Roxan Waldeck is passionate about education and youth development. With 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, a diverse background ranging from design to corporate, and local and international travels, she gravitated toward the world of wine. A qualified sommelier, she worked at Relais & Chateaux and Leading Hotels of the World properties.
After returning to South Africa to facilitate wine training, and seeing the impact of education, she founded Apeirogon Youth Development Academy in 2022. Her academy focuses on wine education and alcohol awareness within the growth mindset framework, setting strong foundations for young people wishing to pursue a career in the wine industry.
Roxan sits on the board of the South African Sommeliers Association (SASA) and she has served on the judging panel for the South African Wine List of the Year Awards and Best Young Sommelier of South Africa.
She is an UCT GSB The Business of Wine and Michael Fridjhon Wine Judge Academy graduate, and she holds a CELTA Cambridge English teaching certificate. She is a formal transition mentor with SAYes Mentoring and is currently working towards a qualification as a thinking environment facilitator.
wine.co.za had the opportunity to chat to her and get know her better.
What is Apeirogon Youth Development Academy all about?
For the young person wanting to take their first steps to a career in the wine industry, Apeirogon Youth Development Academy is where they begin their journey. The academy is in service to young people starting out in the wine industry. There are a number of courses: Introduction to Wine, which is certified by SASA, Alcohol Awareness, Personal Development and a Beginners Guide to Sommellerie. The courses provide theoretical and practical training in a fun, approachable and interactive way, in a learning environment where each person can begin to lean into the idea that the extraordinary is possible.
Tell me about yourself: What is your role at Apeirogon and what does it entail?
I founded Apeirogon in 2021 and my role is to create a learning environment where someone who might be learning about wine for the first time, can acquire foundational knowledge and begin to develop the confidence to pursue anything they desire; my role is to facilitate the process of this discovery. Bringing Apeirogon to life is requires presence, self-awareness and allowance every day and watching it grow brings me the greatest joy.
Why did you decide to start the academy?
A few years ago, before Apeirogon existed, I was a facilitator on behalf of another training academy. I had the privilege of teaching the most amazing groups of young people all from different parts of the country. Through their sense of wonder and tenacity and perseverance and, despite the challenge of learning something completely new, they energised our lessons. As a result, each day of learning was charged with positive energy and enthusiasm for the future.
I started the academy because I realised that there were so many other young people with these same attributes, yearning for encouragement to take on and explore something new, with power they didn’t know they had. It was clear that what each young person has in common is courage, bravery and curiosity. I started Apeirogon in answer to the call to facilitate a journey.
What were you doing before?
I worked in the corporate world for a number of years after attaining a diploma in Interior Design in 2003. It was an extremely valuable experience, but the work was repetitive, with very little room for creative expression. I wanted excitement and the element of surprise, and so, the desire to travel started bubbling. I then completed a Cambridge English CELTA qualification and I spent a short time teaching locally. Later, I lived and worked onboard a private yacht and it was an incredibly beautiful and life-altering experience.
When I returned to South Africa, I took work in the hospitality industry full-time. I reflected on my strengths and made the decision to pursue a career in wine as a sommelier. And after a stint working in the Seychelles, an opportunity presented itself to teach wine to young adults in South Africa. That was almost 6 years ago. I have learned that life is always working in our favour and despite challenges, Apeirogon is what I am most proud of.
What projects are you currently working on at Apeirogon?
In partnership with an industry body that shares its values and mission, Apeirogon is developing an online learning platform for one of its courses. Plus, we are also conceptualising new activities to complement the existing portfolio of Apeirogon and I am thrilled in anticipation of sharing them soon.
Do you have any mentors in the wine industry? If so, who are they?
When I first began my career in the wine industry, I worked at a gem of a store called Wine Concepts on Kloof, in Cape Town, owned by Sue Proudfoot. Sue taught me how to regard wine with a mindset that combines critical thinking and appreciation. Working with Sue set the foundations for my career in wine and I will always be grateful to her. What I admire most about Sue and is the art of discernment, composure, and humility.
What is your message of inspiration to those interested in working in the wine industry?
Wine knowledge is something anyone can learn. Travel is within anyone's reach. The extraordinary is possible and it is possible for everyone. Despite all the obstacles we might face and what we think we lack, courage, bravery and resilience lies within each one of us, just waiting for it to be given a chance to show itself to us.