My journey is a testament to the power of embracing the unexpected, transforming perceived setbacks into incredible stepping stones.
My early life was a blur of hoops and dreams. A family of four, our modest home was the launchpad for a kid obsessed with sports.
helpingFootball, futsal, but above all, basketball consumed me. I'd trek 30 minutes daily, rain or shine, just to challenge adults on the court, convinced my destiny lay in professional sports. The roar of the crowd, the swish of the net – it was all I could envision.
But destiny, as it often does, had a curveball waiting. The professional circuit was a sea of raw talent, and a stark reality set in: my path wasn't on the hardwood.
helpingYet the magnetic pull of sports remained. This led to an unexpected pivot: journalism. The allure of the spotlight, the best seats in the stadium, and the thrill of breaking a story seemed like the perfect next chapter. And for a time, it was. Despite the whispered caveats about "crazy deadlines" and "freedom of speech," I found my rhythm.
helpingBuilding networks, unearthing exclusive insights – I was living the media dream, or so I thought. But after two years, the routine gnawed at me. The thrill, once intoxicating, had faded into predictable patterns.
Then came the true plot twist. A close acquaintance suggested a radical departure: Human Resources. From court king to corporate cog? It seemed ludicrous.
helpingYet a quiet curiosity propelled me forward. I started as an HR coordinator, a blank slate ready to be written on. Fortuitously, a phenomenal manager became my mentor, a guiding light who transformed a daunting new field into an exciting expedition. The learning was rapid, the growth exponential. In a mere four years, I wasn't just coordinating; I was managing the HR landscape across four different countries.
My ultimate test arrived in 2016. As oil prices plummeted and retrenchments swept the globe, fear gripped the industry.
helpingYet, amidst the chaos, my company made an audacious move. Instead of letting me go, they transferred me to Saudi Arabia to join the local HR team, despite a formidable language barrier. This wasn't just a job transfer; it was a testament to my unexpected prowess, a defiant roar against the economic storm. This was my first monumental triumph in HR, a moment that solidified my belief in my newfound path.
helpingFrom the deserts of Saudi Arabia, my journey accelerated through the intricate worlds of logistics, supply chain, and finally, fintech, each industry adding new layers of expertise to my ever-evolving profile. My career became a mosaic of diverse challenges and rewarding victories.
Then, in 2020, a new calling resonated – the innovative spirit of inDrive. And as they say, the rest is history.
helpingMy journey, from the courts of my youth to the dynamic corridors of global HR, is a testament to the power of embracing the unexpected, transforming perceived setbacks into incredible stepping stones, and continuously redefining what's possible.
helpingMy time at inDrive has been a period of profound mutual growth, where the company's significant expansion has directly mirrored my own development, both personally and professionally. Despite never having worked for a local multinational corporation before, my transition into inDrive's dynamic environment was remarkably seamless, thanks to the supportive colleagues and engaging projects I've been fortunate to contribute to.
The demanding nature of the work at inDrive, though challenging, allowed my inherent work ethic to truly flourish. This cultivated a dedicated focus on continuous personal and professional advancement.
helpingIn 2023, with my third inDrive anniversary on the horizon, our global staffing team faced a persistent, pressing issue: the lack of a scalable solution for managing our vast network of agents. Previous attempts with platforms such as Easy Staff and Payoneer fell short, leaving critical gaps in our ability to provide proper documentation like payslips and formal employment contracts.
My manager and I recognized this as a strategic imperative. We embarked on an exhaustive December initiative, engaging with potential vendors across diverse time zones, often extending our work into the late hours.
helpingThis meticulous process culminated in the selection of Remotepass, a partner whose platform aligned most effectively with our operational demands for agent and freelancer management.
helpingThe successful vendor selection marked merely 30% of the journey. The subsequent phases involved complex customization to meet our unique organizational requirements and, crucially, securing financial and operational buy-in from various internal divisions. This period of intense learning, adaptation, and continuous stakeholder engagement was, at times, immensely overwhelming.
However, the collective strength of our organization proved paramount.
helpingThrough close collaboration with colleagues in PnC, Procurement, and Treasury, and with the unwavering support of department heads and team leads, we successfully integrated Remotepass. Today, we proudly manage close to 400 freelancers on the platform, which has become our foundational resource for establishing operations in new markets worldwide.
helpingThis initiative, now extending to the development of a comprehensive Contingency Workforce portal with Procurement, represents not only one of my most challenging projects at inDrive - but also one of the most professionally satisfying, due to its profound impact and the collaborative spirit that drove its success.
