Pieces that Shaped Me

Hi there, I’m Jules, the Prom (well… Nerd) Queen from Wales. I completed my Master’s in Architecture and soon after was offered an opportunity to work as a lecturer at a university. After teaching there for about two years, I wanted to explore the practical side of architecture, so I joined a start-up, where I have been working ever since.

Let me share a little secret… I plan to start my own business very soon. As much as I love my workplace and adore my colleagues, there’s one thing I despise: following RULES (hoping the higher-ups never come across this page, hehe). I have always been more of a rule-bender than a rule-follower.

Looking back, I suppose I have always had a tendency to lead, even though I did not realise it at the time. My hand was always the first to go up when the teacher asked for a class representative. I still remember how thrilled I was when I became president of the chess club at school. So, leadership and strategic thinking were things I’ve naturally gravitated towards (hence the aversion to rules).

These were my happy times. Let me tell you a little bit about the dark side. I was involved in a major accident just before starting university, and it was one of the hardest phases of my life. I was in the hospital for three months, with little to do beyond reading and playing games. But, as they say, every cloud has a silver lining.

One day, I happened to stumble upon a blog about African culture and lifestyle. What fascinated me most was the idea that something we see as ordinary can be incredibly valuable to someone else. That moment stayed with me and sparked a curiosity to learn more about different cultures.

And this… is the gist of my life so far. I have experienced and learned a little bit of everything, from leadership and strategy to culture and teaching. Now, I want to share that with the world. This space brings all those pieces together. It is where I reflect, revisit my thoughts, and share them with anyone who might find them valuable.