It’s an early memory, so maybe a little time-hazed, but still so vivid.

That sound. The crunching. It was early in the morning and the little girl me nervously opened my bedroom curtains, to come up close to the giant jaws of an enormous hippo, watching me calmly with soft friendly eyes whilst devouring all of my Grandma’s prized lillies and roses, leaving just the fire-coloured African soil behind.

So you could say that I grew up with adventure. Life on the family farm, in deepest rural Zimbabwe, some two-hours drive from Harare, was always exciting. Deciding to adopt a boa constrictor as a temporary pet, or visiting “my” family of crocodiles that needed regular feeds (and which perhaps saw me as a tasty dessert), I lived with nature in all its vibrancy and glory. Farm life always imbues a resilience and adaptability, especially in that part of rural Africa.

When not feeding and tending to my wildlife menagerie, much of my childhood was otherwise spent in the stunningly beautiful winelands around Stellenbosch, South Africa. I loved home but I yearned to see the big wide world.

At 21, I embarked on what was supposed to be a short 'gap year' after university. A trip to the UK and then back to my motherland. I packed my meagre belongings into a backpack and travelled from the very southern tip of my home continent all the way to London. Trading the sunshine of the January African summer, for the cold, grey and damp of English winter weather. Something of an adjustment! Contrary to expectations, I found my forever home in the city's dynamic pace, surrounded by its wonderfully diverse people. I never looked back. London’s ‘wilds’ were different but no less thrilling than those of Africa.

After doing my inevitable travelling nomad workaday jobs, I got my lucky break with a marketing role in a major global consultancy. My professional journey had begun. And no easing in gradually: my career kicked off with helping to deal with a massive and high-profile corporate collapse. In my early 20s, and new in London, I was thrust into the complexities of crisis communications, client care and the importance of teamwork from the start. This challenging role honed my skills in navigating high-stakes environments, laying a solid foundation for my career.

Over the next 25 years, I progressed through roles at several of the world’s leading business services firms. I lived and worked all over the world and loved it all, mixing with a melting pot of people and cultures. Hong Kong was special: the energy and vitality of East meets West. Night markets and cocktail bars, sailing trips around the bay, and all that incredible cuisine. The farm girl had truly arrived in the metropolis.

Each career posting offered new challenges and learnings, particularly in understanding the nuances of selling services to sophisticated audiences and navigating various ownership structures. Some may say that my childhood encounters with snakes and crocodiles had helped to prepare me for the occasional machinations of corporate life…

Today, I love helping companies to grow by marketing and selling more successfully. My ethos is deeply influenced by my diverse background: from the red soil of Zimbabwe and the vineyards of Stellenbosch, to the cauldron of Hong Kong and back to the bustling streets of London. I bring a blend of practical wisdom, creative problem-solving, positivity and principles. I relish collaborating with teams to create and deliver winning formulas for growth. And my next adventure feels like it is always just around the corner…

Back to Insight