Happy International Women’s Day!

We are proud to be celebrating all women across the business, this International Women’s Day.

We recently interviewed Associate Director of Products and Analytics, Kobie Van Der Merwe, where we found her words to be extremely inspirational. Find out how she is continuing to break the bias as she shares her insights below.

Please can you introduce yourself?

My name is Kobie Van Der Merwe.

I have 20 years’ experience in the healthcare industry in multiple roles, from frontline work as an ICU nurse, to management of 200 retail pharmacy clinics, and eventually in the software development of tools and features, that enables healthcare workers to render high quality, patient centric care.

I hold a degree in Nursing, a postgraduate in Nursing Management, an MBA, and most recently have become a Certified Scrum Master.

Outside of work, I am a mother, a wife, and a dog lover, who enjoys traveling and spending time in nature with family and friends. I am a South African, so also an avid wine drinker who enjoys a good braai!

What first attracted you to 33n?

It was a great opportunity for me to contribute to a position that benefits healthcare, management, and technology as well as it being relevant to my history of work.

I love working with a forward-thinking organisation and team that develops solutions that delight the end-user.

What’s your favourite part of the job?

Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team gives me the opportunity to expand my healthcare, management and technology experience and skills. The multitude of projects makes it interesting to work as it enables me to grow.

From your perspective, what would you say are your greatest accomplishments?

I managed to essentially have a complete change in career when I went from being an ICU nurse to a National Manager of a stand-alone business unit of 200 retail pharmacy clinics run by accountants and business people.

I completed an extremely challenging MBA with three kids in school and then reinvented myself again to develop a career in health technology.

Just when I settled in my new position, we built a new house, I had a stroke (not building related) and then moved to a different continent in the middle of a global pandemic. It’s been quite the adventure!

What new skills have you developed since you have been here?

Speaking in my second language for 8 hours of the day and understanding the many different English accents. I also understand the healthcare sector in the UK and the massive amount of data that is available to inform better decision making.

What advice would you say to your 15-year-old self?

When a door closes, leave it closed. There’s always an open window just around the corner!

We are committed to supporting our staff with their career development and are proud to have a lot of inspirational women working at 33n.