Learn a Bit More About Who I Am
Want to jump to a specific section of this page?
You can choose from; The Intro, My Core Values, My Motivators, My Greatest Strengths, My South African Heritage, My Main Interests & Pastimes, The Main Causes I Care About, and The Outro.
(To watch the rest of the video series I created, visit this page.)
I think that, especially because I have a career in People Operations, including information about who I am as a person is definitely just as important as that about my career. After all, working with someone isn't just about their skills and experience, it's about their personality and values. It's not just about how well they'll execute on the responsibilities of their role, it's also about how well they'll integrate into your culture, how they'll improve it by joining your team, and whether they'll align with your values and advocate for your culture long-term. As such, I've added this important page to my website, so you can learn more about who I am.
As far back as I can remember, I've enjoyed a natural, good balance of being organized, structured and analytical, as well as flexible, adaptable, and open-minded. I appreciate the fact that my personality has that blend, so that I'm able to manage lots of things simultaneously, but also reprioritize, pivot, and embrace change if required.
I refer to myself as an ambivert, in the sense that I'm never the one shying away from public speaking, being in large groups, taking the lead if necessary, and meeting new people. In fact, I love doing those things! However, I do enjoy time to myself. I'm able to switch easily between the two.
What I've learned in recent years is the power of my interpersonal skills. I have an innate ability to easily build rapport with and get to know people, from all kinds of backgrounds and cultures, actively listen, ask insightful questions, make people feel welcome, appreciated, and understood, and make them feel comfortable conversing with me. That's really means a lot to me. It's a natural skill that I value so much! And, it enables me to engage with so many awesome individuals when I'm out and about. I love it!
Authenticity is definitely my most important value - being able to feel comfortable and confident enough to be your genuine self, as well as being transparent with those around you, is something really powerful, and I value that in myself.
An important thing to note is that this, at least for me, does not mean having the same approach, communication style, and level of personal openness with every single person, in every single context. On the contrary! It's important to know your audience, and adapt accordingly.
I'm full of tact and diplomacy, and adjust easily, on-the-fly, corresponding to whom I'm engaging with, to find common ground and build rapport easily with essentially anyone (such as an interviewee, a manager, a CEO, a friend, a family member, a random member of the public in the grocery store, etc.)
But, luckily, adapting like that comes naturally to me. Doing that is part of who I am. So, even when I'm adapting my style and content of communication to suit the needs of a given situation, I'm still being authentic.
My other major values, in no particular order, are listed below. ✌🏻
- Empathy:
There's enough divisiveness and factionalism in the world. I find it easy to connect with people, and have enjoyed being referred to as "warm". If I see an opportunity to help someone out and I have the time, I'll do so. I strive to leave each interaction I'm a part of a bit more positive than it was before. - Humility:
I consider myself modest. think it's really important to minimize ego and pride. There's something really attractive about someone achieving great things, and not boasting about them. Having said that, own your achievements, and obviously be proud of what you've done, and talk about that when the situation calls for doing so. - Open-mindedness:
The world is changing over time, and so are we, as individuals and as a society. I never want to be thought of as narrow-minded, and I don't enjoy engaging with people who aren't open to new perspectives. I'm always willing to accept I may be partially or entirely wrong, and I'm completely open to changing my perspective on things. This allows me to discover new things about the world, about those close to me, and about myself. - Growth:
Continuous improvement is huge for me. I've changed so much over the years, and reflecting on that, and on what makes me who I am - my strengths, flaws, and everything in between - enables me to have a high level of self-awareness, and to try to be a better person for the future. I've always been described as "inquisitive", and I enjoy researching random things that interest me, like tech, gardening, and current affairs, as well as matters relating to my work. I think we can do better at ensuring that we're kept properly informed as a society, and avoid misinformation and sensationalist media. - Good Communication:
I'm very straightforward in the way that I communicate. I say what I mean, and mean what I say (unless I'm joking, of course). This value also means being tactful - knowing your audience and adapting in a diplomatic and considerate way. Good communication is a foundation for positive, healthy relationships. - Equality:
Equality, in all its forms, is very important to me. We can really do great things if we work together as a society and care more about one another. We should retain humility and remember that we're all fellow human beings, who deserve to be treated equally, regardless of who we are.
My Motivators 🏖️
Many things! For one, the people I surround myself with. I love learning what makes people the way they are, and which things I do that make them smile. One of my biggest motivators in life is leaving behind a positive impact on the people with whom I interact, especially those close to me.
I love meeting new people, learning about new cultures, and diving into deep, philosophical conversations or chatting about human psychology (I'm extremely driven by people in perhaps pretty much all aspects of my life).
I'm motivated by being happy and comfortable. And those mean very specific things to me, as they do to everyone in this world. I do what I can to ensure that I live my life being happy and comfortable.
I'm also very motivated by the quest for knowledge. I enjoy gaining new skills, as well as imparting that knowledge unto others whenever needed.
Success can mean many different things to many different people, and I hope this gives you an idea of what it means to me.
WCafe fun with my bestie (of 15 years)! Spending time with my loved ones, all around Cape Town, is one of my favorite things to do. I value them all so much!
- Tactfulness/Diplomacy:
I believe tact and diplomacy are extremely important, especially in my field. Interpersonal skills are so vital. Knowing when and how to put my thoughts into words has been immensely helpful in building my career and growing relationships. For me, this also involves having strong communication skills - knowing when to be concise, when to explain something at length, and how to diplomatically navigate various personalities and styles of communication in different settings. Life - and therefore the workplace - is filled with so many different kinds of people, and it's important to be able to know your audience, and interact with each one in a unique and respectful way, so that everyone feels valued. It's not always easy, but it's definitely fruitful, and a requirement in order to be successful in People Operations. - Adaptability:
Through my years of full-time work experience, I've needed to remain on my toes, and to be able to adjust, often swiftly, if not on-the-fly, according to changing industry outlooks, changing workplace conditions (such as new colleagues and new software systems), and changing goals. I'm not one to complain when things need to change course, and I'm quick to learn and take ownership of something new. This has resulted in my being appointed the lead for the development and implementation of many major changes (including policies and processes) in the workplace, and even being able to teach colleagues to get them up to speed with new processes. - Optimism:
For as long as I can remember, I've always had a positive outlook on life in general. No matter the situation I find myself in - even if it seems unbelievably daunting - I enjoy having the ability to see the light at the end of the tunnel. To be able to find a positive outcome to look forward to. And to be able to reassure myself that putting in the effort will be worth it in the long-run. It's easy for me to remain self-motivated. Having an optimistic outlook both in the workplace and in my personal life allows me to avoid dwelling on the past, avoid harboring regrets, and to constantly look forward to what's to come. - Stability:
One of my colleagues once complimented by ability to remain calm amidst the chaos. And even to make others feel that way too. It's some of the best feedback I've ever received, and I believe it to be true. I find it easy to remain level-headed in times of stress, and use that nature to help those around me get there too. As valid as our emotions are, sometimes we just have to maintain a clear mind and push forward with what needs to be done. - Helpfulness & Kindness:
I take pride in being readily available to help others, in all manner of ways, whenever I have the time to do so. In the workplace, I've developed a reputation for being the one who can be relied on to find time to take a look at your problem, or give you advice, whether you're a new hire who is new to the workplace, or a senior Team Lead with many direct reports. No matter whether it's something as complicated as deciding between two conflicting research strategies, or as straightforward as fixing the downstairs printer or reformatting your Excel sheet, I like making myself available to help others figure things out. And I believe that the empathetic nature that's at the core of who I am as a person drives me to continue to do so.
Growing up in South Africa has shaped who I am today, and I'm very proud of that heritage and the fact that I live in such an incredible country.
SA has a vibrant culture and rich history, filled with traditions and languages, and today, has a strong regard for democracy and equality. It's also host to amazing biodiversity, and some great cuisine. I'm really grateful for having been born in beautiful Cape Town, and being able to enjoy all these things during the time I've lived here.
My family and small group of close friends form a large part of my non-work time. I'm a very sociable and approachable person, and I think that goes hand-in-hand with being a South African.
Relaxing after a hike at one of our local farms is one of my favorite ways to enjoy the incredible, abundant natural beauty and biodiversity that Cape Town has to offer.
My Main Interests & Pastimes 🌲🖥️
I believe growth continues throughout life, and since I have a love for learning, I spend some of my free time either reading up about developments in spheres that interest me, or teaching myself new skills.
My interests and hobbies include technology (especially hardware development and releases and building computers), cars, reading, and animals.
I really love dogs! I can sometimes be found saying hi to someone's pet on a trail, or enjoying spending time with dogs at my local adoption center and taking them for walks. There are so many cute, special dogs out there. My favorite breed is the Golden Retriever.
I'm interested in cars. I've been intrigued for many years by the developments in the automotive industry. Driving can be really fun, whether that's on the road or off-roading, manual or automatic, and in small cars or big ones. It's cool how much tech is being integrated into cars these days. Which is a nice segue.
I'm very into tech. I enjoy checking in with a number of tech blogs and YouTube channels so that I can keep up-to-date with the latest releases, developments, and continue to learn about a hobby I've had for as long as I can remember. I've built numerous PCs over the years (for myself and my friends) as a result. I also enjoy playing video games on PC, including online, as well as offline RPGs - especially narrative-driven ones with great character development.
I also absolutely love spending time in nature - whether being at the beach, in a forest, on a waterfall hike, walking around a farm or farmer's market with friends, or walking a dog of my own, or one up for adoption at the Oscars Arc WOOF Project, on a trail. Cape Town really is a fantastic city for enjoying a variety of nature-related activities!
I'm also into gardening, which I've really enjoyed doing both alone and with my mom, growing up. That ties nicely into the nature interest. On the weekends, you can sometimes find me kneeling in one of my flower beds, or having an incredibly fun time browsing around my local nursery. 🌱
I've also done some amateur photography whilst I've been exploring. I've put some of my favorites on this page of my website, and will perhaps continue to add more over time.
Causes 🌊🐶
The main causes I support (through my advocacy and/or giving of my time and money) include:
- Environmental protection, including preserving and protecting our oceans (marine conservation), and stopping unnecessary deforestation,
- Animal rights (for a great, local animal-related charity to donate to and/or work with, visit the DARG website here),
- Access to good quality education (through the tertiary level) for all,
- Maintaining independent and unbiased media (with restrictions on hate speech and misinformation), and
- The upholding and strengthening of democratic institutions (such as by means of the great work that the ILRIG and HMC do, here in Cape Town).
It's by working together that we progress as a society. 🧡
Oscar's Arc WOOF Project's traveling dog adoption setup. Valuing, and collectively working, as a society, to protect our animals who are up for adoption, and our natural environment, is very important, and I have, over numerous years, donated my time and money towards causes that align with that.
Other ☑️
That's about it from me (in terms of personal info)! As I mentioned above, I'm a very open and authentic person, so if you have absolutely any unanswered questions about me in terms of my personality, beliefs/opinions, values, and so on, please feel free to just ask me! You'll get a straightforward answer - that I can guarantee you. I want you to know who I really am, because it's through authenticity and transparency
that we build trust.
If you'd like some really in-depth information about the kinds of People Ops responsibilities I've managed, including some great practical (situational) examples that will really give you a sense of what I'm capable of, you can browse through the tabs in my 'Google Sheet of People Ops Experience'.
Alternatively, you could take a look at the video I recently created, where I discuss my skills, as well as tech platform proficiencies.
I absolutely love meeting and chatting with new people, and I'm always open to networking. So, if you'd like to get to know me better, so feel free to reach out to me via the contact details on this page.
I hope you enjoy browsing the rest of this site! 🙂