INTERVIEW
Finding that first formal job Lizelle Strydom, Managing Director at CareerBox, on making a positive impact through HR practices
By Charndré Emma Kippie
D
urban-born Managing
thousands of young people
Director at CareerBox,
have been placed in
Lizelle Strydom, holds
sustainable jobs in the digital
an impressive 16 years
economy. Her personal
experience in the Business
experience and direct exposure
Process Outsourcing
to previously disadvantaged
sector. Lizelle has been
communities has enabled
instrumental in developing
her to relate to the realities
the unique, market leading
of the communities that the
impact sourcing offering
CareerBox team serves.
that is CareerBox, providing opportunity amongst youth
Q: What are your main
and women in South Africa.
career objectives?
Lizelle has been involved in the BPO industry since 2004, having started as a call centre agent at CCI before working her way up, with roles including administrator, recruiter and recruitment manager amongst others, giving her first-hand insight into the career opportunities available within the sector. In her current role Lizelle operates at the coal face of youth development and women empowerment in South Africa,
others in making an impact in reducing unemployment among women and youth in the country. Regardless of how small each person might feel their contribution is, it is a start that we can then build upon. Organisations, like the one that I head, can play a key role in providing youth and women from previously disadvantaged communities with the skills and training they need to gain access to entry level jobs in sectors that often don’t require any previous work experience. Q: How did your journey in HR begin?
working with
A: I wanted to be a lawyer
CCI and other
when I was young, but lacked
international
the resources to study. I
corporations, 72 | TOP HR LEADERS
A: My objective is to work with
entered the contact centre