Tell me about Homemation.
Homemation is a distribution company that supplies premium audiovisual, automation and other lifestyle products to the South African and sub-Saharan African markets. Homemation products serve the residential, commercial and hospitality markets, and the company has certified specialist retailers and qualified custom installers.
What did you study and how does that help you do your job?
I studied BA marketing communications at RAU (now the University of Johannesburg) and then did a postgraduate diploma in management at Wits Business School. It gave me the tools to apply modern business knowledge and innovative management tools to real-life cases. Having learnt the basic principles of marketing, research and branding helps me with strategy formation and tools for building customer loyalty. It also taught me strong interpersonal and communication skills. The diploma emphasised the importance of working in teams and creating a productive environment.
How did you come to work in sound/music/audiovisual and tech?
I have always been in love with music and good sound. From a young age I had huge speakers plugged into my radio/CD player and used to pump up the volume to energise me before school.
What do you love most about your work?
We work in such an innovative and ever-changing environment. I love learning about all the new tech and, even better, experiencing it in our world-class listening and cinema rooms. The only problem is you never want to listen to music or watch a movie any other way. Once you’ve heard this quality sound from our leading brands it’s hard to appreciate poor-quality sound systems. We also work by the motto “work hard, play hard”, which is important for me in a working environment.
What is your morning routine?
It starts with music. We wake up to music, it plays through my in-ceiling speakers in the bedroom and through to the bathroom so I can even enjoy the tunes in the shower. Then it’s a bit of a mad rush getting the children ready for school and all bags packed and in the car. Music follows us again to hype us up for the day, as the children and I all get a turn to choose a song for the drive.
What did you want to be when you were a child?
I wanted to be in the fashion industry, travelling the world and buying clothes for well-known retail stores and brands. It sounded like a glamorous job and I love travelling and, of course, clothes.
What advice do you have for young people wanting to work in your industry?
Don’t shy away from this industry thinking it’s a men’s playground. It is exciting, challenging, never static and forward-thinking. There is no better industry to be part of in this age of ever-developing technology and the Internet of Things (IOT).
Is there enough of a female voice in your industry?
It is definitely a male-dominated industry. However, with tech being the way of the future, more and more women are becoming involved — not as much in sales, but in the form of female bloggers and influencers, who all take an active interest in audio and home automation.
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