Getting to know Calvin and Hannah
Written on the 28th September 2023.
Find out more about our talented new team members, Calvin Sadie and Hannah Speck.
What have you enjoyed most about your time in the Juniper team so far?
Calvin: “I have felt like a sponge, soaking up huge amounts of information. Every day feels like I'm growing as an individual and achieving a lot, which is a great feeling to have. I really enjoy working with the team – we enjoy a bit of a laugh but we’re also very driven, so there’s a nice balance in the team and lots of positive energy.”
Hannah: “I think something that's been different at Juniper to the previous company companies that I've worked for, is the deeper level to which we have got to know each other and how quickly we have managed to achieve it. In the first week we shared our DISC personality profiles with each other, and that really helped us understand what makes each other tick, how we like to communicate and what motivates us.
“I've also really enjoyed getting to know the clients at a deeper level, especially for the accounts I am managing. It’s great to really understanding their needs, getting a clearer picture of the challenges they face, what motivates them and how they like to work.”
What are you most looking forward to contributing to the team?
H: “One of my strengths is having empathy; I like putting myself in other people's shoes. I think it’s really important to be a good listener and I get a lot of satisfaction from using my listening skills to help build meaningful relationships with my colleagues and clients.”
C: “I like to bring positive energy. I’m a big advocate for doing the right things to improve your health and wellbeing – getting plenty of sleep and exercise, for example – to help you perform at your best. I am very driven to deliver the best performance I can and to help others do the same; bringing positive energy and trying to find the positive to any situation.
How does your DISC personality profile reflect your strengths?
C: “My personality profile is DS, which is described as being an Attainer. It’s quite impressive how accurate it is. I'm a practical person and I evaluate a lot of things by results. I would describe myself as calm, steady and a persevering character (which are all traits of an attainer) and being motivated internally by personal goals sounds exactly like me.”
H: “My keyword is Advisor, as my personally profile is SI. It centres around maintaining harmony, sympathy and understanding. It also ties in with my belief in empathy and good listening skills – listening carefully to your clients’ needs enables you to really understand their requirements and deliver an even better service for them.”
What is your secret superpower?!
H: “I guess the best way to describe my secret superpower would be, making people feel valued. I am able to quickly adapt my communication style, depending on who I am talking to, to help them feel like they have really been listened to and their needs understood. This can be particularly useful in sensitive situations – I have often been called upon to help find the right tone for an email.”
C: “I would say my mine is having good discipline – being disciplined to do stuff that others don't want to do. For me, motivation isn't anywhere near as important as discipline. Having the discipline to get up super early to go for a run or go to the gym and having the discipline to do that day in day out, when it’s the last thing I want to do, can be very powerful.”
What has been the best thing that you've purchased this year and why?
C: “Mine is actually really recently – I am going on my first skiing holiday later in the year, so I booked a skiing lesson at an indoor ski slope with my family. It was the first time I've ever done it, so I didn't know I was going to enjoy it, but I absolutely loved it! So, I'm going to say that ski experience as it’s been great learning something new and hopefully it is the start of many adventures to come.”
H: “My favourite purchase this year has been an automatic chicken feeder! I have 10 chickens and they're a big part of my life. They live right outside my window by my desk at home and I love watching them – they even come up and sit on the windowsill! The new feeder saves loads of time as it doesn’t need filling up so often and it protects the feed from other animals trying to steel it. The chickens simply step on and it automatically opens – we’re just teaching them how to use it at the moment!”
What is your favourite smell, and what does it remind you of?
H: “I love the smell of farms – yes, even including the bad smell of cows! It reminds me of being outdoors and enjoying the feeling you get from being out in the countryside.
C: “For me it’s the smell of freshly cut grass – it just reminds me of summer, and who doesn't love summer?