It is often said that first impressions count, and anyone who has phoned Atterbury’s busy Johannesburg office will agree that the voice welcoming you is as warm and efficient as Atterbury itself. It is, after all, a matter of association! But who is the voice on the other end of the line? We met Annah Mabena, who has manned the reception desk since 2007.

How long have you been working for Atterbury and how did your paths first cross?
I started working as a cleaner two days a week, part time, in 2006; a job that my late partner found for me. At the time he worked for the company that serviced the copy machines Atterbury used and asked if there was possibly an opportunity for me. I got that gap and when the receptionist left a year or so later, they decided to give me the opportunity. I was sent for training, and I took over the reception duties.

Who is Annah when she goes home in the afternoon?
I live in Cosmo City with my 18-year-old daughter Lerato, who is in matric. It’s just the two of us and she really is like my best friend.  We love shopping and going to the movies together. I also have a 25-year-old  son, Jabu, who is a Metro Police officer and who lives with my mom in Pretoria.

When you sit down at your desk in the morning, what is the first thing that you do?
I switch my phone line back… in the afternoons when I leave, I divert all calls to head office in Pretoria, so rediverting the line is my very first step in the morning. Then I switch on my computer, check the meeting schedule, and then go to make myself a cup of coffee!

What has been your favourite day at work this year?
My birthday on 20 April! My colleagues always make my birthday special… I get flowers and chocolates, they sing for me… It made me feel very appreciated.

It can’t be easy to have to be friendly all the time, which a receptionist has to be. What is your secret?
You know, I love my job and I’ve been doing it for nine years so I’m used to smiling.  It’s easy to work for Atterbury; the environment is great, everyone is friendly, so it’s not a battle to be friendly. And if I am unhappy about anything, my colleagues know, because we’ve worked together for so long; so they’ll notice, and ask me what’s up, and support me.

We heard that you’re such a good cook that you were even the office chef for a while. What was your favourite lunch-time meal you prepared at the office?
A vegetable wrap – I fill it with carrots, cucumber, tomato, a little bit of sweet chilli and cheese – they are delicious. After matric I worked at Spur for three years, and learnt most of the tricks of the trade, so that’s why I used to make lunch for the team. But since we’ve moved offices I am so busy that there has not been time to handle the lunch prep too, so that has been shifted out.

And what do you like to cook at home?
Actually, Lerato cooks most of the time – she wants to study to become a chef after school so she has been practising. I’m a lazy cook, so when I cook it’s quick and fast, like spaghetti bolognaise.

If you could change anything about your job, what would it be?
I wouldn’t change anything, because I love my job and the office. Except for being picked up by a helicopter every morning to miss traffic… so I wouldn’t have to leave home at 6:10 to get to work!

What would you say to a young person who wants to do your job one day – how can they prepare themselves?
To do this job, you must love people, as you have to have a smile for everyone who comes in here. You need a big heart in reception, because you deal with many people and not all of them are friendly, but you can’t be offended. I’ve developed a thick skin, so I don’t take offence easily.

What do you like most about working for Atterbury?
They take care of us and they’re really interested in us. It’s easy to communicate with management and my boss is always ready to listen. I’ve applied for an Atterbury Trust bursary for Lerato for next year so she can study Hospitality at TUT, and she’s been approved already, so that means so much to me.

And where do you see yourself in five years?
I’d love to learn more administrative skills and maybe study further, I’m interested in doing a BA degree. But I would still like to work for Atterbury… it is a wonderful environment and a great team to be part of.