Meet Majella aka Jella/MJ/Jello/Jelly

What fictional place would you most like to go? Wakanda

If you could turn any activity into an Olympic sport, what would you have a good chance at winning medal for? I’d call it “Food-sensing”. I can sense food every time I enter a room. I think that, in itself, is Olympic-worthy.

What age do you wish you could permanently be? 50. I want to be one of those grandma’s that rocks grey hair, has prayer groups with friends every week at an overly priced café, and enjoys group strolls at a freakishly early time in the morning. I’m going to be the coolest grandma ever, spoiling my grandkids, drinking rosé, and sitting out on the front porch with my husband just enjoying life.

What’s your claim to fame? Singing. I’m practically Beyoncé ??.

What are you interested in that most people haven’t heard of? JESUS. I want everyone to know the love of Christ. Choosing to live a life of faith is the best choice I ever made. I know that whatever struggle or hardship I go through, I have a God that carries me through it and loves me enough to give me the power to choose how I live my life. I want everyone I meet to know God’s grace. Life is just so much more fulfilling when you live a life for God ??.

There are two types of people in this world. What are the two types? Marvel vs. DC (we don’t associate with these people ??)

When do you feel truly “alive”? When I’m chasing the sunset. No matter where you are, when you see a sunset, it’s the promise of a new day. Being out in God’s creation puts life into perspective. It shows you that life is precious and we are so blessed to have the lives that we do. I feel alive gazing at a sunset from different locations to remind me that life is good and will be good, regardless of whether I had a good or bad day.

How do you hope you’ll change as a person in the future? I hope that, in the future, I’ve changed in a way where I take better care of myself first. I’ve always been a ‘Yes’ person and it hasn’t always been good for me. I want to work towards being better to myself, looking after myself first so I can give better to other people.

What gives your life meaning? The relationships that I have in my life. I am so blessed to have amazing relationships with God, my family and my friends. They are the reason I am able to succeed and they are the people that encourage me to be the best person that I can be.

Who is the most inspiring person you have met at BNZ so far and why? My buddy, Alex West, is really inspiring. He literally worked his way up from working at the till – being on the frontline – to being the SME Customer Engagement and Experience Manager. It’s awesome knowing someone who makes the most of the opportunities he is given and who isn’t afraid to put himself out there. It’s evident that he loves and is good at what he does; focusing on ensuring/maintaining a strong relationship between the SME team at BNZ and the customers, making sure the customer is always put first. His loyalty to BNZ is a testament to how accommodating BNZ is in allowing employees to explore different areas, and continue learning every single day. BNZ has so many amazing people working here. I’m ecstatic to be a part of such an awesome environment. BNZ consists of real, honest, good people.

What would be one bit of advice you would give to someone looking to transition from studying to work/internship/graduate programme? Never sell yourself short. Often young people believe that because we’re young, we don’t have much to contribute. That is absolutely not true. Organisations thrive off of diversity of thinking and know the value of ideas people from all different walks of life have. I encourage anyone looking to transition into work/internship/graduate programme that if you value what you bring, so will the organisation. My proudest moments in a workplace are when I haven’t been afraid to give my opinion.