Sanitation is an important piece of the puzzle for governments to achieve their full vision and the goals they’ve set for the future including development projects such as infrastructure. Not to mention, about 525,000 annual deaths of children aged below five are a result of poor sanitation and hygiene.
That said, Sanivation is a company devoted to making a difference in Africa’s WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) space and has taken great strides to provide solutions to waste management and treatment plants. It's their efforts to manufacture waste into something more useful for the community that makes the difference.
So far, Sanivation has safely managed over 4,000 tons of waste sludge, converting that to over 5,000 tons of clean energy countrywide. They offset nearly 12,000 tons of carbon dioxide and have saved almost 200,000 trees in Kena. In addition to protecting the environment, Sanivation supports public-private partnerships that help communities improve their quality of life.
We spoke with January Wangui, Sanivation’s Talent Lead and an HR Professional with 12 years of experience in the field. Her passion for interacting with people and helping them be at their best was evident from the beginning of our conversation.
January Wangui, Talent Lead at Sanivation
As a Talent Lead, January’s main role is to lead strategic HR initiatives that support business operations and profitability. This includes and is not limited to attracting, developing and retaining employees. She also mentors young HR professionals on career paths, and career development while helping them discover their passions.
She mentioned two primary things she has learned throughout her career while interacting with people from different walks of life; that persistence is key and when you make an effort to build yourself, you will surely reap the rewards.
Career reinvention at Sanivation
Careers that are passion-driven tend to last longer than those that are profit-driven. January, who had been working as an HR Manager at various other places, took a leap of faith and decided to become a Talent Lead at Sanivation. "I was inspired by the opportunity to make a change in my career. I had to take a risk and push myself beyond what I was comfortable with," she said.
And what has kept her going while working in talent management and successfully reinventing herself in her career. She credits and advises on 3 key things:
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Constantly update yourself on the industry trends.
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Embrace networking with your colleagues. (of course!)
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Bring up the processes and systems within your organization and understand how they impact people.
When joining Sanivation, January felt a bit green when it came to WASH but working in a company with a clear direction in this field intensified her desire to work in a WASH-related working environment.
This means you have to have a passion for WASH if Sanivation is your dream company; it will propel you to enjoy working there and do better for the environment by positively touching people’s lives.
Working culture at Sanivation
Great company culture attracts talent and makes work fun. But it is also important for people to be brought together by a common goal.
"We are focused on improving the world and making money while at it. This mostly attracts people who are passionate about making a difference," says January.
Being a social enterprise, Sanivation puts people first, be it customers, clients, or staff. They are also passionate about the impact they want to achieve within the community.
Our conversation revealed that the company offers flexible working hours, which are a great way for employees to take ownership and make plans for the future. The flexibility at Sanivation comes in the form of a flexible work schedule, enabling you to work from home or another location at your convenience.
At Sanivation success is defined as reaching your goals and objectives. This result-oriented approach creates an environment where everyone is committed to success and working together towards a common goal.
Career development at Sanivation
Your first 90 days are crucial in any new working environment, especially when you have goals to crush and impressions to make. To survive the incubation period in a new work environment, boldness and curiosity to ask questions are the fuel that lights up your career path.
Succeeding at Sanivation is no different. January offered the following tips for becoming a star employee within your first 90 days there:
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The company provides a lot of guidance in terms of the new working environment and a plan to support you as you start the role. The plan includes the scope of the role and what you’re supposed to achieve within the first three to six months. Focus on the resources provided and you’ll be good to go.
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There’s also a lot of support from the team colleagues to help you find your way around. The goals you have been given in the plan will also direct you to people who will support you through your first 90 days.
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Try to find out more about Sanivation and understand what the company is all about, including its goals.
Looking for another reason to apply for a job at Sanivation? January mentioned that the company offers the following 4 talent development programs to her employees:
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The people management system: This is where a senior staff regularly guides you through your career development plan.
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The school benefit program: An advanced program that pays for your schooling if you want to pursue an education program.
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In-house training programs and networking events: They have a lot of in-house training programs for employee career development.
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Job shadowing with the members of senior staff: If you are interested in a certain role, you are taken through a job shadowing program
Must-have skills required at Sanivation
Of course, anyone can apply for a job, but do you have what it takes to get the job, especially one at a company like Sanivation?
January highlighted the top traits they look for in potential job candidates applying to the company:
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Flexibility: They look for people who are comfortable with the ambiguity that comes with a startup environment, which is very different from working in a fully-fledged organization.
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Confidence to challenge the status quo and change how things have always been done because that is what the company is doing on the ground after all.
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Evidence-backed decision-making: They want someone who can back up what they can say, as much as they are changing the status quo, and have proof.
Finally, all work and no play makes anyone a dull employee. At Sanivation, employees’ mental health and work-life balance matter for improved work productivity. How do they address this? There are monthly inclusivity events where everyone just gets to sit down, mingle with each other, and enjoy each other’s company. Additionally, employees are encouraged not to respond to anything work-related when they are not working.
The company aims to scale upwards twofold in the next two years through returning cities and clients. This growth could also mean more new roles within the team, so keep your eye open for job opportunities at Sanivation, you heard it here first!