This question has come up during a number of interviews to which I’ve been invited since we first decided to move to London.
Much like the first time any of the “Tell me about a time when you…” scenarios is first posed, this one has had me thinking. I understand this is not ideal and I should have all these answers at the ready. It appears when you are asking me about me, I am less than articulate – zero brevity. This is interview suicide, and I continue to live in hope of success.
While I continue to battle the beast that is competency based interviewing, I’ve narrowed it down to two projects.
The first, a research piece looking at the gap between actual and prescribed minimum wage in the supply chain of the clothing division of a retailer and then a sequel comparing the actual unit price of a garment paid to factory vs unit cost of wages for that same garment at prescribed minimum. Just WOW. The upside down business model of fashion. Sadly, I can’t share the visuals. I can confirm replicating the methodology at other retailers shows consistency in the degree of upside-downness of the fashion business model. There’s no retailer at whom to point a finger as a way of finding resolution… there is only supply and demand and bravery of fashion retailers to dare to be different. Use the risk as a marketing opportunity like no other, one that requires the full follow-through of the whole organisation.
The second, working with NIVEA to facilitate articulation of the global CSR Strategy in a local context, identifying the most incredible non-profit, Thanda, and project managing the funding flow to realise some key milestones in the expansion and ongoing work of one of the most incredible organisations. In this case I can share one of Thanda’s videos which shows some of the Early Childhood Development (ECD) classrooms it felt like we built with our own hands at times – as all builds do – as well as one of the most progressive and responsive ECD curriculums out there. Unprecedented storms highlighting the imperatives of a ‘just transition’ and a global pandemic only made the Thanda team dig deeper into even more creative and impactful responses. More WOW.
And that’s my final answer. These two.
It has been my absolute privilege.
