• By Koviao Matuzee
“I did not wake up one day and decided that I want to be a manager, it happened naturally,” are the words of youthful Helvi Shitilu who at the age 27 managers of Windhoek’s popular hangout spots for fours to date.
Being in the hospitality industry, Shitilu says working the floor was the beginning of a journey that shaped her work ethic and confidence.
“The hospitality industry attracted me because of the energy. It is fast, social and no day is ever the same.” She further recalls her first day as a waitress, as a mixture of nerves and excitement. According to her, at the time, all she knew was that she wanted to grow and work towards becoming independent but now finds herself as one of the few young women in a managerial position.
At first, Shitilu believed that a job and financial independence meant success, however, after noticing how she stepped up to help others, guiding new staff, and caring about the performance of the team as a whole, Shitilu realized that she not only wanted to grow, but also wanted to make an impact. She then started enquiring, observing management and taking on more responsibilities, which would later lead to her transition.
“As a waitress, you focus on your section. As a manager, you have to think about the whole business and the whole team”. Conflict resolution was a big learning curve for Shitilu and learning to make tough decisions was the biggest challenge she faced, but that did not curb her enthusiasm, “You have to stay calm, fair, and professional even in difficult situations”.
As a manger, Helvi never forgets how it feels to work the floor, and that keeps her grounded and empathetic. One of the biggest lessons she learned as a waitress was how to deal with all kinds of people with patience and respect.
“You learn very quickly, how to stay calm under pressure and work as part of a team. That lesson stays with me today”.
She adds that understanding the pressure, the long hours, and the emotional energy the job takes, has shaped how she leads her team, “I try to lead in a way that’s supportive and respectful. I want my team to feel seen, heard and appreciated”.
Over time experience, she says, pushed her out of her comfort zone and helped her put more trust in herself
“When I started, I worked hard but I was still finding my voice”.
Shitilu states that today, her confidence comes from knowing that she has grown through hard work and consistency.
Shitilu emphasizes that being a young woman in a leadership role can be demanding, and sometimes makes a person feel like they have to prove themselves more, “I learned to handle that by staying consistent, professional, and focused on doing my job well”.
Shitilu also states that over time, confidence grows when you see the result of your work.
For Shitilu, seeing her team grow and knowing she has played a part in that feels incredibly rewarding, and it has given her a whole new meaning to the definition of success; growth and impact.
As a manager of The Prime, in the next five years, Shitilu aims to eventually explore possibility of ownership and building something of her own, she also states that she wants to keep growing as a leader and learn more about the business side of the hospitality industry.
Shitilu advices young women starting out to not underestimate where they start,
“Every role teaches you something valuable. Stay consistent, be willing to learn and believe in your growth even when it feels slow”.
Shilitu’s story is a true inspiring testament of growth and confidence, highlighting that success can evolve from even the smallest role.
