Samara (Velthuysen) Basson

Samara (Velthuysen) Basson has a diverse work experience spanning several industries. Samara started their career as a Research Assistant at the University of Stellenbosch in 2004. In 2006, they worked as a Public Relations Assistant at Distell, where they handled various tasks such as client liaison, tour bookings, wine tastings, and stock take.

In 2007, Samara joined Deloitte, South Africa as an Assistant Project Manager before transitioning to New Dimension Technology (Pty) Ltd as a Production & HR Manager. Samara was responsible for managing production processes and HR-related functions.

From 2012 to 2013, Samara served as the General Manager at Fulloutput, where they oversaw general management tasks.

Since 2013, Samara has been associated with Intelligent Debt Management. Samara started as an Innovations Manager and later became the Director of Innovation. Currently, they hold the position of Head of People and Innovation, where they are responsible for leading people and driving innovation within the company.

Overall, Samara's work experience reflects a combination of expertise in research, project management, PR, general management, and innovation.

Samara (Velthuysen) Basson has a diverse education history. In 1998 to 1999, they attended La Rochelle Girls High School, where they obtained their Matric, focusing on subjects such as English, Afrikaans, Mathematics, Biology, Geography, and Home Economics. Samara then went on to Stellenbosch University from 2001 to 2003, earning a Bachelor of Consumer Science (gen) degree. During their time at Stellenbosch, their studies covered a wide array of subjects including Housing, Interior Design, Clothing, Textile Science, Food Science, Nutrition, and Adult Education.

In 2004, Samara pursued further education at Stellenbosch University, completing a Bachelor of Consumer Science Honors degree. Their studies included Advanced Adult Education, Community Nutrition, Program Evaluation, and Research Methodology. Continuing their educational journey, in 2007, they completed a Diploma in Project Management at Varsity College, specializing in that field of study.

Shortly after, in 2008, they obtained a Diploma in Business Management at Varsity College, with a focus on Finance, Marketing, HR, Corporate Strategy, and Business Law. Moving forward, in 2012, Samara attended the University of Cape Town - Graduate School of Business, earning a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree, specializing in Business Administration.

Expanding their knowledge, they acquired a Certificate in Registered Debt Counsellor from the National Credit Regulator in 2014. Furthermore, in 2016, they attended DesignThinkers Academy, participating in a Certificate program focused on Service Design Thinking Advanced Workshop. Finally, in 2018, they earned a Certificate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Sloan School of Management in DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION: PLATFORM STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS.

Through their various educational pursuits, Samara (Velthuysen) Basson has equipped herself with a diverse skill set and a solid educational foundation in numerous fields, such as business administration, project management, consumer science, and digital transformation.