Jade van Wageningen

I am Jade van Wageningen, I currently reside in Stellenbosch South Africa. I studied Sports Science and Psychology at the University of Stellenbosch, which I enjoyed as I have a passion for sport and connecting with peoples needs. I have also journeyed in my design gift through opportunities at my current work place as well as with people I have networked with. I am an individual who embraces learning and growing as well as new challenges and environments.

The sport of swimming has shaped me and many things in my life. When I competed, the sport moulded me to become a goal setter as well as someone with the understanding of sacrifice and the hard work needed to achieve something worth while. It also taught me to be patient with the process, to see that paying attention to the details brings forth fruit. As I ended my competitive swimming years, I entered into coaching the sport. This has brought me a new perspective towards mentorship, listening and understanding as well as a business development. I started coaching at a fairly new swimming club, which exposed me to learning how to build a company to see it succeed. As a coach, you interact with many different kinds of people from different backgrounds, this has shown me how to be dynamic in my approach towards people and how to communicate effectively. Swimming has shaped part of who I am, I have learnt things that I know only the sport could teach me in the way that it did.

Through my academic and personal experiences, I have developed a deep understanding of how design and creativity are not just about aesthetics, but about connecting with people on a deeper level. The ability to tell stories through design, to build meaningful narratives around brands, is something I am passionate about. It’s not simply about creating something that visually draws you in, but it’s about creating an experience that resonates with people—something that speaks to their emotions, values, and needs.

Through my faith, I have also had the opportunity to develop as a person and as a leader in my church. Whilst continually committing to seminars and courses that our church offers, I have seen myself grow a sa person each year. Being a leader in our church has taught me how to navigate different personalities, how to manage my time well, how to connect with people from different backgrounds as well as it has sharpened my leadership skills. I am more confident and enriched from being in the church, but also in leadership roles.

As I take the next step in my professional journey, I am eager to bring my passion for storytelling and my commitment to intentional, people-centred design to an environment that fosters creativity and collaboration. I am confident that my ability to connect with others and my desire to create meaningful, impactful designs would make me a valuable addition to any team.

Thank you for considering
my application. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my skills and experiences can contribute to your team and the projects you are working on.