What has inspired you to stay at Bernstein for as long as you have?
I feel grateful to work alongside people who have a solid work ethic and truly care about what they do. Yet, we all still make time for fun and laughs throughout the day, which is more important now than ever. While this answer is short and sweet, it truly sums up how much I appreciate having such incredible people on my team and by my side.
What’s the most fulfilling aspect of being a manager?
In order to effectively contribute to someone’s professional development, inherently, you will have to give feedback at some point that they might not want to hear. These moments, however hard they might be, create the catalyst for one of the most gratifying parts of my job: watching someone internalize my observations, understand the reasoning behind my suggestions, and most beneficially, adapt their behavior so they can reap the benefits of those changes. I’m so grateful to every manager I’ve had at Bernstein who delivered constructive criticism in a kind way, and challenged and supported me so I could grow into the professional that I am today. Hopefully, I can pay it forward by doing the same for my team.
If you didn’t work for Bernstein, what else would you be doing?
Prior to joining Bernstein, I taught English to preschoolers in a township outside of Cape Town, South Africa. This experience shaped my personality and character more than any other that I’ve had to date. Teaching is something I would love to do again for two reasons. First, I believe that education lays a foundation for virtually everything. There are huge disparities in the quality of education that kids receive around the world, and I would love to be a part of changing that narrative. Second, children see the world in a way that is kind, beautiful, and fun. Every person, including myself, could benefit from having more pure, childlike energy in their life.