 years old. I grew up in Oranjemund, a small mining town extreme south-west of the country. During school holidays we would travel to the northern region of the country. I remember that we used to bake raisin bread with our nanny which served as ‘padkos’ for the long journey. Aside from that, my sister and I would randomly experiment with different types of cakes and cupcakes for family functions. She eventually grew out of it, but I kept on trying out different recipes from baking shows I used to watch.
What is a typical day like for you like?
No one day is ever the same, but from the moment I get up to the moment I fall asleep there isn’t a second to lose. I usually get up at 8 am and get ready for work. (By day, I am an Office Manager at an International Development Bank). I rarely spend my lunchtime relaxing, having a meal. I’m always running some or other errand for the business. I leave the office at 5pm and immediately head to my kitchen. On a good day, I’m in bed by 11pm. I then get up at 3am to attend to any administrative tasks such as responding to emails and social media queries, and bookkeeping. I continue working for about an hour and then try to get a bit of rest for the day ahead. Overall, I dedicate about 16 hours a day, 7 days a week to my work. Yet it still isn’t enough to get everything done.
How do you hope to see your brand grow in the next few years?
Ultimately, long-term sustainability is the end goal. My vision is to create a legacy brand, one capable of renewing itself through changing generations of technology, employees and consumers. I see myself at the helm of a global brand, a market leader in the culinary industry, with a world class baking training academy, whilst still baking indulgent, decadent cakes.
Your favourite part of what you do?
There is nothing more satisfying than seeing someone else happy, especially if it’s because of something you’ve done. I believe there’s nothing that brings people together more than food. When I bake for a client, I get the satisfaction I need by seeing their smile right when they look at my creation, and again, once they taste it too!
But even more so, I know they will probably not eat that cake alone, so that means I am bringing people together, which is a great feeling.
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