Compatibility between Rubeshan Nayager's personal values and Stellenbosch University's objectives makes him a good fit for his job as business manager of the brand-new Biorepository Unit at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences' Biomedical Research Institute (BMRI).
Access to quality education, gender equity, environmental protection, smart use of technology and accessible healthcare all matter to him. By advancing these causes in his work, he contributes to the University's mission every day.
In the month of Workers' Day, we feature some of our staff and their part in keeping the wheels turning at our institution. Nayager gave us a glimpse into a day in his life at Stellenbosch University (SU).
What is your role at SU?
The Biorepository Unit is a one-stop biorepository for all SU's biological research samples that our researchers use to contribute to medical advances. My work involves a variety of aspects to ensure the Unit's sustainability. Since we are fortunate to have the very first Hamilton BiOS automated storage system in the southern hemisphere, a lot of my work now revolves around creating awareness of our cutting-edge storage service and providing the necessary support for researchers to switch from storing their samples in conventional freezers to keeping it in the BiOS.
What does a typical day at work look like?
Whether working from home or in the office, a typical day starts with an oversized cup of black coffee and a quick call to my mum. Depending on the circumstances and the time of year, I would generally dedicate most of my day to engaging with clients, tracking inventory movement, supporting the lab manager, onboarding clients, providing pricing of services, and monitoring our budgets.
How did your education or past experiences prepare you for this job?
I completed my first undergraduate qualification at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, followed by another two undergraduate qualifications and an MBA. I gained most of my work experience in the challenging environment of health NGOs and the private sector. My qualifications, experience and ability to work in harmony with my team and deliver on my promises have stood me in good stead. I joined SU in September 2019 and am confident that my experience and the support from my team will allow me to thrive in this role.
What do you enjoy most about your role and working at SU?
My values of access to quality education, gender equity, protecting the environment, use of technology as well as accessible healthcare make it easy for me to relate to SU. I feel that I contribute daily to the mission of the institution. I have the benefit of an experienced and respected line manager who supports and directs me. My role also allows me to work with incredible people, world-renowned researchers, thought leaders, innovators and problem solvers.
The pandemic has changed the way we work and live. What keeps you motivated during these times?
I have an optimistic view on life, and I consciously look for things to motivate me – small things that bring me joy. I try my best to work towards goals every day and celebrate the small successes. I am married and have two young daughters, and draw a lot of motivation from my family. My kids, like many others, are good at seeing the light in situations that adults perceive as unfavourable. I am thankful to my daughters, Teyana and Taytum, for pushing me forward.
Tell us something about yourself that few people would expect.
I used to smoke cigarettes since my teens, even though I knew it was an unhealthy and expensive habit. In early 2017, I was appointed business manager of the Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa. Before commencing employment, I noticed that their webpage mentioned that smoking was the second leading cause of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. As I knew I couldn't honestly drive the organisation's mission and vision while I was a smoker myself, I quit smoking in March 2017, a month before I commenced duty. And now I am celebrating four years without cigarettes!
