"I worked within the HR field for 20 years, of which 10 years were spent heading up a team of recruiters recruiting contact centre agents for outsourcing projects.

In 2014 when online teaching was just starting to make an entrance, I was given the opportunity to set up and manage a team of teachers providing teaching services to a client from Asia. Working in this capacity was excellent exposure and when I later joined The Really Great Teacher Company I was well set to work with multiple clients.

In my current role, I lead our operations teams to ensure excellent client service and delivery. Our teams take care of our client’s performance management, payroll, scheduling, and day to day operational monitoring of the teaching team.

I live in a small town in the Western Cape South Africa called Paarl. It is a beautiful town in the heart of the Cape Winelands."

"In 2014 some of the brick-and-mortar schools started looking into an online model to supplement their teaching offering as the demand to learn English was growing. These progressive organisations and schools looked for countries where English native speakers were available to close these gaps. South Africa was identified as a market, and a few companies set up teaching centres and started the online offering including The Really Great Teacher Company.

This model continued until 2020 when COVID forced us to move off site and set up a home-based model. As The Really Great Teacher Company has successfully worked in centre, this shift was an easy transition. We found this resolved many of the daily operational issues and have continued providing our service in this manner."

"Teaching centres make communication more direct and face to face which is easier in some ways. However, the benefits of the home-based model, both for the teacher and the business, is far greater.

Teachers can safely work in their homes and therefore offering services on a 24/7 bases is much more practical. From a business perspective, we are not limited to source teachers within a certain proximity which gives us access to talent globally.

At The Really Great Teacher Company we have adapted our business to ensure engagement continues in a very positive manner, and that teachers still feel connected regardless of where they are based."

"To provide seamless service delivery, to make a positive impact on our clients' businesses, and to attract and retain the best teaching talent!"

“Our two main drivers are zero lost hours, and meeting our client’s performance benchmarks.

In many instances this happens naturally, as the students become the most important driver for teachers. Teachers become so committed to them, that they attend their classes and provide the best classes at all times.”

"I believe you need to:

1. Keep your finger on the pulse
2. Know your clients and what they need to succeed
3. Focus on your people by supporting, guiding, and motivating them."

"Daily communication is key to ensure that everyone is kept updated! Team huddles and weekly meetings are essential to ensure that all team members meet and formulate a daily/weekly plan.

These touch points ensure that there is connection at all points during the day and makes running a 24/7 operation possible. Our management teams also view and analyse weekly progress on all clients, and these points are collated and shared with our clients in our monthly client reports."

• "Working with people and developing them is the most enjoyable part of the job.
• Finding creative ways to be effective and removing obstacles, keep this role challenging.
• There is nothing better than seeing a motivated team that functions well."