Gift Simataa drives training innovation at SanlamAllianz

Gift Simataa has worked as a training assistant in the Training and Development (ELM) department at SanlamAllianz Namibia since 1 April.

His role involves helping advisors learn in practical, engaging and meaningful ways, as well as creating self-study courses and training materials.

“I love turning complicated sales or communication topics into simple, easy‑to‑use learning tools.” Simataa told Careers.

Simataa is a human resources graduate with a strong passion for content creation, people development, learning and teaching.

“Over time, I’ve found my niche in training and development," he said, adding that creating content that helps people feel more confident and capable of excelling in their roles is a particular interest.

He said receiving the call to say he had got the job felt “amazing”, describing it as a proud moment that confirmed his hard work and consistency had paid off.

His previous role as an HR intern at the Hardap Regional Council provided him with a solid foundation in human resources, shaping his understanding of people management.

This experience later helped him secure his current role at SanlamAllianz, where he also discovered his interest in learning design, training and advisor development.

Future of learning and teaching

Simataa welcomes the global shift towards improved digital tools.

“The move toward digital learning and self‑study training has really shaped how I work," he said.

Because people learn differently, he focuses on creating flexible and practical training that fits into busy workdays.

In his area of expertise, he sees exciting opportunities in interactive self-study courses, scenario-based learning and creative digital content that feels less like “training” and more like real-life problem-solving.

For Simataa, his new role can best be described as “growth and purpose", as it gives him a chance to make a real impact by supporting advisors and contributing to the company’s success.

Looking ahead, he plans to continue growing and learning, strengthening his instructional design skills, and taking on more responsibility in developing impactful training solutions.

His hopes for the future are centred on “creating training that actually works, including content that builds confidence, encourages learning and helps advisors perform better.

His guiding principles throughout his career have been "integrity, teamwork, innovation, and continuous learning", he explained.

Fun facts

Delving into his playful side, he shared a fun fact about himself: “A fun fact about me is that although I seem reserved at first, I’m actually very talkative and enjoy finding fun and positivity in everyday work,” Simataa said.

When Careers asked whether he prefers tea or coffee, he didn't hesitate: "Tea".

Asked to share an inspirational quote, he chose a Bible quote.

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans."