ROYAL HUSTLERS

ROYAL HUSTLERS Roux-ché Locke on leaving a legacy

She rose to prominence as one of the most recognised faces on Namibian TV as a news anchor. Roux-ché Locke has since accelerated her career in media and communications, climbing the corporate ladder to find herself at the top communications position at the Ohlthaver & List (O&L) Group of Companies. Currently serving in the position O&L Group Manager - Corporate Communications, Roux-ché is a Royal Hustler of note who has gone from literally washing feet to ruling the corporate communications world.

Roux-ché was born in a small South African town called Willowmore. In the late 70s she moved to Windhoek with her parents and older brother. Her parents were both retired educators and Roux-ché was naturally inclined to follow in their footsteps.

“My Dad was a school principal and I had this thing, which they still tease me about: whenever I got back from school, I would go to my Dad’s study and put on my Mom’s clothes and shoes and start teaching my dolls,” she reminisces. By the time she was in high school, though, she wanted to become an actress.

Her path to her current position spans many years in the journalism and communication arena. She jokingly shares how she would give mini-pedicures as a side-hustle during her high school years. “I used to wash people’s feet. It’s ridiculous. Until I discovered that it’s not quite my passion, especially having to face the condition that some of my ‘customer’s’ feet were in”, she laughingly says. Roux-ché admits that nevertheless she still loves a little pedicure service. “You know what, I think I’m good at it. I love beautiful feet, you know, I’ve got this fetish for beautiful feet.”

Early career In school Roux-ché excelled in subjects like economics and her dad convinced her to study economics instead of drama. She spent no more than a month at Stellenbosch University where she was enrolled for a BEcon degree. “I realised that it was not ME – so, I phoned my Dad and told him that before I waste his money and my time, I was quitting and coming home,” she says. But even though she was and still is passionate about acting, Roux-ché never took up a career in drama. She started at the NBC where she spent ten years as a full-time employee.

After leaving the NBC she worked at the Bank of Namibia and the Polytechnic of Namibia (now NUST) before joining the O&L Group, where she has been for the past ten years.

Living the dream Very few people can call their current jobs their dream jobs, but Roux-ché is one of them.

“It’s so wonderful to be part of this rich legacy, to be part of an organisation where there is purpose and passion. I can only describe it in one word – amazing,” she says.

One of her highlights at the O&L Group is being part of the O&L centenary celebrations, witnessing a legacy built over 100 years that continues to have a positive impact on the entire country. “We are very, very passionate about our people, about Namibian people, and throughout the 100 year celebration we run a campaign with the theme ‘thanks to you nothing is impossible’, because we believe that we would not have reached this milestone achievement had it not been for the people of Namibia.”

She is also especially grateful to work at an organisation that she shares an overall purpose with. “Waking up in the morning knowing that I have a purpose in life and that my purpose connects very well with the O&L purpose keeps me going. This purpose of ’creating a future, enhancing life’ motivates and inspires me to go out there and make a difference – even if it is in the life of just one person a day.”

Roux-ché is intent on leaving a legacy that her children will be proud of and that she can be remembered for. She wants to make a positive impact on people’s lives.

This article is based on an interview with Roux-ché on 99FM. Tune in to The Royal Hustlers on 99 FM every Monday to Friday at 07h35.