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Dr Stanley Shanapinda Thinking ahead; personal and National

Dr Stanley Shanapinda is a shining example of the heights anyone can achieve with some family support and a lifestyle of hard work and perseverance. He calls himself a “communications technology, law and policy researcher, analyst and academic.” After completing his PHD and working in academia for a few years he is now back in Namibia, bringing about transformation in the ICT space as the CEO of Telecom Namibia.

Happy and humble beginnings

He experienced a happy childhood, raised by his grandparents in Katutura. He was loved, spoiled and encouraged as a student. His grandmother and her sister, Stanley’s godmother, taught him to think ahead and be realistic. They supported him with each achievement and were there at each graduation, reminding him to stay true to himself. “You know, family has a way of keeping you humble,” he laughs.

Housing is a national problem. Stanley jokes that he and ex-mayor of Windhoek, Job Amupanda, shared this concern, only that he, Stanley, was “a bit more realistic.” Growing up, his concern was for his house and his family. He wanted to have a “big family house” on Luxury Hill.

Knowledge is Power

At university in South Africa, his love for academics was sparked into a fire. However, he also took time to put his studies into practice as part of the team that founded the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia in 2011. He served as the first CEO of this Authority for three years until academia enticed him once again. He earned his PHD at UNSW Canberra at ADFA in Sydney, Australia, and continued as a Research Fellow at various universities.

Some years ago, he was able to buy that dream house on Luxury Hill. With one of his dreams achieved it is now his job that motivates him. As the CEO of Telecom Namibia he has “the opportunity to take the digital infrastructure of this country to the next level and then to enable the benefits that come from the digital economy for all Namibians.”

The Future is ICT

With his background in law and a focus on ICT, Stanley warns that there are still gaps in our country’s ICT policies and roll-out of even basic services. “As technology changes so quickly, we must not be left behind. Everything revolves around communications technology,” he says with an eye on the future of Namibia and the world.

Advice for achieving your dreams

“Think ahead,” is Stanley’s formula, reiterating the words of his grandmother and godmother from his childhood. “Don’t be satisfied with where you are right now. Where do you want to be? How can you prepare for the future now?”

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