Introducing Michele vd Westhuizen

Proudly affiliated with our sister company, Enshrine Virtual Resource (EVR).

I play two roles at Enshrine Placements. I source and recruit high-level Engineering and Technical talent and I am also the COO of Enshrine Placements, driving business development, brand awareness, training and development, aligning our systems and processes with our strategic goals. I play a critical role “behind-the-scenes” in putting in place and refining our infrastructure to ensure maximum efficiencies for our consultants to deliver an expert and unique service to our clients.

On a more personal note, I am the mother of a beautiful daughter who is 14 years of age – she is the light of my life! I completed my B.Com degree (majored in Business Management and Economics) part-time, as a mother, a wife and with an extremely demanding job.

I think the reason that I am able to balance all of the above is firstly, in terms of my work, I absolutely love what I do and I am at the top of my game. Our business is virtual and so our agents work from home which is a great bonus and provides me with the flexibility to spend quality time with my family. I tend to have a natural affinity in areas such as engineering and information technology, wanting to know how things work. I tend to gravitate towards the manufacturing and associated industries, whether it be automotive, plastics and packaging or even bulk material handling or process equipment.

I love tinkering with our systems and processes; finding new ways to add value and to make the “Enshrine experience” more efficient and pleasurable for our Recruitment Consultants, clients and candidates. I am meticulous, stringent and always striving for perfection, and I fit in with our Enshrine values. I’m compassionate and love adding value or making a difference for someone, somewhere; most especially in placing the right talent with the right company, playing a pivotal role in both our candidates’ and our clients’ success.

Introducing Michele vd Westhuizen
Location: South Africa, KwaZulu Natal
Home & other languages: Afrikaans, English
Highest qualification type: Degree
University: University of South Africa
Discipline: Business Management
Years of experience: More than 10 years
Division: General and Operations Management
Gender: Female
Ethnicity: Caucasian/White
Nationality: South African
Highest Formal Qualification: B.Com General, majoring in economics and business (including strategic and quantitative) management.
Other Formal Qualification: ICDL certificate.
Introducing Michele vd Westhuizen
What is your current/ most recent job title?

Chief Operating Officer (COO) & Enshrine Agent

What is the primary purpose of this position?

As COO I need to ensure that we have efficient and effective operating systems and procedures that enable and empower our Virtual Recruitment Agents and Collaboration Partners to provide the best possible service to their clients. In addition, these systems and procedures should be designed, developed and refined on an ongoing basis to support the strategic goals set for the business.

As a Recruitment Agent I need to understand and align the needs and expectations of my clients and candidates, ensuring that the best person for the position is hired at the right time and for the right reasons.

What are the core elements or functions that must operate effectively in order for you to achieve your primary purpose?

First and foremost, I need to be adaptable – adaptable to change, to different people as well as different circumstances and environments.
I need to attend 3-monthly strategic meetings and monthly progress meetings; to set and communicate clear, achievable expectations and goals to the team.

Very important also is to continuously refine systems and processes to function optimally, to design new ones if needed and to provide proper training to the team.

Of equal importance would be to plan, schedule and control the activities that successfully transform inputs (labour) into outputs (service). Hand-in-hand with that would be the mentoring of Administrators and Sub-Agents.
Assistance in business development / creating brand awareness / and being an ambassador for Enshrine is another core component of my responsibility.

Being an Enshrine Agent ensures that I get to experience the “Enshrine Recruitment Experience” first-hand and places me in an ideal position to observe and improve.

What are some of your greatest achievements?

My main focus has always been on the operational and administrative functions of the business. I never considered recruitment as a career choice and when I joined Enshrine I never envisioned becoming part of that aspect of the business.

Having no prior recruitment experience whatsoever, and only being involved in recruitment part-time, I am proud to say that I have personally secured R1.8 million in revenue for Enshrine over the past 2 years.

This not only proves the invaluable (engineering and technical) recruitment training provided to our team on an ongoing basis, but also shows that the “behind-the-scenes” systems and processes I work so hard at putting in place and refining truly are effective at empowering our Enshrine Agents and increasing their efficiency.

An efficient and effective Recruitment Agent will ensure a continuous stream of revenue for the business and for themselves, meaning that our Agents are being empowered both from a financial perspective as well as a personal/growth perspective (taking into account our strong focus on Contribution Compass profiles and us consciously and continually trying to align our Agents’ natural energies and strengths to their daily activities).

If you were to illuminate your skills and abilities along with your greater purpose and passions in life, how would you describe yourself?

I have to first state that my dual roles at Enshrine, as both a COO and a Recruitment Agent, is a perfectly harmonious blend that speaks to my purpose and passions and also greatly combines my skills, strengths and natural energies along with my personal characteristics.

On the one hand I am meticulous, stringent and always striving for perfection. On the other hand, I am compassionate and I love adding value or making a difference for someone somewhere.

With a refining eye and razor-sharp detail, I cut through the noise and focus on the main issue(s) at hand – the bottom line. I have the ability to assess and solve complex problems, whilst optimising efficiency and return. My natural energy is maximised when I analyse and test and add value or find solutions. I tackle obstacles head-on, solve problems and see new opportunities missed by others. Simultaneously I can spark activity, drive others forward and maximise their view of the bigger picture. The mediator in me keeps me open-minded, willing to listen and understand the perspectives of others; wanting to get as much information as possible and truly think things through before acting or responding.

What do you absolutely love doing?

From an operational perspective – and in keeping with my Contribution Compass profile as a Calibrator – I love tinkering with our systems and processes; finding new ways to add value and to make the “Enshrine experience” more efficient and pleasurable for both our Agents as well as our clients and candidates.

Recruitment has become a part of me and I absolutely love being able to bring together an employer/employee match that will be built on a solid foundation and that will prosper and grow into a fruitful and long-term professional relationship.