From Walvis Bay to Hollywood, Namibian leadership coach, speaker and award-winning author Estelle Tjipuka is taking her message of women’s empowerment to an international audience after winning the Leadership Category at the International Impact Book Awards (IIBA) in the United States.
Walvis Bay-born Tjipuka received the award for her book, Breaking into the Boardroom – A Guide for Women, which encourages women to overcome barriers, build confidence and take their place in leadership and decision-making spaces. Published in 2025, the 180-page book draws on almost three decades of Tjipuka’s professional and leadership experience in Namibia. It explores challenges including self-doubt, workplace stereotypes, cultural bias, work-life balance and systemic barriers that can limit women’s advancement.
The book also highlights the journeys of Namibian women who have broken through barriers and provides practical guidance for women aspiring to leadership positions. Tjipuka’s international recognition marks another milestone in her career and places a Namibian voice on a global platform dedicated to leadership, empowerment and professional development.
Following her Leadership Category victory, Tjipuka was selected as a finalist for Author of the Year at the International Impact Book Awards in Hollywood. “This is more than a personal milestone – it is a reminder that dreams rooted in purpose can transcend borders,” Tjipuka said. She described the opportunity to represent Namibia as both a privilege and a responsibility, saying she is carrying not only her story and her book, but also the hopes of a nation and continent whose voices deserve to be heard globally. Tjipuka has expressed appreciation to supporters across Namibia, Africa and the world who have voted, shared her campaign and encouraged others to support her journey.
She also thanked her family, friends, readers, publishers and marketing team for their contribution to the campaign. “As a Namibian author and African finalist, we have an opportunity to show the world what Namibia and Africa are capable of in the literary space,” she said. Tjipuka believes books have the power to inspire, transform lives and create meaningful change, emphasising that African stories and voices deserve a place on major international literary platforms. Public voting for the Author of the Year award closes on 31 August 2026, with Tjipuka calling on Namibians and supporters worldwide to help bring the title home to Namibia and Africa.
The achievement has been met with pride as Tjipuka continues to raise the profile of Namibian authors on the international stage. Rooted in Namibia and crafted for the world, Tjipuka’s journey from Walvis Bay to Hollywood is a powerful reminder of the global impact that local stories and voices can achieve.
Voting link: https://apply.internationalimpactbookawards.com/public
Together, let’s bring the Author of the Year title home to Namibia and Africa.
By Rudi Bowe
