Meet Anya Africa, Head of Operations, Global

Tell us about your role at The Ortus Club and how you got there.

I’ve held several roles at The Ortus Club, including GD, ATL, Head of OA, Sam interpreter, and Formula decoder. It felt like a natural progression for me to take over Global Operations.

A year ago, Mara, our then Global Head of Operations, was preparing to pursue a different role in the company, and Sam initially proposed this role to me. At first, I was strongly opposed. It was a huge responsibility, and historically, it had been difficult to balance with everything else. I was already struggling in my previous role as Head of Operational Activities: juggling business intelligence, operations excellence, and other duties like administrative and management ones. I wasn’t ready at that time; I wanted to find my footing before committing. However, this year started with a different energy and momentum, and I eventually decided to take on the role. So, here I am now.

As Head of Global Operations, I’m the go-to person for anything operations-related. I represent the operations team in management, make decisions on resources, processes, and business intelligence, and contribute to company-wide strategies. I collaborate closely with the performance team to identify areas for improvement and ensure we’re providing the best service. I also work with sales to ensure that the projects we’re bringing in align with our resources. Additionally, I analyse data to assess performance gaps and help the entire company understand how we’re doing, whether it’s project execution or evaluating our time and effort.

Can you name anyone who has had a lasting, positive impact on your career? What did they do for you?

There are a few people whom I have to thank for being a positive influence on how I work and who I am today:

• • • NCT: They remind me how much I need to work so I can afford the concert and travel lifestyle.
    • My first boss at my first adult job: I worked in a startup where I handled operations excellence and external HR, including firing people who didn’t deliver. It was tough, and I hated it at times, but I learned to respect her. She taught me to have a more traditional outlook on work, which helped me stay humble and understand that not everything is as it seems.
    • My mom: She always operated with the belief that whatever situation I find myself in is a result of my own choices. This has shaped me as both a manager and an employee, ensuring that I don’t take on anything I’m not confident I can deliver on. I also try not to regret my choices because, after all, they were my decisions.
    • Jamie: Coming into The Ortus Club was jarring, but Jamie always hyped me up. She keeps me in check and reminds me that we’re just 27-year-olds with once-in-a-lifetime responsibilities. Her encouragement has been invaluable, even though all I do is fiddle with formulas.
    • Jess: Since day one, Jess has been a comforting voice. We have regular check-ins where she reminds me to take breaks and that no one expects anything from me because, regardless of whatever happens, they know it’s me. She also tells me I’m level-headed, which feeds my Aquarius ego
    • Sam: Sam constantly challenges me. I appreciate the trust he has in me and the team now, but he’s really shaped how I view certain things and has always pushed me to find the best compromises. I’ve learned to be a great manager and communicator because of the challenges Sam presents.

What makes you the best at what you do? What values drive you to perform even better?

I’m driven by a fear of incompetence, so I always ensure I deliver to the best of my ability. And so, out of all our Ortus values, “We Deliver” resonates with me the most. I strive to consistently go above and beyond my responsibilities and roles. This motivation pushes me to constantly improve, learn, and exceed expectations with every task I take.

I also try to infuse humour into everything I do—nothing is ever 100% serious for me. This approach helps me maintain a healthy relationship with my work. It allows me to tackle challenges with a positive mindset, foster a more enjoyable work environment for myself and my colleagues, and find creative solutions to problems.

What’s the most challenging part of your role, and how do you overcome this challenge?

Making large-scale decisions is incredibly daunting. Sometimes, I still feel like I’m just a 22-year-old who recently graduated from college. But now, at 27 (which still feels young), I’ve been entrusted with the massive responsibility of not only driving the company forward but also making changes that benefit our employees as a whole. It’s a delicate balance between pushing for growth and innovation while ensuring the well-being and satisfaction of our team.

What knowledge can you share with the charisma and confidence of a lifelong expert?

If you’re the smartest person in a room, you shouldn’t be there. You must constantly be learning from the people around you and, most importantly, your mistakes.

Fake it till you make it. It’s a bit like reverse psychology, where I convince myself I’ve already got it all figured out, which helps me stay composed and succeed, in the end.

Which initiative are you most excited about that you have planned for your department?

The performance team is still in its early stages, and I’m excited to see how it evolves. We’ve never had an ops team structured like this, nor have we had people so invested in our historical data. It’s refreshing to have a team analysing data to target performance gaps in such a focused way.

What do you think the future holds for The Ortus Club? What role will you play towards it?

I believe Ortus has already established itself in the field of B2B marketing. I recently spoke with a former employee, and it seems more and more companies, even smaller local tech firms, are adopting our approach to marketing. It’s exciting, but it also raises the bar for our performance. As we navigate this exciting landscape, my role will be to ensure we’re not just keeping up but setting the pace. I want to be part of that journey and see how Ortus flourishes with this trend. Through my role and despite everything the world’s gone through, I aim to see the company progress. I want to pioneer a new generation of leaders.