A friendly and familiar face to many in Dundee, Susan Joubert could soon be crowned Solidariteit’s Office Champion for 2021.
Mrs Joubert, who works in the finance office at Dundee Junior School, was nominated for the competition by fellow colleague Meliska Herbst.
“I felt extremely proud and honoured to be nominated. It is a countrywide competition and out of all the nominations, only 125 people were shortlisted.”
Not only was Mrs Joubert shortlisted, but following the voting phases, she made it through to the top 25 who will compete for the crown. The winner will be announced at a gala evening on September 2 in Pretoria.
Born in Pretoria, Mrs Joubert moved to Bloemfontein at a young age and it was there that she met her husband, Wankie. The couple have lived in Dundee since 1980 and even ran their own business for a few years. Mrs Joubert then got a post at Dundee Junior School (DJS), where she was a facilitator for the Soul Buddyz Club and currently facilitates the Rotary Early Act Club.
Excited at the prospect of taking home the coveted title of Office Champion, Mrs Joubert had the following advice for employees in similar roles.
“To be successful, you have to set goals and focus on your work. Plan every day and be prepared to constantly prioritise. Adapt to changes and show the necessary respect to every one of your colleagues, no matter what their culture or background is.
“Be good to yourself and do not indulge in or entertain office gossip. Add a dash of daily humour to lighten the atmosphere. What you say about others and how you treat others says everything about you.”
She also encourages employees to continue learning and never assume that you know everything there is to know.
“Take every opportunity that comes your way to attend courses and workshops. Be independent and learn something new daily. Never expect to be successful if you are not prepared to be a dedicated, loyal, reliable, honest and hardworking employee. Always admit when you are wrong and rectify your mistake.”
Mrs Joubert thanked Meliska for nominating her, school principal Mr Maree for giving his staff opportunities to grow, and the ‘ingenious’ staff at DJS for being who they are.
“Don’t be afraid to be amazing and remember that happiness is an inside job,” she concluded with a smile.
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