Sawubona! That’s “hello” in isiZulu, one of South Africa’s eleven official languages.
Howzit! I’m Siobhan, joining you from Johannesburg, South Africa. I have more than twenty years of experience in travel, operations, and making complex things look easy—which is exactly why the Travel Operations Specialist role at Canonical immediately caught my attention. Once I started reading about the role and Canonical’s culture, I knew it was an opportunity I wanted to be part of.
I genuinely enjoy bringing order to complexity. Give me moving parts, logistics, deadlines, and people to support, and I’m in my happy place.
At heart, though, I’m a people person. I love building relationships, learning about different cultures, and finding practical ways to make life easier for others. That’s probably why I’ve spent my entire career in an industry centred around connecting people and places.
Outside of work, I’ve fostered several children, hosted five exchange students from Finland, Italy, and Switzerland, and I’m the only member of my immediate family still living in South Africa—simply because I love this country too much to leave.
Thank you for taking the time to get to know me. I hope to have the opportunity to meet you soon.
Twenty years of experience in travel operations is amazing. I really enjoyed reading your introduction, especially your passion for helping people and connecting cultures.
I hope you have a wonderful journey here and I’m looking forward to seeing your contributions.
Thank you so much for the warm welcome! I really appreciate it. I’m looking forward to getting to know the community and, hopefully, becoming a part of it.
Thank you, @marcelstevano! That’s very kind of you. I’ve been fortunate to work with people from all over the world throughout my career, and it’s definitely given me an appreciation for different cultures and perspectives. I’m looking forward to learning more about the Ubuntu community and, hopefully, contributing along the way.
P.S. As a South African, I couldn’t resist sharing a little side note about the name Ubuntu. It originates from the Nguni languages of Southern Africa and is often translated as “I am because we are.” To me, it’s a beautiful philosophy that reminds us our humanity is found through our relationships with others. It is a way of thinking about kindness, community, and looking out for one another .
I’m already familiar with the meaning of Ubuntu, but it’s always nice to hear it explained by someone from South Africa. It adds a perspective that you don’t often get from articles or documentation.
The idea of “I am because we are” is timeless, and I think it fits the spirit of open-source communities remarkably well.
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