Meet the team: Gillian

Our meet-the-team series is for you to get to know our team members a bit more.

Hey Gillian, we'd like to get to know more about your role at Halo

What’s your job title?
Bean Counting Guru…. Financial Manager/Accountant.

What sort of duties do you have at work?
I make sure that the finance, tax and accounting side of Halo Media runs smoothly. I tick all the boxes, report back to management and make sure that we are aligning our current goals to our larger strategy and big picture dreams as an international company.

What inspires or excites you, and why?
What inspires me is seeing growth in businesses and individuals.

What is your #1 tip for your clients?
Don’t get lost in the future that you don’t lay the foundation today, but don’t get stuck in the present.

What’s your go-to productivity hack?
As a neurodivergent, my ADD can sometimes get the better of me, so I have to shake up my routine every now and then. The irony of ADD is that we thrive with routine but also hate monotony. I use noise cancelling headphones even if I am not listening to anything and try to make my tasks engaging for my brain!

What could you give a 30-minute presentation about with no advance preparation?
I could speak about business strategy, productivity of the workforce, and maximising profitability until I am blue in the face.

What’s one professional skill you’re currently working on?
I'm currently working on more efficiency in my communication and adapting my communication style to suit others, as I am often under the assumption that everyone knows what is going on in my brain!

What’s a work-related accomplishment that you’re really proud of?
Reaching Head of Technical and Advisory by 25.

If salary weren’t a factor, what job would you do?
I would still be doing what I do now! I have a passion for management, strategy and all things finance. I have finally found my tribe at Halo!

I never quite fit into the typical accountant environment, I was always a little too out of the box and outspoken (unicorn hair anyone?) for the accountants, but not quite colourful enough for the creatives. At Halo, I can finally be myself and lead with both my left and right brain 😊. I have found an environment that embraces what makes me unique and allows me to maximize my strengths.

Tell us more about you outside of work…

Me showing people a visual example of hitting their financial targets.

Where are you from?
I was born in PMB to an English Dad and a South African mom, and we lived in Bergville before making the move to the big city of Durban.

Do you have a nickname, and how did you get it?
I have had many nicknames over the years in my career and I laugh at how as I have matured, so have my nicknames…. I started my career off being called “The Machine” by my audit manager at the time, then “Hitler” when I became that manager, and had to learn that being a leader is far more rewarding than simply being a boss.

What wouldn’t we know about you, just by looking at you?
That I am stronger than I look. My favourite party trick is to prove it!

Cats or dogs (or neither?)
Dogs and parrots! I have five fur babies and one feathered baby Kevin.

What’s your favorite word in the English language?
Shenanigans.

The best piece of advice you were ever given was …
To not make myself small for those around me. To be confident in who I am as a person and especially as a woman in leadership.

What kind of music do you like?
Listening to my playlist will be an experience for anyone. I have eclectic taste that can start with classical, baroque, opera and end with pop, rap and rock! I also love listening to music in different languages, especially ones that I am trying to learn!

Do you like travelling? If so, what’s the best place you’ve ever travelled to?
I love travelling and hope to do a lot more of it in the future! One of my best trips was going to Afriski in Lesotho to try out snowboarding. After taking out a few fences along the way and being flipped over by the ski lift, I finally got the hang of it!

What’s your guilty pleasure?
Bad trash TV and TikTok. My brain is constantly going, so when I need to wind down, I find the latest Geordie Shore style show and dig in!

Are you able to keep a secret?
I am a vault for other people’s secrets but prefer to have the open book approach for myself – I have too many tabs open in my brain as it is. I deeply value my privacy but hate intentionally having to keep information from people.