Gaynor Rethinasamy
Gaynor Rethinasamy
Delivery Director at Jaspar
Location: London, UK
Corporate title: Delivery Director
Company: Orchestrating Identity Ltd - Jaspar Sector: Technology / Digital Identity
University degree: BSc in Business Information Technology from Brunel University, London, UK.
How does your usual day look like?
I love starting my day with an early morning walk. I find it is a great way to clear my head, work through any ideas and prepare for anything the day might bring.
Once back at the computer, whether at home or in the office I kick-off with a team meeting to check in, set the plan and make sure any challenges from the day before are addressed.
I manage all of our daily operations and lead cross-functional collaboration with my creative and technology counterparts. I care deeply about creating continuous opportunities to streamline the work that we do and ensure that we focus on delivering value for customers. This means taking the time to understand product ideas at a granular level and delving deeply into processes employed by our technology teams. This allows me to be effective at identifying improvement opportunities and ensure that our delivery approach is quality driven and world-class.
Outside work, time with friends and family is important. I love planning activities with the family, especially with my daughter. These plans typically revolve around my passion – travel. There is nothing I enjoy more than exploring our world with the people I love and creating memories together.
What are the things you like the most about your job?
Every day is different, I enjoy the diverse experiences that I get to learn from. The people on our team are fantastic, we have a collaborative culture that seeks to inspire and challenge each of us to do our best work and to grow.
What are some of the skills you utilise the most in your day-to-day at work?
Communication, decision-making, problem-solving and strategic thinking.
What was one of your happiest days in your career and why?
While managing a global team at Expedia, I was able to travel to amazing destinations: China, Brazil, Hong Kong, and Japan to name a few. I feel privileged and grateful for these experiences and opportunities.
What was the toughest career decision you ever made?
Taking a career break after 20 plus years of employment. It turned out to be a rejuvenating experience and one that allowed me to suspend my habit of chasing career accomplishments. I was able to truly reflect on what work was most meaningful and rewarding for me.
What is something you had to learn to become better at your work?
A coach said I don’t have to be perfect at all roles. Perfect as a leader, wife, mother, daughter is not achievable, and I needed to be ok with that. It is enough that I aspire to be the best that I can be.
How did you get to become a Delivery Director?
I reached out to catch up with an old friend/mentor. We discussed a fantastic opportunity which combined my operational and delivery expertise wrapped up in a single role. A few weeks later after meeting the team, I joined Jaspar, a company developing solutions to control personal digital identity and fight fraud. Jaspar is building a platform of workflows to verify identities for all manner of use cases such as product registration and employment. I am currently responsible for leading Projects, Product and Partnerships but as a team we really get stuck in and do whatever it takes.
What's the career advice to your younger self?
Don’t fear failure! Ask “What's the worst thing that can happen?” to bring perspective, calculate risks and as aid to overcome the fear of rejection.
Professional networking for women matters because….
We have been socialised to doubt ourselves. Having a network of trusted women you can count on and bounce ideas off is priceless.
What makes you gracefullyBOLD?
A deep sense of commitment to people I care about and the work that I do.
How do you spend your weekend or downtimes?
Catching up with friends and family. Shuttling my daughter around. Binge watching a good Netflix series.
How do you deal with stress and build resilience?
I take quiet walks every day. I have also found meditative music before bed to be helpful.
What would have been your alternative career path or alternative University degree?
Originally, I wanted to do a degree in travel and tourism so assumed I would work in the hospitality industry, however the course was full at university, and I ended up doing Business Information Technology. I always believe all things happen for a reason. I still had a passion for travel so it’s no surprise I joined lastminute.com in 2002 and then moved to Expedia in 2009.
What are you currently learning or what’s one of the last things you learnt?
I am fascinated by the digital identity space and how technology can offer powerful solutions.
Who is a (female) professional that inspired you along your career journey?
Ariane Gorin, President of Expedia for Business at Expedia, an exceptional female leader.
Ariane often would share stories of her own career journey to inspire female leaders in the organisation. Ariane would also meet junior members for a coffee and would regularly brainstorm with them of what should be on the product roadmap. Ariane had an incredible work ethic but valued her family time too and would always try to ensure she was home from business trips for the weekend.
What would you do if you were not afraid?
Afraid is not a word I use but more a challenge I’d set myself which would be at some point to run my own company or write a book.
What's the one thing we didn't ask you but you'd like to answer?
Question: What do you think the Female Forum should or could do next?
Answer: We have a growing network of global members so think of ways we can create networks for them to expand our reach to them.
The previous interviewee left a question for you! "What's your favourite quote and why?"
“The past cannot be changed. The future is yet in your power.”
Mary Pickford (Canadian actress, April 8, 1892 – May 29, 1979)
I like this quote as it makes you a leader of your own destiny and focuses on what's next.
One word answers & quick fire round. Let's go!
Your superpower: Resilience
Favourite restaurant: Cichetti in Covent Garden
Favourite beauty brand: Trish McEvoy
Favourite fashion brand: Mint Velvet
Favourite perfume: Jo Malone Mimosa and Cardamon
Book recommendation: "Crossing the Chasm" by Geoffrey Moore
Next holiday destination: Barcelona for a girls' weekend.
Your hobby: My family has been asking me to get one for years, telling me I need one other than travelling:-) I have started cooking which I enjoy now.
Favourite mantra: "I can" because my dad always taught me from an early age that can’t doesn’t exist.
Who inspires you: It's hard to pick one person and these people have had a significant impact and inspired me in life to do something different: My dad, Brent Hoberman, Ariane Gorin and Martha Lane Fox.
Tea or Coffee: Tea
Red wine or White wine: White Wine
Morning bird or Night owl: Morning Bird although over the years I have realised I can do both just not long term
Cat person or Dog person: Dog person, as I'm allergic to cats
Thank you Gaynor for sharing your journey & wisdom with us!
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