“Being with others gives me energy. It’s why I love working at Vera Living.”
This week, we’re getting to know Vera Living’s Chief Commercial Officer, Conor Nix. Conor was one of Vera Living’s first recruits, and has seen the business grow from small beginnings, to one of the leading national Specialist Disability Accommodation providers in Australia. Conor leads our Development, Participant Engagement and Marketing functions at Vera Living.
So, let’s get to know Conor!
What is your hidden talent?
“I make great chicken fajitas! I love making great food to share with others. I am lucky to have a special recipe passed down from my mother. ”
What is your guilty pleasure?
“My guilty pleasure is having two slices of Vegemite toast each day. I can’t go without it. It can be either in the morning or afternoon, but I do need my daily fix. It has to be on nice fresh bread, with plenty of butter and Vegemite. It goes best with my morning coffee.”
What is your favourite thing about your colleagues?
“The respect that we all have for one another. It’s fun coming to work with happy people who love where they work. We all have the same care and value for the participants we work with and always put them first.”
What surprises people about you?
“That I have lived overseas for about half my life and can speak German. I have been very lucky to have lived in Switzerland for 16 years, and in the states for three. It has taught me a lot about listening to others first. There are so many people in the world all with different backgrounds, perspectives, and insights. I think if we all listened a little more the world would be a better place. I apply this approach a lot at Vera by trying to understand what we can do better for our Asset Partners and the Participants we serve. ”
What celebrity would you hire to work at Vera?
“I think he can now be considered a celebrity, so it would have to be Barack Obama. I find him to be one of the most inspiring leaders of the last couple decades. He faced some serious challenges during his presidency, including inheriting the Global Financial Crisis. His calm, open and fact driven approach to responses I consider to be a rarity in today’s world, particularly when faced with stressful situations. We have a leader at the helm of Vera Living that reminds me of him – a subtle shoutout to our CEO! Having Barack sitting with us, solving problems, and mentoring us would be incredible. ”
How would your friends describe you?
“Hardworking, passionate, kind, and always wanting to be around people, even if I’m not saying or doing much. I’m always willing to get involved in anything, particularly when it involves being with people. Being with others gives me energy. It’s why I love working at Vera Living. Every person in this business is extraordinary. When I have a moment to myself, it only lasts about 5 minutes before I start reaching out to people! I’m learning though, that I need to enjoy those 5 minutes, or more time to myself so I can recharge the batteries. ”
Thanks, Conor, for the chance to get to know you, and for your expert guidance and leadership at Vera Living.
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