Get to know the talented, diverse, and powerhouse women that shape MakeReign.
What better way to wrap up women’s month than by celebrating our female foundation, and the women that make us tick.
In their own unique and diverse ways, the women of MakeReign each contribute to the daily functioning and success of our company. As women’s month draws to a close, it would be remiss not to highlight and appreciate the women that make us tick, celebrate the way they think, learn from their stories, and most of all, appreciate the value that they add.
We took the time to learn more about who they are, what they love, their journey to MakeReign, and their adventures as a part of our team. From user interface experts, product managers, research specialists, and leaders in management across the board, we discovered that MakeReign’s women are a force to be reckoned with.
Here are just a few snippets of the responses from a wide range of the 70% of women that make up MakeReign.
Meet and greet.
What’s a fun fact about you that no-one knows… until we reveal it to our readers here?
Tessa: I speak Montenegrin, and since it’s a Balkan language, I can also speak and understand Croatian, Serbian, Bosnian, and Slovenian.
Kelli: I published a short story in a ghost novel when I was seven years old.
Shelby: I have a super irrational phobia of green highlighters (insert embarrassed face!)
Natalie: I’m a 200hr RYT Vinyasa qualified yoga teacher, and own a yoga studio with my best friend! Movement is my passion in life.
Sarisha: I write all birthday cards with a red pen.
Daniele: I play the violin, and I’m allergic to Nickel!
Selina: I have to watch movies/series with subtitles.
Madele: When I was 11, I went to Brazil to compete in a martial arts world championship, and came first in my age group!
Emma: My legal name is Enna, but my preferred name is Emma.
Is there a phrase, quote or concept that you live by, that keeps you grounded or that inspires you to be your best self?
“How you do anything is how you do everything.” - Tessa Vujovic, Product Designer
Kelli: “In a gentle way, you can shake the world.”
Natalie: “Believe in the little things.” The little habits you live by shape who you are. The tiny details you notice, and work to achieve, help perfect your craft. The small, kind gestures and sentiments you share can help those around you. The things that often go unnoticed in your every day make the world a more magical place, when you start to pay attention to them. It’s the little things in life that make life worth living.
Elize: I believe in the power of positivity, and that everything is achievable. I refuse to let negativity enter my life, and make a conscious effort to surround myself with positive people that have the same outlook on life.
Madele: “You are not the work you do, you are the person you are.”
Danelle: “Your vibe attracts your tribe.”
Emma: My dad always says; “There are no wrong choices, there are just choices. You need to make one in order to know if it’s right or wrong for you. Then you have your next set of choices based on that choice. No need to look too far back.”
Women’s Day: What does it mean to you?
As a woman, what does this day represent for you?
“I get to celebrate all the women before me that paved the way to my success. It’s a powerful message and reminder to constantly break barriers of the stigmas placed on women, and to keep pushing through the hard times. Nothing good ever comes easily.” - Selina Dhanasar, Mid-Level Project Manager
Tessa: It means that I shouldn’t take for granted the opportunity I’ve been given to speak for what I want, and to be proud to be a woman.
Mbali: It’s a reminder that we have come so far, but that we still have a long way to go.
Elize: It is wonderful to see women succeed in the workplace, but why shouldn’t they? We are as capable as any man, we all have our strengths and weaknesses, and we all have adversity and difficulties to overcome.
Daniele: Acknowledging how far we’ve come as women — commemorating not only our achievements but also the resilience we’ve shown, and keep showing, to be seen and heard. I don’t like seeing it as a singular ‘day’ or event where we celebrate women. To me, it’s more of a reminder to continuously empower other women and strive towards equality.
What do you believe are the characteristics you need in order to succeed as a woman in your field?
Kelli: Empathy, compassion, honesty, integrity, and self-awareness.
Sarisha: Self-belief, ambition and confidence.
Madikela: Resilience, self-awareness, and confidence in your work. Take up space.
Mila: You need to be passionate about what you do, take pride in your work and have a drive to learn.
Natalie: Women who understand their value and are confident in the role they would like to play are powerful assets and allies to any business’ success. The humility to constantly learn from those around you, so that you can infuse your own style and personality onto layered years of experience and foundations of success. Understanding that no one is above the learning process.
What is your perspective on the current status of women in the workplace, and some of the issues that women still face in our own industry?
Shelby: I feel extremely privileged to be in a working environment where I feel valued and respected as a person and as a woman. I have never felt that I have not been given equal opportunity to succeed as my male counterparts. I have had so many fantastic female role models and an equal number of male allies who stand with us in the fight for equality. In my opinion there is still a long way to go, a lot of wrongs to right, and a long, complicated path ahead to achieve true equality, but that we are heading in the right direction.
Mbali: Under representation, especially women of colour.
Marelieze: Overall, I think we are still severely underestimated in our ability to lead and take charge, and our opinions are still undervalued to a certain extent. We still face a lot of misogyny within many workplaces.
What do you believe that women bring to the table in the working world, and how do you think women in leadership benefit a company?
Danelle: [Women] bring the heartbeat to the table: Leading with our emotions on our sleeves is our strength.
Kelli: [Women] are central to it — we need their perspectives and viewpoints, collaboration between different viewpoints is key in the world today.
Genie: In organisations where I have seen boys clubs develop unchecked, it [can] lead to a culture of exclusivity that [doesn’t] benefit anyone. Women, other men or people of colour all suffered from the lack of inclusivity. Having diversity in a leadership team is essential in developing an empathic culture where multiple points of view are welcomed and it sets a tone where anyone can work to become senior decision makers based on merit.
Emma: Community, compassion, joy and inspiration.
Madikela: Women take companies to greater heights, and help them achieve great potential.
Kate: Diversity of every kind benefits a company, one big reason for which is that our differing contexts and experiences mean we have different perspectives that we can bring and potentially fresh ideas.
Shelby: I think that every woman understands the struggles that we [as a collective] have endured in the past, and in a lot of ways, continue to feel.When it comes to the working world, this appreciation of the opportunity that we now have compared to what it once was ignites a certain fire in women to succeed and take hold of every opportunity we are presented with.
“This is what we bring to the table — a hunger and desire to contribute, succeed and to continue to build a better future.” - Shelby Andrews, Mid-Level Project Manager
Natalie: A beautiful blend of empathy and compassion alongside strength and resilience. Moving through the world as a woman brings about inherent adversities to overcome, which women seem to do with a natural grace and diplomacy, while always striving to uplift those around them in the process. It’s a magnetic energy to be around, and there is strength within that solidarity.
Sarisha: Having women in the workplace helps stop bias in new systems and helps correct bias in established systems.
What advice would you give your younger self when it comes to navigating the working world as a woman, or what advice would you give the next generation of female leaders?
“Embrace your empathy, your courage, and your voice.” - Emma Hobson, Junior ‘UX-pert’
Tessa: Have a strong work ethic. Know when to say no. Follow your gut. Be curious. Have an open mindset.
Kelli: Be yourself and don’t let anyone deny you a seat at the table.
Shelby: Don’t hide the innate qualities that come with being a woman. These will empower you and make you more successful in what you do. Surround yourself with the kind of people that build you up, and do the same for them.
Mbali: Being a woman is not a weakness.
Madikela: Don’t let anyone dim your light.
Marelieze: Take up space, and ask questions.
Danelle: If you don’t know how, find someone that does. Ask questions, and have patience with the process.
Elize: The reward that comes with doing work you enjoy is probably the most valuable piece of advice I can give anyone.
MakeReign’s Women.
Working with a variety of women at MakeReign, what do you believe characterizes MakeReign women?
“The women of MakeReign are bold & brilliant; they embrace challenges with grace, grit and determination. Every woman at MakeReign has their own bright sense of self that shines through in everything they do, and when combined, those personalities create a powerhouse collective of women who are actively changing the digital landscape every single day.”- Natalie de Canha, Creative Group Head
Emma: Strong, skilled, and supportive.
Genie: I am very inspired by the new generation of young women that I work with. They have such a sense of empathy, and are very hardworking and determined. They don’t tolerate half the cr*p I put up with as a junior!
Madikela: Powerful, creative, and strong. Powerhouses!
Selina: We’re each other’s cheerleaders. That’s a pretty dope support system to have in a workplace.
Kate: Their individualism, and diversity of thought. Good people, independent personalities, and lots of talent.
Mila: Strong, driven, passionate, and talented as hell.
Wrapping Up.
Possibly the most critical question of all; if you were a fruit, which one would you be and why?
Kelli: Avocado; those things are a powerhouse of nutrients and goodness. Who doesn’t love avocado?
Mbali: Watermelon; it’s bold and refreshing, like I aspire to be.
Selina: Dragon Fruit; an acquired taste, but good for you.
Danelle: A tomato, because no one expected you to be a fruit.
We greatly appreciate our collection of driven, determined, skilled, empathetic, passionate, and all-round wonderful women at MakeReign, for exactly who they are, and all that they bring to the table.
As we wrap up Women’s Month, we’d like leave you with this;
To all of the women we have the honour to know and learn from, and those we have yet to meet; embrace your empathy, be proud of your strength, use your voice, and know your worth.
MakeReign helps connect brands with consumers through digital interfaces. Combining research, data, user-centered design and testing with real customers, they create interfaces and experiences that reach millions — transforming business and delivering growth for their clients.
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