Jolese Geldenhuys

I’m a People & Culture professional with 13+ years of experience across hospitality, operations, education, communications, and tech.

My passion lies in building environments where people feel safe, supported, and empowered — and where organisational structure exists to serve both people and purpose.

I’ve led HR strategy in a growing SaaS company, managed internal comms for a global ethics nonprofit, and lectured on hospitality and event management — all while championing values-based leadership, inclusion, and culture-building. Whether I’m mentoring a team, designing a training session, or presenting a people plan to leadership, I’m driven by a simple goal: to align people strategy with meaningful impact.

Let’s connect if you’re looking for someone who brings heart, structure, and action to people-focused work.

With over a decade of cross-sector experience, I thrive at the intersection of people, culture, and strategy, helping teams and organisations grow in purposeful and practical ways. My career has spanned Hospitality, Communications, and People Operations, giving me a strong blend of operational expertise, creativity, and people-focused leadership.

Currently serving as People Operations Manager at WeconnectU, I lead recruitment, onboarding, leadership development, culture-building initiatives, and internal communications in a fast-scaling tech environment. Previously, I directed communications and campaigns at Unashamedly Ethical and lectured while coordinating operations at The Private Hotel School. My early career in hospitality provided a solid foundation in operations, leadership, and client service.

What ties my journey together is a consistent focus on building values-based, high-trust environments and aligning people strategies with organisational purpose. Alongside my professional work, I have led community upliftment projects and volunteer initiatives, reflecting my belief that work should create both impact and legacy.

I hold a Diploma in International Hospitality Management from The Private Hotel School (2010–2012), which provided a strong foundation in operations, leadership, and people management. I have also completed additional professional development, including an Assessor’s Certificate, Transformational Leadership training, and the Ekklesia Excelerator programme focused on values-based leadership and organisational impact.