I’m the chick who spreads the fairy dust. I’m clever and brave, and known in many quarters for my modesty. I am inspired by helping people connect with where their magnificence lies. I’m the mother of 3 boys, novice but enthusiastic gardener, and voracious reader. I’m a businesswoman to the core - BRING IT OOOOOON!

At Avo they pay me to Think. I do the Strategy stuff. But I also have to be nice to the clever people to keep them happy working here. I must sell stuff. But my best part is to work with cool clients to help them solve stuff, and learn buckets for myself too.

I love working at Avo because it feeds my soul. I work with brilliant people, and am lucky enough to have a stunning view. Every day I learn new things, which is probably the coolest thing about working here.

Here’s a blurb on me for people who want it, or you can download it here.

Juliet Newton is a businesswoman, entrepreneur and passionate South African. She founded learning and development company, Avocado Vision, in 1996 and built it up to a 29-strong team with an impressive list of corporate clients, before handing over the managing director reins to Steve Gaydon and taking up the position of CEO. Juliet is also the founder of Footprint, which delivers training and skills development to the bottom-of-the-pyramid market, and TR-ED which focuses on training blue-collar workers.

Juliet’s passion and expertise lie in people development, interaction and communication. A former teacher, her fresh approach to learning and her unique philosophy on human engagement have helped many companies to improve their ‘people game’ both internally and externally. Avocado Vision’s many courses and interventions provide clients with a range of tool necessary to become powerful communicators across all spheres of business.

Never one to let grass grow under her feet, Juliet is also founder and CEO of consumer education company Footprint, which recently launched an innovative field marketing model to reach bottom-of-the-pyramid consumers, and acts as director of Ngikwazi Field Marketing, a company established to manage the retailer network of the National Lottery.

As a seasoned public speaker Juliet is a regular face on the business speaking circuit, and a prolific business writer for a range of publications. She’s known for her engaging communication style and while she’s deadly serious about helping businesses up their game, her slightly playful approach warms up audiences and adds a relaxed working atmosphere to the dynamic training sessions she delivers.

Juliet’s business success, the role she has played in empowerment, her advocacy of women and passionate involvement in community upliftment have led to recognition and numerous prestigious awards.  She was profiled in the book Inspirational Women at Work and received the Unisa School of Business Management’s Emerging Leader of the Year Award in 2006. More recently, Avocado Vision was named Top Gender Empowered Company of 2010 by Topco Media in association with The Top Women in Business and Government, and is currently a finalist in the Shoprite Checkers Woman of the Year award 2011.

This is a momentous occasion: we are dragging ourselves kicking and screaming into the new way of connecting and thinking in the world. I’m hoping that we will be able to become thought leaders in the space of management development, and other juicy things that Avos LOVE playing with.

But we must walk before we run - so the next few days is about all of us figuring this blogging thing out.

Step 1: build your own bio. Come-on: this is your chance to put your stamp on the world - build your brand in Avo space. The person to have the best bio up by Monday, as voted by all the Avos on Monday, wins a free day off in March! How to do it? Figure it out - Mike is really helpful: skype/email him for blow-by blow instructions

Step 2: watch this space………

Hey Avo’s! Welcome to your new, improved, uber-sexy organic website, www.avovision.co.za. This is a new medium, it is not a traditional website, so it will take some adjusting. Have fun, experiment, add stuff, and watch it grow!!!.

If you are struggling please do not hesitate to email me with your questions.