By Rinelda Mouton
Biology Laboratory Technician, Scientist and Founder of Rooted Remedies, Linda Ratjama’s life story to find her dream career after many years of been unsure which field she wants to work in serves as motivation that dreams still can come true. Confidente recently spoke to her as she shared more insight about her life growing up, finding her dream job and some of her future plans.
Q: Tell us more about your life growing up?
A: I grew up in Otjohorongo, a village near Omaruru, where I was raised by my great-grandmother. I started school at Omaruru Primary School and spent much of my primary school years in the hostel, before attending Swakopmund Secondary School. I was a very quiet and shy girl, and academically I did very well.
Q: How did your interest in Science start?
A: My interest in science started quite early. In primary school we had Social Studies and Natural Science. I was good at both, but whenever I was bored and picked up a schoolbook to read, I would always choose the natural Science book. By high school, I knew that science was where my interest lay. Growing up with my great-grandmother also exposed me to medicinal plants long before I understood their significance. I hardly remember us going to the clinic. If I had a common cold or my stomach was upset, we would go into the veld or along the riverside to collect a particular leaf or root. She would prepare it, often as a tea, and that was our medicine. Only much later did I understand the knowledge my great-grandmother carried.
Q: Tell us more about your occupation. What do you do?
A: I am a Biology Laboratory Technician, scientist and entrepreneur. Professionally, I work in a university laboratory environment, supporting practical teaching and scientific work. I also have a research background in medicinal plants and cancer biology, particularly HPV-associated head and neck cancer. Outside my formal employment, I am the founder of Rooted Remedies, under which I am building two interconnected initiatives: Rooted Science, which focuses on public education about medicinal plants, and Li’Teas, a herbal tea formulation brand.
Q: What does doing this job mean to you?
A: For me, science has become more than an occupation. It has given me a way to understand questions that have followed me since childhood. I grew up seeing medicinal plants being used without understanding the science behind them. I increasingly feel that my purpose is connected to bringing medicinal plants back into our society, but this time alongside scientific knowledge.
Q: From your job, what are some of the things you have learned that you did not know before?
A: I have become more comfortable saying, “I don’t know, let me find out.” Science has taught me that not knowing isn’t necessarily a weakness. Sometimes it is simply the beginning of the next question. It has also taught me that experiments don’t always work. I would come home frustrated, cry and sleep. Then the next morning I would get up and try again. Sometimes you cry, sleep, and come back tomorrow. The important thing is that you come back.
Q: Tell us about your life at home?
A: I live with two teenage boys, my 16-year-old son and my 18-year-old cousin, my 7 year old daughter and a 1 year old boy. I trained the older ones to participate in household chores from childhood,. I barely do housework. They cook, do dishes, clean the floors, do laundry—everything. I mostly check that things are in order. We laugh, are peaceful and enjoy looking forward to going home after a long day.
Q: How do you like to spend your free time?
A: I genuinely enjoy doing absolutely nothing. Give me my room, my bed and a good nap and I’m happy. The problem is that my brain doesn’t always respect my free time. I can be lying there peacefully and suddenly think, “Why don’t we try…?” The next thing I know, I’m researching some completely new idea. So I suppose my ideal free time is sleeping, while my actual free time is sleeping until curiosity interrupts me.
Q: What is the best advice you have received thus far?
A: On a flight returning from Zimbabwe in 2022 I was told “Linda, you can achieve anything you set your mind to. Just stay focused and believe.” At the time, I remember wondering how somebody else could have that much confidence in me when I didn’t even trust myself with basic tasks. I would encourage women not to measure their progress against somebody else’s life. We often look around and decide that we are behind because another person reached a particular milestone before us, but behind whose life exactly? Everyone has their own journey and their own timeline, and constantly comparing yourself with others will only hurt you. Your journey does not have to look like anyone else’s.
Q: From your life experiences, what do you want other people to learn from?
A: I would want people to understand that a delayed journey is not necessarily a failed journey. Life may force you to change direction, pause, take responsibility for other people or start again. That does not automatically mean the opportunity is gone. Becoming a parent does not mean that your own dreams must end. Sometimes you have to adjust the route, make difficult decisions or take longer than expected, but your goals must still matter.
Q: From your career, what new can the public expect?
A: My focus now is on continuing to build public education around medicinal plants. Namibia imports so much of what we depend on, including medicines. At the same time, we are incredibly rich in medicinal plants and traditional knowledge. Have we sufficiently understood and preserved what we already have? Going forward, I want to continue creating that bridge between traditional knowledge, scientific evidence and safe, responsible use.
