Name:
Jolene Ekuam
Company Role:
Junior Consultant
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What do you do at Omnia Retail?
I am undertaking the traineeship program at Omnia. Currently I am part of the sales team, working as a business development representative. My day to day responsibilities involve vetting the leads that we receive from our marketing team's efforts and generating new business from right fit prospects.
What is something people in your industry have to deal with that you want to fix?
I feel quite strongly about the topic of closing the gender gap in Tech. Future solutions are being developed by tech businesses, which are progressively influencing the course of humanity. The issue is that there are not enough women in these positions, especially in senior leadership positions, which poses a threat to exclude half of the world's population from discussions that will determine our shared destiny. I hope to one day influence and encourage young women like myself to venture into the tech industry.
What is your past experience, of working in your position?
My educational background is in economics and management, I graduated with a Bachelor in Business from Monash University in South Africa. Thereafter I moved to the Netherlands and pursued my Master studies at the Maastricht School of Management. Alongside my studies, I also did an internship at a health-tech startup based in Delft.
What do you like about working at Omnia Retail so far?
I really like the company culture and my colleagues at Omnia. We are a very diverse bunch and we embrace each other's diversity. I enjoy the flexible work arrangement whereby one can choose whether to work from home or from our office at Amstel.
What are the values that drive you?
Empathy, Self-reflection, Integrity and Loyalty
What are your top favorite books, podcasts, or documentaries?
Books: Martha Beck – The Way of Integrity
Podcast: Oprah's ‘Super Soul’ podcast (for inspiration) & Adelle Onyango’s ‘Legally clueless’ (for relatability and a good laugh)
Documentary: Beyonce's Homecoming (this interview would not be complete if I did not find a way to include Queen B!)
What do you enjoy doing when you are not working?
I love seeing and experiencing new things, I love to travel and explore new places and meet new faces. I am always open to trying out new activities or new cuisines whenever I can. I love to experiment in the kitchen with different recipes and soon I hope to start taking acting classes which I used to love when I was younger.
Let’s end with your favorite quote!
“Knowledge has to be improved, challenged and increased constantly, or it vanishes.” - Peter Drucker.
