My Career, spanning nearly four decades, has been portfolio in nature long before the term was created. I spent the first ten years in UK-based management roles in the hospitality and hotel industry before accepting a position with a prestigious hotel brand in South Africa.
During that period, I started Scuba diving, initially as a hobby; however, within a year, I was an instructor. I returned to the UK for a mostly miserable few months to retrain as an internationally recognized instructor before finding happiness in paradise- quite literally! I managed dive centres in the Seychelles for four years.
Paradise was beautiful but ultimately limiting. South Africa was calling me back, and I was eager to return. Over the next few years and many qualifications later, I achieved the highest certification within scuba diving- that of PADI Course Director (Instructor Trainer). These were excellent years spent developing communication skills and my unique delivery style. I have sat through enough dreary, lacklustre presentations to last a lifetime and know that people learn best when engaged and relaxed and concepts are delivered with humour.
I was then recruited to become, at that time, the only African-based Instructor Examiner. This role took me travelling to many interesting places: America, Italy, Spain, Malta, Ukraine, Kuwait, Dubai, Djibouti, Kenya, and Mauritius, to name some. Travel is enriching on many levels. I have spoken to the people, observed the cultures they belong to and learnt that exposure to diversity expands your thinking.
Concurrently I started my company, Restyle You; my love for style, understanding of body shapes and my reasonably rare ability to scan a shop at ‘break-neck speed’ established me as a well-known Johannesburg Personal Stylist.
In the past, this odd juxtaposition of careers has created some entertaining confusion for the people I have worked with when one world inadvertently stumbles into the other- like parallel universes colliding. But it has always been about expressing my different dimensions of interest and using my strengths.
Add to the mix a basket of qualifications and experience I achieved along the way because I found the field exciting. I arrived at a collective bringing together with a goal in mind – to offer businesses a comprehensive range of image consultation in the form of workshops and presentations tackling issues and offering practical solutions related to personal image, business etiquette and personal effectiveness.
It’s an occupation I find deeply interesting and rewarding.
I hope I have the opportunity of meeting you soon.
