Asset manager Catherine Bosman talks island life, urban landscapes, and travelling with a small baby

How did you come to be part of the Atterbury family, and what is your role now?
My bloed is blou; I’m a born and bred Pretoria girl, who basically grew up on a construction site. Building is certainly in my blood thanks to my father and grandfather’s influences. During and after my studies at Tukkies to become a quantity surveyor I worked at GK Projects where Atterbury was a key client. I soon realised that this was a company to aspire to work for. I was fortunate to be employed as an asset manager in 2010. In 2014 I was given the opportunity to spend a year in Mauritius training asset managers and providing support to Enatt, our asset and property management company.

You travelled to Mauritius with a tiny baby. How did you juggle work and childcare in a foreign environment?
Looking back I don’t know what I was thinking travelling to a tropical island with a five-month old baby, but we managed! You learn to adapt, cope and you learn to be extremely organised, it’s also part of becoming a mom. Just after we arrived in Mauritius, she picked up hand, foot and mouth virus, which sounds worse than it was, but it immediately showed up the challenges I would face there in terms of childcare, medical care and general family support. I was lucky to be introduced to a wonderful nanny who immediately loved Lindsay as her own. She had the same core values when it came to discipline and manners and Pamela ended up reading more of the childcare books than I found time to read.
As a working mom, you need to find someone you trust to look after your child, so that when you are at work your mind is at ease and you can focus on your work. Even though your child is your first priority, the dedicated time to work needs to be planned, organised and productive so that you can then spend dedicated time with your child. It’s a fine balance, but certainly manageable.

If you could visit three landmarks/built structures anywhere in the world, what would they be?
My wish list includes the Great Wall of China as well as the pyramids in Egypt (as these were the foundation of construction as we know it). I would like return to Dubai to see the development since my trip in 2008 when Dubai was booming with construction of multi-story office blocks and apartments. I also enjoy engineering masterpieces, such as the Brooklyn Bridge in NYC and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco..

Atterbury is building its tallest building yet, the 25-story PWC head office in Waterfall Estate. What is the tallest building you’ve ever been in?
In 2008 I was lucky enough to travel to Dubai as part of a contractors team. We visited buildings under construction and went as high as the 60th floor of the 63-story ‘The Address’ building which then towered over the now Burj Khalifa (as it was then to be called, Burj Dubai) which is 160 stories.

If you could populate your own personal best mall, what would be the three shops/design elements you’d make sure was in there?
I prefer natural elements like wood and stone but love mixing old with new, sort of like vintage with a modern mix. The Bagatelle – Mall of Mauritius brings together a modern retail mall with local Mauritian elements.
I can certainly see myself shopping at the Mall of Africa and am inspired by the architectural design using Africa’s geological and landscape features as the theme for each of the mall wings.

What is your favourite part about the new Atterbury head office in Bloukrans?
The people! I believe that if you can find a workspace that ignites passion (as our offices do) with passionate people you cannot but love the work you do.
I might add that I am very glad to be back for Mia’s yummy food and Lerato’s skinny cappuccinos!

If you could spend three months in any city anywhere, which would it be?
New York – for its urban landscapes. Where else in the world can you experience walking through the city, walking over bridges, through Central Park past museums of the calibre of the Guggenheim, and finally ending with retail therapy along 5th Avenue and Times Square?
For more about Catherine’s experience of working in Mauritius, see Working on a holiday island