Lee-Ann Sansom: Manager Western Cape Octogen
Lee-Ann registered as a Debt Counsellor in 2008 and she joined Octogen in 2010. She was promoted to Senior Debt Counsellor and Manager for Octogen Western Cape Region in 2014.
Caring for Consumers in financial trouble is a deep founded passion for Lee-Ann and living her passion is possible every working day. Examples include hosting of Financial Wellbeing Workshops for Consumers, assisting Consumers in Debt Review and representing them in the Magistrates Court.
Representing Consumers at Court in terms of their Debt Review application is a daunting experience every time but the approval of the proposed repayment plan by the Magistrate is sufficient reward. Her work at the Courts was acknowledged recently when a Magistrate called in a number of Debt Counsellors and their legal representatives and requested all to maintain the standard and example set by Lee-Ann.
Her progress at Octogen has been made possible via the proactive support and Debt Counsellor training at Octogen. To date Octogen sponsored 94 employees to complete the NCR Debt Counsellor training. Based on her success as a Debt Counsellor Lee-Ann was nominated by Octogen to complete an 18 month Senior Management Program. This required attending lectures after hours and study in addition to her daily workload. Completing the Senior Management Program was tough but very rewarding.
Lee-Ann’s training and experience places her in an ideal position to provide a Financial Wellbeing Service to well over 100 Employers based in the Western Cape. The focus of this service is to assist Consumers to understand and manage their income and spending. This service is provided via the Octogen propriety Budget Planner System. Last year more than 25 000 Consumers benefited from this assessment and the practical proposed solutions assisted Consumers to resolve financial problems.
According to Lee-Ann her reward for her passion blossoms when Consumers who have implemented the proposed solutions return to say thank you. Recently a Consumer visited her office to show off her new vehicle. The Consumer said the following: “You coached me to become Debt Free. I want to show you my new wheels and tell you this is my only debt. I will never fall into a debt trap again”. This feedback is fuel for my passion said Lee Ann.