Since the day I met Riona I knew how her story could inspire others and in this episode, I am very pleased to share the mindset behind this incredible woman.
Listen: Apple Podcast , Spotify or Watch below
Riona Rooplal followed her natural talents into project management and passion for architecture. As a young woman leading architectural projects, Riona went on to lead an ATM roll out with the largest bank in South Africa.
Before embarking on a new journey, with the growth mindset and focus on her goals and how she can build the life she wanted, Riona shows us what it takes to move to a new country, without speaking the language, to complete an MBA and build a consulting business. Riona is now the Founder of Ribicology Consulting embarking on building a business across Europe.
If you wonder what the mindset of a successful person in tech sounds like, listen to this interview and get insight to develop yours.
Episode Summary
Riona followed her natural talents into project management and passion for architecture. She describes being ‘Thrown in the deep end either sink or swim’, ‘Literally sink or swim and I sam my little butt off’.
At the time she was the only female you would find on the construction site but after the recession hit she decided that she needed to be in a position to work in other sectors – upskilled and moved to the finance industry
Riona is always upskilling, she explains how theory can take you so far but experience adds that depth.
Also acknowledging that studying and working at the same time is not easy
Riona found that he Love for learning increased through the journey, she loved constant change new challenges and so the best thing was to work as a consultant
Life’s Goals & Bucket Lists
On Riona’s bucket list was to learn a new language and travel Europe, she has a passion for culture and decided to marry the two by moving to France to complete her MBA.
Sometimes you need to take risks in life otherwise how can you say you are really living your life.
Where do you get your mindset from?
Riona parents were courageous, moving cities to build a new life and always encouraging.
‘I’m also very goal-driven, I like to challenge my self, if not working towards something, I kind of feel lost’, explains Riona.
I’m a person who likes to make lists.
I reads a lot of motivational books
Questions we should all be asking
Riona also explains that she constantly plans to the future answering these questions:
- Where do you I see myself in 1, 5 & 10 years time?
- What do I need to do to achieve this?
- And what is manageable that we’ve got to start tomorrow?
About the MBA & thesis?
Riona has just finished her MBA thesis and really enjoyed doing the research and found new passions. This has led to starting to write and do more research articles.
What you put out there and all the positivity you will attract all that.
Riona Rooplal
Riona’s thesis is based on an employee centric view of digital transformation.
Contradictory to the beliefs of most industry norms saying that employees are more important than customers. They have the power to make or break a project.
Riona explained how we need to shift the mindset to what a digital transformation means. and has explored neuroscience – a lot of people don’t enjoy their jobs. Organisations are often shocked by the skills behind the person and what you are using.
‘The moment you give someone a task where they stop thinking , it actually becomes dull and boring.’
Think of the technology as a tool to make people do better.
When we take away limitations you will be surprise how people will perform.
We talk about the application of neuroscience in business and digital transformations.
What is success to you?
Success for me is how I measure myself, I know how far I came, the challenges I came through and once I’ve accomplished whatever I set my mind goal too. E.g completing my thesis is considered a success. I gave it my all, I had the outcomes I worked hard. I worked hard, put in the effort and feel rewarded.
When you can sit back and look at what has been accomplished. Sometimes you can’t see a physical product output but sometimes it’s something no one else can see but you know. You made it.
You will feel it in your soul.
Riona Rooplal
Resilience & mindset
I feel life will always throw something at you to help you grow.
Especially through this covid thing where another thing can go wrong. but you will have these times, all you can say you did the best that you can.
I feel life will always throw something at you to help you grow
Riona Rooplal
Try to look for the lessons you can learn for this. Maybe if you miss the details that’s why you are not getting somewhere in life, take a look.
Life is trying to teach you a lesson.
What does the future have in store?
Grow consulting company setting up a base in Amsterdam and London, offices already set up in jonahansaberg
Just to show the world that you know us women too can make our mark out there.
Riona shared details of working in the ATM roll out for South Africa’s largest bank.
What drives you?
I’m very impatient – If I want something I literally with go and get it. that’s what I use, my weakness I actually use it to positive effect.
And this is where we need to take better care of ourselves. That has been a very hard lesson, working yourself to burn out mode is never a good thing.
Time Blocking
So I time block, I actually get more joy, in the morning I like to do my exercise and yoga to do that.
I also plan my day as well, my to do list again, one list is key.
and a shared love of pretty stationary – get a beautiful looking book to plan – I’ve trialled this unconsciously and found my most
Feels sense of achievement from just scratching off one item on a list – not the whole list .
Be realistic on how much you can get done in a block.
A project management thing – add fat – contingency to the time estimate.
What advice would you have given your younger self?
Don’t stress so much you will get through it, just breathe.
Relax take a step back breathe, clear your mind. The best advice, at the beginning it is hard to breathe. But after a couple of days, it will get better.
It just calms your body down, litterally calms your nervous system.
Start day with yoga, love yoga and style I do is focussed on breathing.
Thank you to Riona for sharing this incredible journey and the wonders of what a positive mindset can achieve.
Don’t forget to Subscribe to the podcast and share with us – tag me in a post, what was the takeaway you took from Riona’s story?
