Namibia's entrepreneurial landscape is growing, with talented individuals like Betty Sibeso leading the way. As the founder of Beso Media, Betty Sibeso's journey from graphic designer to successful entrepreneur highlights her passion, resilience, and commitment to growth. In this conversation, Betty reflects on her transition from employee to freelancer to business owner, sharing the lessons she's learned along the way. From building a strong client base to leading a growing team, Betty offers valuable insights into the challenges and triumphs of entrepreneurship while also emphasising the importance of self-care and wellness.
Foundations & The Leap into Entrepreneurship
What was your initial career path before launching your own business, and what ultimately made you take the leap into entrepreneurship?
I’ve always known this was my path. From a young age, I dreamed of becoming a graphic designer and running my own fashion magazine. In my final year of studies, I landed an internship that turned into a full-time graphic design job, followed by another graphic design role at a different company. Three years in, I realised I wasn’t happy, so I left to start freelancing.
I never looked back.
Going from employee to freelancer to founder, what was that transition like?
Honestly, it was the best decision I ever made. I had the freedom to create at my own pace, travel while working, and do what I love. I had no savings or solid plan—just the belief that I was living the life I had always envisioned. I put myself out there, worked with regular clients who recommended me to others, and slowly built my client list.
Your surname is Sibeso, and your company is Beso Media. Am I correct in assuming your surname inspired the name? Was there any deeper significance behind it?
Yes! “Beso” comes from Sibeso. Some people assume it’s a mix of “Be” from Betty and “So” from Sibeso, but it’s just my surname. My sister actually came up with it when I was brainstorming names for the business when it was time to register it.
Building & Scaling a Business
What did the early days of launching Beso Media look like? What was the toughest part of getting started?
Ironically, the early days were the easiest! Now? That’s another story.
When I left my stable job, I had two recurring clients, which gave me some security. I had already been freelancing, taking on small projects for friends and connections - but now I had time to focus on building. I shared my work on my design blog and Instagram, and soon, the work started coming in.
How did you go about building relationships and securing your first clients?
By over-delivering. I made sure my work was top-quality, delivered on time, and had a distinct style that set me apart. I also stayed extremely organised and efficient. As an introvert, networking isn’t my strong suit, so I made sure my work spoke for itself.
At what point did you realise you needed to grow beyond being a freelancer and start leading a team?
It happened naturally. Work started flowing in faster than I could handle. My first two employees actually pitched themselves to me—one for admin (which was a huge relief because I hate admin work) and another for a design internship.
We just kept growing, and before I knew it, I had hired my sister and more team members.
As a founder, you now have the responsibility of not just working for yourself, but also making payroll and managing a business. What has that shift taught you?
Too many lessons to count. The pressure is constant - every week brings a new challenge.
I’ve had to learn patience, resilience, and grace.
I’ve had to develop emotional intelligence.
I’ve had to understand numbers and financials.
I’ve had to learn to delegate and let go of control.
I’ve had to nurture relationships and build a strong team.
Entrepreneurship changes you. It forces you to grow in ways you never expected, and I’m grateful for that.
Leadership & Navigating Challenges
Leading a team comes with its own set of challenges. How do you handle it when a team member makes a mistake that impacts a client?
I’m naturally very direct, so one of my biggest areas of personal growth has been learning how to address mistakes with empathy and patience.
First, I find out why the mistake happened while simultaneously fixing it. Then, I put a system in place to prevent it from happening again. Since we work in a fast-paced industry, having strong systems is crucial to minimising errors.
What’s been the most unexpected lesson you’ve learned about leadership?
People are different; different values, different ways of thinking, different needs.
My job as a leader isn’t just to manage people but to guide them into becoming the best versions of themselves.
What’s exciting about the entrepreneurship landscape in Namibia, and what are some challenges creative entrepreneurs face?
The exciting part? There’s so much room to pioneer and be the best at something.
The challenge? There’s not enough data or infrastructure to build sustainable industries.
Creative entrepreneurs struggle with access—
Access to resources.
Access to knowledge.
Access to opportunities.
How do we get institutions to take us seriously when they don’t even take the arts seriously? Funding creatives is great, but have we built an environment where they can thrive long-term? No. That’s the real challenge
Juggling Multiple Ventures & Personal Well-being
Between Beso Media, Monochrome Mag, and I Create Namibia, you wear many hats. How do you prioritise your time and energy?
Beso Media is my main focus. That’s why, over the past two years, I had to put everything else on hold—BM was growing too fast to balance it all.
Even now, we’re at capacity, but these projects mean so much to me and my team that we’re finding time to execute them. Hopefully, in the future, we’ll be able to hire dedicated teams for each one.
With all your commitments, how do you make time for yourself?
I’m lucky that my favorite thing to do is… nothing. Or rather, simple things.
I take morning walks.
I have slow mornings.
I light a candle when I shower.
I make myself a great cup of coffee from my favorite local spots.
I book a spa day every other month.
I do “Work from Café” Fridays.
I journal every morning and night.
I travel when I can.
I go to the gym.
I sleep 8 hours.
Self-care to me is a daily habit. If I can schedule meetings every day, I can schedule time for myself, too.
What does wellness look like for you as a creative entrepreneur?
Wellness is living intentionally and doing only what brings me joy.
It’s showing up for myself and keeping my own promises.
It’s sticking to the plan, not my mood—while still giving myself grace when I stumble.
It’s being kinder to myself. Because kindness means doing what’s best for me.
The Cheat Code: Quick Tips from BettyOne habit that keeps you grounded? Daily morning walks.
A common mistake creative entrepreneurs make? Thinking like a creative instead of a business owner.
The best way to build a strong client network? Deliver on your promises. Be efficient.
One leadership lesson you wish you had known earlier? People perceive things differently—be prepared to adapt to different personalities.
A book, podcast, or resource that shaped your mindset? Founders The Futur with Chris Do Working Hard or Hardly Working with Grace Beverley And, as cliché as it sounds, I quit my job and started Beso Media right after reading The Alchemist. |
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