From being voted as the naughtiest kid most likely to fail at school, I found success in the information and technology sector as a young sales and marketing executive, culminating in an executive sales and strategy role for a large information technology company based in Germany. On my return to South Africa, my passion to inspire leadership led to the creation of TowerStone. I am continually amazed by how much we have achieved in such a short time, but it is also humbling to realise how far we have to go, considering we are such a young organisation.

My role in TowerStone includes business and purposeful content development, coaching, writing and strategic consulting. My core purpose is to encourage all those I come into contact with to see the world through a different set of lenses to realise their potential. Many of us are unaware of our past conditioning, blocking growth and development that keeps us in false comfort zones. What is so desperately needed from leaders and human beings is to become aware of the lenses that trap us, so that we can realise the full splendour of who we are and what we can achieve and contribute. To consciously lead, to be a model example, and to let go of the old to inspire the new, is one of the toughest aspects of a personal life journey.

I am driven by the need to inspire others. My life purpose – as a coach and facilitator – is getting up every morning and showing care for all those around me; inspiring them to seek greater meaning in their lives and helping them to Purposefully live a life that matters – a life that is fulfilling and meaningful, filled with love at the core of everything. And indeed, this is how I live my own life.

Words have always fascinated me. Words hold power; they are how we construct our reality. Using the right words, in the right way, to construct the right thought patterns leads to the best actions.

Being a content writer and editor at TowerStone allows me the amazing opportunity to play a role in creating work that encourages these types of actions while helping people find fulfilment in their work.

Starting off with a BA Humanities from Stellenbosch, I was unsure of the direction my career path should follow – although I always knew that I wanted to work with people and be a part of their journey towards success.

By engaging in the work we do at TowerStone, I experience both my passion for words and for people first-hand every day.

When I’m not working, you’ll find me on my yoga mat, hiking with my dogs, or making my way through the ever-growing pile of books on my nightstand.

I have come to realise as a coach and facilitator that each engagement with another individual is an opportunity to learn.

As someone who has always wanted to understand people better, enrolling for a psychology degree seems like a natural decision in hindsight. I completed my honours and interned as a psychometrist in the public sector in the 80s, after which I worked as a business consultant both in other businesses as well as my own. My immersion in the business world lead me to enrol in and obtain a Masters in Business Administration.

All of this came together when I joined TowerStone – a group of warm and caring professionals who are passionate about their work. Our work on brand ambassadorship not only benefits leaders in the workplace but also their contributions as individuals in society.

I believe the true mark of someone’s achievement isn’t found in their own lives, but in the contributions they’ve made to the lives of others.

With an Honours degree in Psychology and after spending a number of years of working in the field, I decided to branch out into organisational development and business coaching. This allowed me to spend significant time facilitating management and leadership concepts within various industries including retail, mining and production throughout Africa.

In my professional and personal life, I enjoy observing what works, figuring out why it works and then building on those proven foundations. My focus at TowerStone allows me to explore this even further through facilitating our various qualifications and Purposeful Learning Series workshops as well as coaching business leaders.

Being an accredited practitioner in the Hermann Brain Dominance Instrument®, Barrett’s, Enneagram and Belbin assessments allows me to provide clients with real data to use as a baseline from which to grow through coaching – witnessing this growth is simply amazing.

Marilyn Monroe’s quote of “Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring” encourages me to live my life to the fullest every day!

I have had a number of years experience in an administrative role within the motor trade. Using the skills learnt, I joined TowerStone as an office administrator as part of a dynamic team. While working with a team who believe in growing individuals to their full potential, I now manage the Supervisor Development Programme, support our facilitators and assist with the operational aspects. My role forms an integral part of helping to sustain the success of the back office team, through my involvement in the day to day running of the office.

My purpose in life is to be a good leader to others through living a values driven life. What I love about the TowerStone family is that I can be myself and am allowed the space I need to grow as an individual. Outside the office I enjoy spending time with my family and being outdoors.

I began my academic career at the University of the Western Cape where I studied Mathematics and Physics. I went on to complete a PhD in Mathematics Education at Cornell University in New York in 1988.

I have served as Campus Vice-Principal at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal and later as Pro-Vice Chancellor for Partnerships. I have been centrally involved in curriculum reform in post-apartheid South Africa and was asked by all four Ministers of Education to play a leading role in the transformation of education in the new South Africa.

I served as Chairperson of the Umalusi Council from 2006-2010 and again from 2014 –to present. I also held various Interim Vice-Chancellor positions until 2017. These opportunities provided me with a wealth of knowledge in the academic and education fields that I share and apply.

My ambition in life is to strengthen leadership through education and training which I am able to do as Head of Institute at TowerStone.

I have acquired various skills in organising, planning, operational and administrative functions during my professional career. Diverse experiences in life have taught me to adapt quickly to new environments and different management styles.

I enjoy being a part of a dynamic and goal-orientated team with a winning attitude. I use the above-mentioned skills on a daily basis to support and add value to the TowerStone team.

I believe that being a woman in today’s society is a huge responsibility and requires acting in a way that inspires other young women. I have realised that my identity is not about where I come from, but where I am heading.

What inspires me daily is Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Nil nisi optimum. When I wake up in the morning my mind lingers on those three words, which together mean, nothing but the best. Being part of a diverse team who strive to produce nothing but the best is one of the many perks of being the Office Manager at TowerStone Leadership Centre.
No two days are the same, whether its ensuring internal communication processes are smoothly executed or brainstorming solutions to resolve challenges, I thoroughly enjoy being of service, and the fact that I’m part of a diverse team of specialists is simply the cherry on top.
When I’m not tinkering away at perfecting the minutiae of an Excel spreadsheet, I’m surrounded by the four-legged loves of my life. Nothing quite compares to the unconditional and uncomplicated love of a dog. Multiply that by four and you have my idea of paradise.
If I wasn’t contributing to ensuring operations at TowerStone run smoothly or surrounded by my pooches, I’d be on the frontlines of an environmental campaign. Thankfully, my passion for environmental awareness and living mindfully is actualised within TowerStone, where everyone invests in recycling and being mindful of their usage of valuable resources like water.

Ghandi says it so well - “HAPPINESS IS WHEN WHAT YOU THINK, WHAT YOU SAY AND WHAT YOU DO ARE IN HARMONY” - Mahtma Gandhi

As registrar, I relate to the leadership qualities advocated by TowerStone Institute of Leadership : communication and humility; swift action; empowerment of teams and accountability; and managing stress and mental health with empathy and understanding. As a PhD in Psychology, I would like to add self-care to mental wellbeing, as looking after ourselves in times of the global pandemic should be top of our priorities. My speciality in psychology is stress and burnout and the awareness of how multiple types of trauma impact on performance.

I am passionate about awareness of, and retribution for, past injustices, fairness and producing the best results possible. We need to be our best to inspire others and the world needs us to be healthy, taking the lampshade off our light. I strive for excellence, maintaining and improving standards with integrity.

I enjoy working in a high-performance environment which is what I do in my position as Chief Operations Officer at TowerStone Leadership Centre. I am surrounded by a passionate and supportive team that energises and inspires me.

This business has taught me that an aligned culture manifests the right behaviours that form important cornerstones of any organisation. Sustainability is ensured when behaviours support the values of the organisation and where team members aspire to live these every day.

Individual growth is also important to me and I have learned that you can only grow and develop yourself if you are aware of your blind spots. 

I have great passion for children and their development as they are our future leaders. I believe that they should be nurtured from an early age so that they can reach their full potential and not be limited by their thinking.

I am motivated by Ghandi’s quote: “Be the change that you want to see in the world”

From carefully hitting the keys on my aunt’s typewriter when I was young, to the fluster of writing, editing and proofreading that make up my current reality – the written word has always been my passion.

I started out on the wobbly legs of a BA degree in Languages and Literature, but I had much to learn when launching my career in the private business sector. The experience I gained taught me to approach challenges with confidence and to continually adapt to new circumstances. It also gave me the opportunity to further develop and diversify my language skills by working on a wide range of projects from marketing material to business correspondence and proposals.

Upon joining TowerStone, I found it to be a company alive with personality and possibilities. It is a daily privilege to be involved in creating content that does more than scratch the surface – content that inspires real change. I count myself fortunate to be part of a team that is passionate about making a difference and passionate about supporting each other to get there.