I recently started with a new team and arranged one-on-one meetings to understand each member better—emotionally, physically, and mentally. These sessions brought up a range of emotions: despair, sadness, hope, and optimism.

I grew up in the fast paced, bustling city of Johannesburg, South Africa. I studied civil engineering at Wits University, where I developed a strong work ethic and the “engineering mindset.” At the end of my third year, I did some vacation work and quickly realised that I’d be far happier pursuing a career in another field.

I took 500 hours and 4 minutes of work time to complete my 117-page masters dissertation on “The nature of project management in South African SME’s.” See how I spent my time.