Who are the people behind it all at AdminAssist? That is exactly what our “Meet the Team” series is about. Helping our clients and network see exactly who is making the magic happen, what makes them qualified, and most importantly, what makes them, them!
In this article, we chat to Letitia Purchase, who manages all things related to our team and operations. Letitia holds a BSc. Microbiology degree and currently lives in Pretoria with her adventurous husband, two beautiful boys and two dogs.
What is Letitia’s role at AdminAssist?
Heading up Team Development & Operations, Letitia is taking our service delivery to the next level by making sure we recruit and invest in only the best assistants and then matching those assistants with the right clients and the support required.
Letitia works virtually and manages anything between 36 and 42 virtual as well as onsite assistants. Resource structuring and optimization has become one of her key contributing factors and through this the AdminAssist team solves one operational problem after another and manages various projects across international borders.
What did you do before joining AdminAssist?
My career started as a Microbiologist, entering the professional world as a junior hydrologist in a consulting engineering firm. It was there where my eyes opened to the excitement and challenges of the hypercompetition and non-stop innovation of the business world. I became involved in Operations Management and Auditing and gained a lot of experience in project management on all levels. When I had my children, I took a break from the hustle and bustle of the corporate world and the highways to Johannesburg to be able to invest more time in my boys. During this time, I had the privilege to work with industry giant Rev. Dirkie van der Spuy (amongst many) in a ministry called Moreleta Park Association, in Education, Training and development of Church-and Community Leaders offering support and resources and coordinating Leadership events to assist in serving these Church leaders.
What would you say is your strength/s?
It’s been said that “Intuition will tell the thinking mind where to look next.” – Jonas Salk
I have many years of experience in various sectors of operational management and coordination. Ambitious and motivated, I believe my key strength lies in my Strategic and Intuitive thinking ability. I am a forward thinker and research minded.
With a successful track record in cooperation between organisational operations, customer relations, and resource management, I work efficiently under high-pressure demands and pride myself on being a no-nonsense yet insightful decision-maker capable of leveraging opportunities to increase the growth and functioning of an enterprise, big or small.
I am resourceful and industrious, able to identify the organizational needs of an assignment with ease whilst possessing strong administration, presentation, and communication skills.
I have developed strong operating and strategic skills supporting my key characteristics which can be highlighted as Responsibility, Belief, Developer, Strategic and Learner (Gallup).
Describe the coolest project you have worked on at AdminAssist?
As director, we often climb in on projects to assist and get first-hand experience of the industry. This helps us to stay in touch with the experience of both the assistants as well as the clients.
The project I enjoyed most was setting up and auditing our client’s Project list to determine cash flow and ensure all quotes and contracts were listed, progress stated, and income and expenditure tracked. This enabled me to optimize his financial and admin processes and simplify his debtor follow ups.
If you could steal credit for any great piece of art, song, film, book etc which one would you claim?
Beatrix Potter’s, Peter Rabbit.
If you woke up and had 2,000 unread emails and could only answer 300 of them, how would you choose which ones to answer?
I would sort it by sender, scan through by subject and delete the junk/marketing emails, then look for duplicate subjects and read only the most recent emails in the conversation, after this I would look for any outstanding responses which I needed from staff/clients/queries. Unclear subjects I would delete without opening, Bank statements, Investment statements etc I would file until I needed them.
Tell us about something that is important to you.
I am passionate about education and educational systems as I believe it is the foundation for all people.
I remember all too well the long hours spent idly during my own childhood sitting in school reading dry-as-dust textbooks, studying only to pass the test, learning to play the ‘game’ of pleasing the teacher, and always feeling that there was more out there in life to learn about, ponder, and experience.
I want so much more for my own children and the generations of today, and I will never stop believing that it is within reach.
I want them to be prepared spiritually, intellectually, morally and academically to pursue wholeheartedly whatever passion would be on their hearts for the future, whether in the field of science, art, missions, homemaking, academics, or whatever.
I am devastated at what is being offered in some schools at the moment and I will continue to be close to the problem and hope to be part of the solution.
Anyone who knows Letitia knows she is a force to be reckoned with. Letitia forms an integral part of our team, which we are grateful for! Letitia here is to many more years and many more wins! We appreciate you! 😊
