EPeeps Monica Munakata | Office Manager

Hi! I’m Monica Munakata, Office Manager based in our EPHQ in Dunedin, NZ. My journey at EP started a bit more than 1 year ago and the road so far couldn’t be more exciting!

Tell us a bit about yourself!

I’m originally from Brazil and arrived in New Zealand 2 years ago to complete my Master’s degree in Applied Management. After I finished my studies I was looking forward to experiencing what working in New Zealand looked like. I had just moved to Dunedin and decided to attend a Pop-Up Job Shop the city was promoting. Amid the of dozens of company stalls and presentations I watched that day, the Education Perfect presentation by Emma McAllister and Nikita Palmer was the one that got my whole attention and sparked a huge admiration for the company.

From that day on, I followed all of Education Perfect’s social media pages and job positions advertised, just waiting for a chance to jump in and present myself. Luckily for me, an Office Assistant position popped up and I applied, telling my story about how I got to know them, what inspired me to apply for it and the desire I had to work for EP. My application was seen quickly and I was invited for an interview on Christmas Eve. To my surprise the two people who would interview me that day were Emma and Nikita, the same brilliant EPeeps that captivated me on the Job Shop day. I got my job offer and a Christmas present on that same day and here I am, a proud EPeep one year later!

Why become an EPeep?

Because it’s absolutely fun and rewarding! The freedom we have to propose new ideas, being heard and the agility that things can happen is really impressive. I had never experienced such a great culture before and I thought that it really couldn’t exist in a corporate world. Also, the people that I come across every day just make the day better and better. Something I love about EP is some of the internal committees that I’m part of. The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee is a group which seeks to create a more fair, inclusive and diverse work environment for EPeeps. My involvement in this group is mostly related to initiatives to support non-native English speakers, like myself! EP also fosters other groups such as the Culture Collective, Climate Club, Nga Pou Whirinaki and Mana Wahine. In each of these I can see “Care & Support” and “End Today, Excited by Tomorrow” – two of EP’s values being lived by EPeeps.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

I couldn’t express myself better enough than saying that in my role no two days are the same. As an Office Manager I have to make sure the Dunedin office and all of our other global offices are running smoothly. This involves keeping the groceries stocked, the office maintenance up to date, preparing Friday drinks and snacks for the team, organising internal events to bring people together, welcoming new EPeeps, and continuously improving the way we do things. After all, we’re a company that is growing exponentially! In the next couple of weeks, I’ll be transitioning to a new and exciting role to support with People & Culture and Learning & Development initiatives. This is very aligned with my experience in HR and I’m super excited for this new chapter at EP!

What has been your biggest challenge?

My biggest challenge has been to develop my communication skills. As I mentioned, English is my second language so when I started at EP, the fear of letting myself be heard and making mistakes was huge. Throughout my first year however, my manager Nikita worked closely with me to make me feel comfortable and safe, building my confidence to speak up, write communications to the whole team while also letting me be my true self and showing my identity. For that I will always be grateful to her!

What is your proudest moment?

My dream was always to study abroad. To be in NZ and study my Master’s, I had to go through many obstacles of learning a new language, having a financial situation that would allow me to move to another country and start over in a completely different culture. When I heard that I had successfully completed my studies last year, that was my proudest moment!

On the work life side, it’s definitely when I got my promotion as an Office Manager here at EP, which was also last year. Because I had so many fears when I started at EP, getting this recognition for the work I was doing was such a blast! I wasn’t expecting it to happen so soon. It was one of those moments that will remind me that hard work pays off. 2021 was such a great year for me – it holds my 2 proudest moments in life!

Goals for the next 3 months?

Since becoming an EPeep, I’ve started incorporating more fitness into my life. Through the fitness sessions offered weekly by the company, finding a running mate since we were fundraising for Movember, and playing volleyball with other EPeeps, my year has started off pretty active. Two of my goals for the next 3 months are in this fitness vibe:

1. Run 10 km (without feeling like I was hit by a truck in the end)
2. Practice Yoga everyday
3. Get my NZ Residency – BIG ONE!

What advice would you pass on to a younger version of yourself?

I’d like to say to the 11-year old Monica that dreamt about everything that I’m living now that she should not lose hope at any point. Sometimes we weren’t born with everything we wish for, but the key is to keep trying, keep preparing yourself, keep working hard and take a leap when the opportunity comes your way. Also, I would let her know that hard times just make you stronger and more grateful when all the good things start to happen.