September 22, 2022
5 min read
Name: Jenna Blake
Title: Digital Operations Manager
Years with the company: Over 5 months
My work history is really varied. I started out working with kids who had been excluded from school, and have since worked for manufacturing companies in the energy and water industries, and most recently, parenting brands. To sum up my background: it’s customer services and operations. I make sure that things are aligned and working as one, and that everybody knows what everybody else is doing and, more importantly, why they’re doing it.
In one role, I helped to set up and launch a solar panel business, and learnt about installation. I’m actually certified to fix solar panels to your roof. I’ve always thought if I’m going to ask people to do something, I need to know how to do it myself. My philosophy is: if I don’t know how to do it, then I’ll find a way.
When it comes to Operations in business, everyone thinks it’s about ‘fixing things’, but it isn’t. It’s about putting systems in place so they never need fixing. It’s about streamlining. You want to put things in place that make your teams’ lives – and those everyday tasks and processes – simpler. At a business level, it’s about questioning if what should be happening is taking place, whether it’s happening in the most efficient way and see if you can save time and money.
My initial impressions were that everybody here knows exactly what they are doing, but they don’t always know how to effectively share that. We have our marketing, sales, finance and tech teams, so initial thoughts were: it’s good, everyone knows their stuff inside out, but how do we keep making improvements and bring it all together to operate as one business, one company.
The banter [laughter] – it’s a breath of fresh air. I love it here. The way everyone is with each other is completely down-to-earth. I’ve never worked at a company where I instantly felt like part of the team.
I wouldn’t be able to do it at all, but I’d love to experience the social media side – getting involved in Facebook, Instagram or TikTok content.
In previous roles, I would have to leave at 5:30am and not get back until early evening and then have to try and cram in all the ‘mommy’ things, plus the cooking, cleaning and other parts of life. Since being here and working from home, I get to take my little ones to school in the morning and still be back at my desk for 9am, and pick them up in the afternoon.
It doesn’t make me do any less work, but I’m able to feel like I’m being a mum while still doing a full-time role. The flexibility has changed things not just for me, but for my family because I’m around more. I think if you give a little in terms of freedom, you get a lot more back from your team.
Definitely how to juggle working full-time and being a mum of four.
I don’t have too much time for either, but I do enjoy a movie.
I love The Green Mile, but also a good comedy when I’m in the mood.
Switzerland. Anywhere is great but Val d’Hérens in Valais is my favourite, which has the tallest Dam in Europe and lots of places to hike and ski as a family.
Ice cream. I could eat that every day [laughter].
I once did a skydive for charity.
A razor, sun cream (because I burn easily) and a toolbox full of tools.
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