I have always been energised by ideas and creative thought. As a naïve 24 year old with only a short stint in the corporate world under my belt, I was lured by the entrepreneurial buzz of retail clothing – opening 2 stores, one at the Pavilion in 2001 and the other in Umhlanga Rocks in 2002. The experience presented me with a massive learning opportunity, and whilst exhilarating, it was also one of the most challenging and character building experiences of my life.
When I joined Appletree in 2004 (after selling my clothing business), I found a career that has given me the space to work freely with ideas that really have the capacity to catalyse meaningful change, for individuals and teams alike. In 2007, I completed my Master’s degree (cum laude) through the University of Stellenbosch with my research focusing specifically on employee engagement and the evolving relationship between work and life.
In 2008, my husband, David and I set off for South and Central America for 4 months with 2 backpacks and a dream of adventure and carefree afternoons spent pondering life in a hammock. The fruit of our travels was our long awaited baby girl, Sophie Hope, who has turned our worlds upside down and once again shifted our perspective of life. My current challenge is finding the right balance between being a great mom to this ever-changing little being and making a difference through the work that I love.
I am inspired by listening to people’s stories.
I am passionate about early Saturday mornings at Ushaka beach enjoying a surfski paddle with my husband. Pure joy!
What I love most about my work are those simple, personal moments of truth when the reality of “what is” meets the hope of “what could be”.
What I love most about living in SA is the warm sunshine that radiates through our people and makes the lifestyle here unbeatable.
I share my home with David, my husband who never ceases to make me laugh; Sophie, our beautiful baby daughter; Viv, our second mom who has worked for David’s family since he was one years old; and our rather eccentric pet fish, Dennis
I listen to my intuition most of the time.
I read all sorts – currently Freakanomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner; Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis, and Baby Sense are stacked beside my bed.
I believe in the sanctity of dreams (a line I love, but must confess is borrowed from Ed Kowalczyk of the band, Live).
You can contact Liesel on liesel@appletreelive.com or call her on 083 659 8446
