Tell us about yourself
My name is Georgina Bartels and I am the Regional Talent Manager for Newmont. My role is basically responsible for recruitment, development, retention and performance of employees. I am also responsible for Inclusion and Diversity.
I have almost 20 years of working experience, 13 of which has been in Human Resources. I have been privileged to work in a number of sectors- Banking, Manufacturing, Telecommunications, Shipping and Logistics and now Mining. I have led HR teams in Ghana, West and Central Africa. Led and coordinated the startup of a multi –national in Ghana, transitioned teams from one company to another and led different projects for the organizations I have worked for.
I thrive in situations where I have to come up with solutions and collaborate with others to implement. I love learning new things and get antsy when things are the same for a long time.
Family is very important to me and some of my proudest moments are with my family. I am an avid reader. Books are magical and take me places I have never dreamed of. They open my mind to new possibilities and allow me to change and grow. My love for books was fueled by my mother who was a visible example of a reader. I am consciously passing this on to my children. I love children and have taught Sunday School since 1996. My values are rooted in the church and I strive to live a life worthy of emulation both professionally and personally.
High School – Wesley Girls High School
University – University of Ghana
Walk us through your early career journey
Right after University, I joined Ecobank as a National Service Person and stayed there for almost 10 years working in different departments. The aim of the organization was to bring in young people, rotate them through various departments, so that by the time they were done, they had a comprehensive view of what banking was. I moved through Remittance, Internal Control/Audit, GCNet, Cards/Electronic Channels and Human Resources department in my first five years, gathering a wealth of experience.
What values/skills would you say you demonstrated in your early career journey that have contributed to your career success?
Resilience, curiosity, integrity, fairness, responsibility and being dependable were/are some of the values that guided me and contributed to my growth.
Did you always know you wanted to do what you are doing now?
Not always. I had toyed with the idea of a lot of things. I discovered Psychology and was sure I wanted to be a Child Psychologist, until my final year when I took a course in Industrial Psychology and discovered Human Resources as a career. My path has not wavered since then.
What were some of the mistakes you made on the career journey?
Sometimes allowing self-doubt to hold me back. You are your only competition and sometimes you can sabotage or derail your own progress with self-doubt.
If you had the opportunity to change one thing in your early career/work experience days what will it be?
Nothing. The different parts make up the sum total. “Nothing goes to waste on the journey of life. Both good and bad experiences shape your mind and heart for what is to come – Leon Brown”
Any advice to someone who is confused about their career planning?
The best thing you can do for yourself is to seek advice. Talk to people who can help you and guide you. Then research- read for yourself and understand the options that are available to you. Introspect – what are you potentially good at? What excites you? What will keep you going even when things are tough? When you find that thing that makes you money and ignites your passion-you have found your perfect place. “Follow your passions and success will follow you – Unknown”
If you had a minute to coach/advice a tertiary student about work readiness, what would it be?
The working world is very different from school. Read, ask questions, be intuitive, be aware of transition traps and be open-minded.
Knowing what you know now as a high-profile professional, what would be your advice to a rising young professional you are mentoring?
Be purposeful about the things you are doing. Write goals/dreams down. Tackle them in a systematic but realistic way. Be prepared to deploy plan B/C/D. Things will not always go your way. Stay true and consistent with your values and honor your word.
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