We stay for the coffee and other perks

Meet our Workshop17 vets

When most companies talk about culture, we’ve proved ours -  Our squad of OGs, or long-servers, have anything from 6-11 years under their belts (longer than a laptop’s lifespan), not because they have to stay, but because they’ve chosen to. 

These are the W17 Veterans who’ve put in the extra hours, with heart and patience. The ones who’ve survived platform changes, location openings, app integration, events, parking chaos, new ideas, and even printer meltdowns, and still stay, while still smiling and still choosing Workshop17. This isn’t an accident. It’s because somewhere in between the coffee chats, invoice runs, member moments, fixing, learning, and joking, something works, something feels real and human. Something connects. 

We asked these long-standing team members what makes Workshop17 special enough to stick around for so long.

Here’s what they had to say.

Antonette Benting

What’s the funniest or most embarrassing thing that happened to you during your first week?

I started in November 2019, and after my first three months there was COVID, a complete shutdown, and a pretty scary place to be starting a new job.

What made you fall in love with your job? 

I value flexibility hugely, and at W17 I get to put this into practice every day - real freedom in my work, no micromanaging, and full trust, which encourages me to grow and think outside the box in ways that still support the business. 

Is there one person here who makes you stay, even on chaotic days?

Michelle and Paul are a big part of why I stay. Paul treats me like a human being, not just an employee, and he genuinely takes my feelings into account, which is an amazing trait to have in a CEO. Michelle is the one who gets me through the hard days; we all have them, and she always reminds me that they don’t last forever.

Jarne Morris

How did you hear about the job at Workshop17? 

A friend of my mom told me about Workshop17 in 2019. I studied event management and had been working in retail, so I decided to apply. I started as a hostess, and a year later I moved into an Event Coordinator role. Today, I’m the Event and Community Coordinator.

What keeps you here: the people, the purpose, or love of the job?

The people - So many different kinds… This really helps me with my shyness and pushes me out of my comfort zone. My colleagues keep things lively, happy, and fun, and the opportunity to dabble in other departments too keeps me interested as well. 

Is there one person here who makes you stay, even on chaotic days?

Celest. She makes work fun. Even on the worst days, she somehow leaves you smiling when you leave.

Natasha Nicholson

What position did you start in and where are you now? 

I started as a general worker, cleaning around the space. From there, I moved to reception, and last year I was moved to receptionist/hostess in the main building. Mikaela and Tiffany have been amazing mentors and have really boosted my self-esteem -  encouraging me to grow and do better, and helped me build so much of what I now implement in my own work every day.

What’s the funniest or most embarrassing thing that happened to you during your first week?

On my first day, it was pouring rain. Maroescha and I had no idea where to go because the gate was locked. It’s a funny story I still laugh about today.

What’s your unofficial job title: Therapist, Space Whisperer, or Human Router?

I’m always encouraging people and listening, so I guess I’m the unofficial therapist.

Matthew Viret

What is one word that describes the vibe here at Workshop17?

Appreciation. The appreciation I get from both members and staff means a lot. Sometimes you help someone with something small, but for them it makes a big difference. That feeling keeps me going, and makes me feel recognised and reminded of why I do what I do.

What keeps you here? 

The company culture - It’s a relaxed place to work and the locations are beautiful, plus I get to work with great tech every day. The people and management are really supportive. Every day is different, and you never quite know how it will start or end, which keeps things interesting.

And Wynand.

What project/event/crisis did you manage/plan that you look back on and think “wow I am so proud of that”?

When we opened the Harrington location, we took over an existing network. At one point, the entire network went down; it died around midday. Wynand and I went straight to the supplier, and we managed to get everything back up and running by 5pm the same day. I think about that day a lot. 

Wynand Theron

What keeps you here? 

The passion for people and the opportunity to work in different environments. W17 gives you the satisfaction of learning about a new environment and new companies and different situations. 

What project/event/crisis did you manage/plan that you look back on and think “wow I am so proud of that”? 

W17 had a lot of challenges in the beginning. There were a lot of network issues. He managed to change the systems quickly and make them fast enough for the company environment. Things were in a bad place before they started. He helped build systems that made scaling easier. 

What’s the pettiest workplace hill you’re willing to die on; meeting room etiquette, mug politics, or kitchen diplomacy?

W17 isn’t a serious culture. The place is serious, but not too serious. It is important to enjoy yourself when you walk through the door.

Zakes Nkomombini

How many positions have you had here at Workshop17?

I’ve always been in Logistics. 

What love do you love most about your job? 

It’s the people and what the space does. It brings in new faces, new ideas, and a kind of energy that makes every day feel different.

Is there one person here who makes you stay, even on chaotic days? 

My friend, Landiso. 

Cindy Hansby

Did anyone give you a secret tip about surviving here, and did it actually work? 

No secret tips but the start of my journey made me stronger at surviving through some, let's say, interesting challenges.

What project, event, or crisis did you manage or plan that makes you think, “wow, I’m really proud of that”?

In my first week at Workshop17, we had a burst pipe at the Watershed; it was literally mission cleanup, my initiation, you could say. Since then, when opening a new location, we say, 'If you don't have a crisis, no matter the size, then it's not a true W17 start to your journey.’ When I joined Workshop17, we had 2 locations; we’ll soon be opening our 16th location. Being involved in the majority of the new site openings and seeing our growth makes me very proud.

What excites you most about W17’s future? 

Giving people the opportunity to experience the magic that is Workshop17. The beauty of our spaces, the people who make Workshop17 what it is and watching them grow, and being part of it all.

Khuli Sengwayo

What made you fall in love with your job? 

I fell in love with the concept immediately. I’ve always been in hospitality, and there’s something special about seeing people leave happier than they arrived. Making that kind of impact makes everyone else’s job a little easier too.

What’s the funniest or most embarrassing thing that happened to you during your first week?

When I started, I didn’t know what a beanbag was. During my first week someone asked me to fetch five for an event, and I returned with five dustbins. 

What’s your unofficial job title: Therapist, Space Whisperer, or Human Router?

I’ve become a bit of a jack of all trades, and it’s been a journey I’m proud of. No matter what comes up, I’m always ready to help. I’ve worked across IT, reception, and pretty much anything needed to keep operations running smoothly. I’ve grown a lot in IT especially, to the point that we don’t rely on a tech as often because I can usually troubleshoot it myself. 

Tiffany Blacker

Did you have a plan when you joined, or was it more like “let’s see what happens”?

The hotel industry always felt too formal, and I never liked how staff were treated there. You feel like a number, not a person. At the Watershed, it was different. It felt like a small family. I never had a long-term career plan; I just kept working until I found a place that felt right. I’ve never been bored here, mostly because my role keeps evolving and changing with me.

Is there one person here who makes you stay, even on chaotic days? 

On my hardest days, it was Mikaela who got me through. She was a mentor to me. 

If you could add one ridiculous feature to any Workshop17 (ball pit, nap pods, karaoke corner), what would it be? 

Puppy pen filled with puppies. Having a bad day? Go pet a puppy.

Michelle Theron

Is there one person here who makes you stay, even on chaotic days?

Antonette is my work bestie. She is someone I can always rely on and fall back on. I see her more as a friend than a colleague.

If you could add one ridiculous feature to any Workshop17 (ball pit, nap pods, karaoke corner), what would it be?

Daycare! 

What positions have you had at Workshop17?

I joined when it was called Open in Sandton (West Street) as an Events Manager. At the time, it was basically a construction site. My first event was on that construction site, so everyone there had to wear construction helmets. The biggest event I managed was for Amazon, with their former CTO in attendance. Later, I took on a regional Events role at Firestation, overseeing everything, and then became Location Manager for two years. After maternity leave, I moved into a BDM sales role.

Laura Munch

What positions have you had at Workshop17?

I started as an Event Assistant, then moved up to Event Manager, and later became a Location Manager.

Did anyone give you a secret tip about surviving here, and did it actually work?

No tips, I was here so early on that I was figuring things out as we went along.

What excites you most about W17’s future?

For me, it’s the growth, more spaces, more people, and more opportunities to grow in your own role. I love the journey we’ve had, and it’s all about the people, my colleagues, and the brand.

Jade Wichman

Did anyone give you a secret tip about surviving here, and did it actually work?

Not a secret tip but: I was always encouraged to take initiative, which has helped with my growth. We share feedback regularly and genuinely care about each other, all feedback is given with the best intentions.

What’s one thing about Workshop17 culture that only long-timers understand? 

Access cards, floods, and tea parties. 

What excites you most about W17’s future? 

The colleagues I’ll be meeting and exploring where Workshop17’s journey will take the rest of the team.

Landiso Kilani

What keeps you here? 

My colleagues are the best people in the world. The second I step in here, all the stress from my personal life disappears. I always look forward to coming to work. I hate not coming to work. 

What project/event/crisis did you manage/plan that you look back on and think “wow I am so proud of that”?

When I started, my English wasn’t great, and I was scared to take on problems. Today, I’m proud of how confident I’ve become; I can handle anything that comes my way.

If you could add one ridiculous feature to any Workshop17 (ball pit, nap pods, karaoke corner), what would it be?

A gaming station, 15 minutes to unwind with chess, Uno, or other board games. Teams can grab the cards and play some games during their lunches.

Through the years at Workshop17

If you are a Workshop17 Member and want to share your story, we’d love to hear it!
marketing@workshop17.com