PERSONALITY PROFILE
devours three books a month, many on business, and
company management. “I am a mom. So most of my
spare time is spent on puzzles or playing with Lightning
McQueen. I use my trip to and from work to listen to
books on Audible,” she explains.
The books Joubert recommends all seem to
unconsciously back her views on the importance of the
entire team within an organisation, and assertions that a
leader’s job is primarily to ensure that those below them
are capable of doing their jobs within the bigger picture,
as easily as possible.
She speaks glowingly of two books in particular, Start
With Why by Simon Sinek, in which Sinek speaks to
the subtle beating heart of an organisation by saying,
“People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do
it,” and The Traveller’s Gift by Andy Andrews, in which
a man visits several historical figures learning lessons
around wisdom, self-responsibility, and realigning
the mind for the future. “Both books have been so
important to me when it comes to working out my role
here at Dutton, and how I am able to affect change in a
meaningful way,” says Joubert.
As someone who started just 10 years ago, never daring
to think of senior management, Joubert’s ability to adapt
to various scenarios and scale her ambitions to match
have been among her greatest skills.
“When I started, I didn’t even know what kind of
sales rep I was going to be. If you had asked me
then if I wanted to be a director, I wouldn’t have
been able to say yes or no ... You don’t know when
you start what your skills are. But if you had asked
me five years ago, I would have said yes,” she says,
reflecting some of the decisiveness that Andrews
speaks about in his book.
As someone who fervently believes in constant self-
improvement, Joubert is currently studying a marketing
67
“My sales team is
amazing. Such a good
group of people. I have
been really lucky with
whom I get to work with.”
degree, which she will complete early next year,
but is already thinking about the next steps on her
educational journey.
“I think it would be arrogant of anyone to get an
education at 23 and then say, “Right, that’s enough. I
have enough knowledge now for the next 42 years,” she
laughs.
As for her future at Dutton, Joubert is certain she is not
going anywhere. “I am proud of Dutton … This is a good
company, with a good moral heart, and I absolutely love
working with people that share my values,” she says,
before explaining that there is still a lot she hopes to
achieve at the firm.
“We are already tooling up for a number of new
releases for next year, which, combined with some of
the things I am not changing but sharpening, makes
me very excited for 2019,” Joubert says, adding,
“Times have been tough, there is no doubt, but going
into these hardships, we have managed to keep every
person that we had and we are proud of that. I think
that means we are in a very strong position going
forward now. We are hopeful. I am hopeful, and I am
looking forward to it.”
Dutton has branches in Cape Town, Durban, and Port
Elizabeth, in addition to agents operating in East London,
Bloemfontein, and Namibia. PA
The Personality Profile is sponsored by Geberit
www.plumbingafrica.co.za
November 2018 Volume 24 I Number 9