Onneile Maripe ACA, Accountant, Sesiro Insurance Company – Gaborone, Botswana
Onneile Maripe, ACA is one of the first BICA graduates in Botswana and an ICAEW member. She is currently working as an Accountant at Sesiro Insurance Company (Pty) Ltd a Member of the Debswana group.
She is very passionate about promoting and growing Botswana’s Economy, because she has noticed a significant potential among entrepreneurs which at the current moment lack support not only in funds but information and knowledge sharing, hence intends to provide be active in promotion of local talent and potential in this space for awareness.
Onneile is a fitness fanatic such that she runs, cycles, and attends the gym. She enjoys spending time with her family - she has a twin, and loves good music.
"Who were you most looking forward to seeing or meeting, and why?"
I was looking forward to seeing Kojo Annan. He was a firm believer of youth leadership and the power they hold based on resources such as larger, diverse networks and technology. These are areas that a curious mind of a leader can use to make the world a better place.
"What did you learn that you didn’t know before?"
There are still some areas of the world that infringe human rights, where people's voices cannot be heard. Human rights activist Yeonmi Park made me realize that we need to speak out until freedom is granted to the oppressed.
"What will you remember most about attending?"
To consider how the UN’s SDGs are being addressed in my country and take myself up to the task and initiative. The presentation and discussions on 'Politician of the year' was also close to my heart because at the time it was election day in my country Botswana. Young people must not just be observers of politics, we must be actively involved and play a role in the decision-making process.
"What did you learn that you can apply to your own business or organisation?"
A company’s objective is to make profit. However, it must also have goals that work to enhance community lives for the better. People must always be at the centre of an organisation. This was deliberated on in the ‘Valuable 500' discussion where companies were urged to ensure that they have disability on the business agenda.
"What does positive change mean to you?"
Understanding the value of diversity and inclusion, actively seeking ways in which my own talents can be used to make the world a better place. Making an impact that is long term and influencing other young leaders around me to follow suit and understanding their purpose to make a change for the better.
What value do you think your skills and training in Chartered Accountancy bring to being a future global leader?
One of the most pertinent issues I see is the importance of the Accounting profession in the ever so changing world. Not only does the profession account for companies’ resources but we are able as Chartered Accountants to measure and assess the impact of all these changes to the sustainability of the business, and make contributions on viabilities of issues. The expectations of the modern Chartered Accountant and CFOs more broadly (cited in the Wall Street Journal) is that we need to have experience dealing with investors and lenders taking companies public knowledge of tech-specific regulations and accounting practices etc. This is working towards the training and skills required for me as a Chartered Accountant to being a future global leader.