Page 38 - Gondwana Collection Namibia Value Creation Report 2021
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GROWING OUR VALUE


            Thank you                                                                                                                                                                                     WHERE WE’RE GOING

            I am immensely grateful and sometimes overwhelmed by the level of support we have
            received from employees, shareholders, directors, corporates, communities, and the general
                                                                                                                                                                                                          Strategy creation is a journey – it involves
            public.
            I thank our Board and our sub-committee members for their selfless guidance, without
            earning fees, throughout another challenging year. A special word of thanks to our                                                                                                            embracing new ideas as our operating
            Chairman, Steve, for his unrelenting commitment and support to me and to our cause
            throughout this very difficult time. Thanks to our patient shareholders who have backed                                                                                                       conditions change.
            us through extremely difficult times and supported our contrarian decisions. Our proudly
            Namibian financial institutions have supported us and have been unfailingly understanding.                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Strategic
            I must commend and thank the government for opening up Namibia for travellers and their                                                                                                       Gondwana regularly analyses and adjusts its strategy to assess whether                                     profit drivers
            willingness to engage with us on a continued basis. This gave us a competitive advantage                                                                                                      it still meets our needs. This process considers whether we are on                                             Growth
            compared to other destinations.
                                                                                                                                                                                                          the right track and what is needed to fulfil our strategy. Our flat TLC
            I am deeply appreciative of the Namibian public that carried us through our leanest months                                                                                                    management structure allows for quick decision-making.                       Future focus                                                  Strategic
            – their loyalty and passion for the Gondwana brand made the difference between survival                                                                                                                                                                                       areas                                                    profit drivers
            and not.                                                                                                                                                                                      Our strategy, first articulated in 2019, remains relevant in 2021 and beyond:   Listing                                                     Product
                                                                                                                                                                                                             ○ Four strategic profit drivers: Growth, product diversification, value   preparedness                                                 diversification
            Gondwana’s strength lies with our                                                                                                                                                                chain integration, synergies and efficiencies                                                             Profit
                                                                                                                                                                                                             ○ Two strategic enablers: Our brand and digital strategies
            culture and people – we are a family.                                                                                                                                                            ○ Two future focus areas: Listing preparedness and regional expansion                                    People
            This means we back each other and                                                                                                                                                             Our philosophy of sustainability is central to our strategy and is based                                     Planet
                                                                                                                                                                                                          on profit, people and planet (refer to how we make an impact, starting
            pick each other up. The world sees and                                                                                                                                                        on page 42). Our actions must align with our purpose, which is to make
                                                                                                                                                                                                          sure Gondwana and its positive impact remain for the next 1 000 years.
            appreciates our unity and strength.                                                                                                                                                           Our strategy evolves over time as we adapt our vision to our goals   Future focus                                                                      Strategic
                                                                                                                                                                                                          and circumstances. But our culture and our DNA will remain constant.
                                                                                                                                                                                                          They differentiate the experience we provide our customers and       areas                                  Culture                                  profit drivers
            A special word of thanks to my three fellow executive directors. The world will never know                                                                                                    determine our attitude in hiring new talent.                                                                                                           Value chain
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Regional
            what we had to deal with behind closed doors, but to me the best part of it all is that we did it                                                                                             Our employees and the Gondwana Guidelines allow us to preserve      expansion                                                                        integration and
            together. Jaco had the weight of the world on his shoulders given our financial reality, but he                                                                                               our culture and DNA. This filters right through to leadership, where                                                                                   synergies
            carried that with strength and dignity. Gentlemen, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you for                                                                                               we seek out successors that will maintain our ethos.
            your support, wisdom, strength and sometimes just your presence. I hope to never face a crisis
            like this in my life again, but if I have to, I would want to face it with the three of you.

            Finally, to my Gondwanian brothers and sisters. My fellow idealists and fools. I am thankful                                                                                                  We focus on intangible goals
            for the fantastic attitude of our people. Even with a loss of capacity with attrition,
            employees delivered to the same standard. Employees empowered themselves through                                                                                                              such as bettering society and
            cross-training and stepped in to help each other. The camaraderie we enjoy gives us the
            strength to change the world. We have never been stronger.                                                                                                                                    uplifting Namibians. Our impact
            Love,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Strategic                                                  Strategic profit
                                                                                                                                                                                                          is not always quantifiable.                                                  enablers                                                       drivers
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Digital strategy                                                Efficiencies
                                                                                                                                                                                                          This means we refer to the proof

                                                                                                                                                                                                          of our success rather than                                                                                   Strategic

            Gys Joubert                                                                                                                                                                                   performance indicators.                                                                                      enablers
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Brand strategy
            Managing Director (MD)



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