I actually studied tourism, really different, I know. Living in South Africa at that time, the tourism industry was not booming with job opportunities for a newly qualified person, which forced me to look into other industries and areas. From there, my studies diversified from hospitality to more business-focused areas obtaining multiple and diverse certification and software training. This included in-house proposal and marketing training in the US as well as Strategy to Win sessions in both Amsterdam and Camberley. Strategy to Win sessions are focused ‘think tanks’ that help you identify and communicate your unique value proposition, understand the client and competitor and drive competitive advantages in your submission which naturally increases your chances of winning.

I think everyone in an organisation adds value. Coming from a multi-cultural background, I understand the importance of respecting and valuing all people from all other cultures, and backgrounds. We all have something to offer, - there is a genius in us all.

I believe that coming from a non-technical background helps me to provide insights and solutions from a different perspective, which can only complement and enhance the technical aspects of the proposal. Having soft skills that are essential for effective communication, collaboration, and problem-solving is just as vital as having the technical expertise.

Why Bid Management? I love working with people and I love managing projects – look at that…. I get to do both in Bid Management. You need strong collaboration and project management skills to coordinate the various stakeholders involved in a bid process. I get to see complex requests for proposals, turn to masterful solutions from our team all the while juggling the various tasks required to push the bid over the submission line. The consistently evolving proposals that come in keep me enthusiastic as no proposal is the same, I can therefore keep learning – I believe we are never too old to learn new things.

Well, in bid management I am fortunate enough to work with the ‘brains’ of the organisation, the engineers / technical experts and authors. I find this one of the most interesting parts of the job. Again it comes down to respect and effective communication in each new bid team. I often try to adjust my bid management style to suit each technical lead (engineer), getting to know their likes and dislikes. This is when teamwork shines. I collaborate with them on projects and tasks, and support them when they need help or guidance. I also learn from them and often look for advice when I encounter technical issues or difficulties.

Lucky for me, the skills you need in Bid Management can be used in a wide variety of industries. Most of my previous working experience has been in the construction industry, so not too diverse in the sense that it included complex bids which offered an engineering solution, that is, always dealing with technically smart products and services.

When arriving in Germany I worked in the hospitality arena but was soon drawn back to a field I know well. I started looking for my next professional challenge in an international, multi-lingual work environment. Living in Darmstadt led me to the great opportunity of the Space Industry. The integration from construction to the space industry was an easy and natural one. And here I am. A Bid Manager at Telespazio Germany.