A coffee with Olivia Johnson, Jayva’s Project Coordinator

At 21 years old, Olivia Johnson is our youngest ‘coffee with’ protagonist to date. She’s a relative newbie who joined our team last August with responsibility for coordinating projects throughout New Zealand. We posed the standard range of questions spanning work-related subjects, such as achievements and inspirations, as well as non-work topics, including books and films. Discover all-things Olivia right here…

What’s your business/professional motto?

I have no motto, as such, but I do view everything as a lesson, both in my professional and personal life. Even if a certain situation doesn’t teach me a significant lesson at that precise moment, I still believe improvement and learnings happen gradually over time. There’s a lesson to be had, if you seek it hard enough.

I use the ‘yes/and’ approach. If there’s an idea I initially want to challenge, I literally never know what might arise from saying ‘yes’. Ultimately, I never say ‘no’ to an opportunity for learning and development.

How do you make contacts which are useful for business?

When I first started at Jayva, building contacts wasn’t applicable to me as my work was primarily behind the scenes. Over the past few months, however, I’ve made a conscious effort to get involved in making contacts, especially in my capacity as coordinator and the person whom most clients correspond with during projects. Having face-to-face time with clients makes a huge difference, even if it’s remotely over Teams, as getting to know clients better empowers them to put a face to a name and eases their nerves when undertaking software upgrade projects.

I’m the only person at Jayva located in New Zealand’s South Island. Clients are fairly widespread. When location allows, I go on site for meetings. In the future, there may be more on-site visits which is an exciting prospect as I thrive on these in-person interactions.

Which individual has inspired you the most in your business life and in what way?

Two of my greatest inspirations are Jayva employees Alex Smail and Sarah Martin-Lewis, both of whom occupy similar roles to me as project managers and coordinators. Since day one at Jayva, these two individuals have willingly assumed the post of mentor and guide, effectively taken me under their wings, shown me everything from the ground up as I was a total novice, and positively impacted my learning and development thus far.

Alex is very detail oriented and proactive. From her, I’ve learnt my knack of making quick improvements. If there’s any new process or system, she picks up the slightest and smallest points and faults for amendment and enhancement.

Sarah is extremely adaptable in the way she approaches client meetings. Within the first two minutes, she sets the tone and agenda. It’s a pleasure to witness her meeting style and see how she spotlights the minutest things, makes it personal and gets the best out of attendees.

Alex and Sarah are incredible people. I know them well inside and outside of the office. Having not met them prior to joining Jayva in August 2024, we’ve formed strong connections already.

What’s your proudest achievement in business?

A question about my proudest achievement is easy to answer as it’s the amount of confidence I’ve gained to take my own initiative and ‘go rogue’. It’s a method of thinking about how something can be augmented by just getting on with it and keeping projects moving. I used to be more hesitant and unsure how to proceed. Now, I’m much more resourceful and independent in the workplace.

What do you think makes Jayva different?

Our collaborative and supportive culture make Jayva different. Everyone’s part of a close-knit team that manages to recognise everyone individually and as a group. I didn’t think I’d grow this much in a mere six-month period but Jayva’s working environment has made it possible. As soon as I wake up, I’m genuinely excited to go to work. I’ve never experienced this in previous jobs. It’s vastly different from other employers.

What’s Jayva’s greatest asset?

There’s a popular Māori proverb that ideally sums up Jayva’s greatest asset. It’s: ‘He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata.’ This proverb means: ‘What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people.’

You only have to watch an internal weekly meeting at Jayva to see how well our people interact. This people-first culture is testament to Nicola Moore-Miller valuing her employees and choosing to surround herself in people who reflect her vision. Jayva’s people at work together is a truly beautiful thing.

How does Jayva benefit from the unique skillset you bring to the business?

Coming from a retail background and being a younger member of the team is my unique skillset. I actually have a year of law school behind me but came on board at an entry level position within Jayva. Technology wise, I was able to get familiar with software, LEAP mostly, with speed. A month after joining in August, Jayva as a business had grown exponentially with an influx of new clients and new staff. So, I had to adapt and gain knowledge rapidly to secure the fundamentals, grow professionally and carry out my job to the utmost of my ability.

I don’t tend to get stressed and, even if I do, I don’t show it. I’ve become a mad scientist of sorts as I’m always looking at the next project as soon as any quiet time occurs. I use these downtime moments to prepare for what’s ahead on the horizon.

Forever, my dream has been to work in the law industry. My year in law school taught me I didn’t want to become a practising lawyer, so I searched for another route into the sector instead. The stars aligned when I spotted the Jayva role as I’d been searching for months. My hunger to find my perfect job has been satiated.

Give one tip for a successful business.

In my opinion, the main characteristics needed to succeed in business are respect, honesty and purpose. Of these, purpose is of foremost importance. Having a goal in mind is critical to grow any business. This goal doesn’t have to be overarching. Even the smallest intent drives output. As such, I know exactly what I want to achieve from the outset of any project or task.

Do you dress up or down for business?

I love to dress up outside of work. As I don’t have many client-facing commitments currently, I dress down for work so I’m comfortable while sitting at my desk. If meeting clients online, I’ll wear a business top. What you won’t see on screen is I’ll pair this elegant top with sweatpants. In a full-length mirror, I look insane. Obviously, if I’m heading into a client’s premises, I dress smartly.

If you hadn’t gone down your chosen career path, what would you be doing instead?

For as long as I can remember, I’ve pursued a career in law. A year ago, though, it was looking somewhat uncertain. When considering alternative options, I did think about being a flight attendant as I have a passion for travelling and could kill two birds with one stone – working while travelling. My thought process kept coming back to legal and I couldn’t be happier than being right here, right now, at Jayva.

What item(s) do you always have with you?

I carry my digital camera to take photos while out and about. I make a conscious effort to use my camera rather than my phone. Lipgloss comes everywhere, as I’m a typical girly person. In a dream world, I’d bring along my Burmese cat, Milo, with me too. He’s the feline version of me – personality and all.

At what time of day are you most creative or inspired?

I’m a nighttime person. In New Zealand, we’re entering winter and it’s getting darker in the evenings, from around 8pm. There’s something inspiring about being in the dark.

When do you take your coffee break – morning, afternoon, evening? And where do you take it?

I take my coffee mid morning and drink it while working. A lot of the time, I call my Jayva colleagues to reenact the ‘water cooler moment’ while making my coffee. At 11am in New Zealand, it’s 9am in Australia, so it’s a great time of day for a business or casual catch up.

Espresso, americano, latte, cappuccino, macchiato, flat white, frappe – what’s your coffee of choice?

I drink flat white coffee with oat milk, made with my Nespresso machine.

Who would you most like to have a coffee with?

I’d have loved to chat with my parents when they were my age – 21 years old. They’re interesting individuals. My dad founded a software company and first put me into touch with Nicola. He has lots of fascinating stories about the technology world. My mum’s a project coordinator in conference planning so we’ve got the same job title. They’re positive influences in my life.

How do you relax outside of work?

Most weekends involve a road trip. I drive around the South Island constantly. It’s smallish and starkly different in areas. I can literally see mountains, sand dunes and forest in the same day, short distances apart. These places of absolute beauty are condensed.

I have friends all over the South Island. We assemble to listen to live music, drink wine and travel – three of my main passions. I never get bored of New Zealand. It’s the most stunning country in the world, although I’m probably biased.

What’s the most inspirational book you’ve ever read?

I used to be an avid reader and I’m trying to get into reading again. I either read spiritual books or descriptive fiction, the latter being novels which paint pictures in your head and it’s all about the writing rather than the plot.

My favourite book of all time is called ‘Call Me By Your Name’ by André Aciman. I reread it at least once annually in summertime. It’s grounding and a profound reminder of taking things slowly, which gives me immense peace.

What’s your favourite film?

I’m a self-proclaimed film nerd and my favourite director is Tim Burton, so ‘Coraline’ and ‘Beetlejuice’ are high on my must-watch list. I appreciate any film that leaves me feeling unsettled. Not scary necessarily; just thought provoking. I don’t chase nice, tied-up endings in movies. I kind of want to lose sleep that night due to thinking it over after viewing.

Fancy more ‘coffee with’ blogs?

Don’t stop now… delve into our back catalogue of ‘coffee with’ blogs to find out more on Jude Smith, Leanne Pearson, Jacqui Bettio, Piet Bourke, Will Penrice, Joe Sclafani, Chris Nelson, Viona Retkowska, Rosa Pelaez-Vinuela and Susan Rodgers.