I caught up with Megan Yon-Petersen to discuss what really drives her, why she joined Impel, and what’s driven her to the Life Sciences industry.
Megan is an exceptional Senior Talent Associate with extensive experience in learning and development, recruitment, and internal talent acquisition. Armed with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from The University of Nelson Mandela University, she brings a wealth of knowledge to support clients in their most challenging talent solutions.
With over 5 years of experience across learning and development, recruitment, and internal talent acquisition, Megan is a trusted resource for candidates seeking long-lasting careers and professional development. Her expertise enables her to guide people every step of the way. Whether it’s facilitating job transitions or providing advice on skill enhancement, Megan is committed to supporting candidates in achieving their goals. Outside of her work life, she is someone who believes in constant learning and personal improvement and has taken up the challenge of learning a new language and playing an instrument in her leisure time.
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“We’ll jump straight in, shall we? Why did you join Impel Talent?”
“I joined Impel Talent because I found a lot of my personal values aligned with the values of the company, and most importantly, my colleagues in the business actually live by these values too.”
“What do you love about your role?”
“I thoroughly enjoy being challenged, so working on new projects that I haven’t experienced before has been great. The support from the team during the onboarding process was really positive too.”
“How did you get into recruitment?
“I quite honestly stumbled into it. I didn’t have any experience in it, but I had this incredible boss who gave me a shot in another department, and I had great success in it!
They saw my potential and nudged me into the world of recruitment. Can you believe it? It was a happy accident that led me here!
I had actually made plans to move to Cape Town, where our Head Office was located, and I had informed our CEO about it several months in advance. I knew that there were no openings in the management team at our Head Office, but our CEO requested some time to create a position for me so that I could continue working with the company. It was thanks to their belief in my skills and potential to handle the Recruitment Department that I discovered my true calling. I am incredibly grateful for that opportunity and it constantly fuels my drive to be the best.”
“Why did you stay in the industry?!”
“It would definitely be the fact that it tapped into my competitive nature, by finding the most suitable candidate, in terms of experience, personality, attitude and culture fit for a client. Then there’s the intrinsic satisfaction of being able to make a difference in the life of your candidate, and how you’ve positively impacted their career path.”
“What about Life Sciences really inspires you?
“I’m inspired by all the functions in the industry, to be honest. Each helps provide innovative solutions to bring about change and creative ideas to impact the world in their specialities.”
“What is your top tip for hiring managers who are struggling to grow their team?”
“I’d say move quickly! If you think a candidate would be a great addition to your team, offer them rather than extending the interviewing process by wanting to review 5 more candidates or delaying feedback to a candidate. How fast and transparently you communicate with an active candidate, the more likely they are to select you as an employer over accepting an offer from another company.”
“What is one piece of advice you wish you could tell yourself 10 years ago?”
“Take more risks and stop playing it safe. Stop waiting for the right time. Now is the right time to make that move, take that trip and make a change.”
“What do you do to relax and unwind outside of work?”
“I enjoy any tastings; wine, gin, champagne and even craft beers. I’d call this my outdoor activity (lol). When it’s cold outdoors though, I thoroughly enjoy learning to play the piano.“
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Collaborating closely with Etienne Van Wyk, Managing Consultant and Head of Life Sciences, Megan excels at developing genuine human connections to help clients grow their high-performing teams. Whether you’re seeking exciting career opportunities or aiming to expand your team with high-performing talent, Megan is here to guide you every step of the way.
Get in touch with Megan Yon-Petersen here and take your next steps to success in the world of Life Sciences.
