Helga van Deventer
Helga van Deventer is the Director of Operations at Foundation with more than a decade of operations leadership experience across digital marketing, creative production, content, technology, and global business operations.
She has spent her career helping organizations scale sustainably — from teams of fewer than 100 to more than 1,600 people globally — building the systems, processes, and leadership structures that make rapid growth possible without losing what makes a company worth working for. Her experience spans operations, project management, people leadership, process improvement, change management, and AI-enabled transformation.
What drives her is the work behind the work: creating clarity, removing friction, developing leaders, and turning complexity into practical, scalable solutions that help teams do their best.
Here’s a brief taste of Helga’s personality:
What is usually playing in your headphones?
A very eclectic mix. If it pulls at the heartstrings, tells a great story, or gives me the energy to tackle the day, it’s probably on my playlist. Think Imogen Heap, Coheed and Cambria, Armin van Buuren, Gabriel Albuquerqüe — and everything in between.
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A rockstar. Failing that, a DJ. Ironically, I ended up in operations.
What are you happiest doing, when you are not working?
Spending time with my family, especially getting stuck into arts-and-crafts projects with my kids. Building, drawing, painting, creating something completely random — those are some of my favourite moments.
What is your hidden talent?
I can draw surprisingly realistic portraits and sketches. Before operations became my career, art was my thing — and I still love picking up a pencil whenever I get the chance.
What is one of your favourite quotes?
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
— Nelson Mandela
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