Making a Difference One Person at a Time with Guest Teri Wells

Recorded live at the Executive Secretary LIVE conference in San Jose, California on November 17, 2018. R/T 30:51

Our guest is Teri Wells who has worked as an Executive Assistant in Johannesburg, South Africa for 29 years. In 2015, she had coffee with fellow EA and speaker Anel Martin which is when “Isipho” was born. Isipho translates to “the gift” which in this case means the gift of education. It started as Teri’s and Anel’s way of paying it forward in a profession that has given them both so much.

They collaborated with Executive Secretary Magazine Founder Lucy Brazier and together, they set out to change lives and wow, did they ever. They raised money to send promising young adults to a vocational school that would train them to work as administrative professionals. The tuition for the ten month program is approximately $1,200 USD/per candidate. Teri and Anel also determined to provide mentors and ongoing support for these students who otherwise, would have no chance to attain this training.

Listen to Teri’s moving stories of Lerato and Iris, two girls who graduated from the program. Learn what you, your manager or your assistant network can do to make a difference one person at a time. Teri inspires us to understand to our core what is possible when we decide to make it happen.

“Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world. In fact it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead

Note: At this writing, through the generosity of our attendees and their employers, four students were fully funded at the LIVE conference in San Jose.

One full scholarship was donated by an Assistant in the audience
A 2nd scholarship was donated by one of the speakers
A 3rd scholarship was sponsored by an assistant’s executive (by phone)
And the final scholarship was sponsored by the money raised during the conference from the attendees.