“I knew education was the only path to success,” says Quan Baatjies, senior manager in Human Resources (HR) Information Systems and Shared Services at the University of Pretoria (UP).

Baatjies was born and raised in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), and has lived and worked in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Polokwane and – now, for a second time – in Pretoria. “I hope it’s for good this time around,” he says. He has also consulted at various tertiary institutions in neighbouring countries, and in East and West Africa.

Baatjies says he comes from a coloured community in the infamous Northern Areas of Gqeberha, which, he adds, “has a reputation for being a stagnant, low-growth, comfort-zone community”. The state of the small town inspired him to leave in search of what he felt was “something better out there”. For Baatjies, education was his only passport to exposure and, ultimately, success. 

He completed his primary and high school education in Gqeberha, before going on to graduate with a BA degree in Human Resources from the University of Port Elizabeth, which later became Nelson Mandela University. He completed this degree in 2008, while working full-time as a cashier and till packer in order to subsidise his studies.

After obtaining a postgraduate diploma in Business Administration at MANCOSA in Pretoria in 2018, he received an MBA from the University of South Africa’s (Unisa) School of Business Leadership in 2022. He is now studying towards a doctorate in the subject through Unisa.

“I am not ashamed of where I come from; in fact, I’m extremely proud of being a product of the humble Northern Areas of Port Elizabeth,” Baatjies says.

He went on to work in retail for five years, before entering the HR-software development industry in 2009 as a graduate in training. He specialised in tertiary HR software in 2015, and in 2018, was appointed Deputy Director of HR Information Systems at the University of Limpopo. In 2021, he was appointed senior manager of HR Information Systems and Shared Services at UP.

Baatjies describes his work at UP as critical and optimising to the University’s most valuable asset – its people and processes.

“Everything we do in the HR Information Systems Department has an impact on all stakeholders and employees of the University,” he explains.

As senior manager, Baatjies contributes to operational efficiency, compliance and stimulating strategic data-driven decision-making. He is responsible for accurate data management, while enhancing efficiency by ensuring accurate analytics and reporting. His division also supports the HR Department through integrated process automation and technical day-to-day support, which empowers UP employees with self-service solutions, one of the division’s efforts to align with UP’s Digital Transformation Strategy.

Baatjies says his career requires him to have excellent interpersonal, relationship-building and collaborative abilities, adding that he finds it easy to establish professional networks due to his gregarious and cheerful nature. He always seems to be the one to unite people, he says; this is consistent with the nature of his job, for which he is required to collaborate with many departments and faculties.

He points out that his career journey was not always smooth, especially because he began his role at UP during the COVID-19 pandemic. This required him to balance work and his studies, and make major sacrifices – such as limiting his social and family life – for his academic and professional career.

“I am still working and studying,” Baatjies says. “I never got the chance to be a full-time worker or a full-time student.”

For him, life is all about discipline, faith and balance. He always went where opportunity was, he says, and always made sacrifices to go out and spread his wings. 

“When it comes to achieving personal, academic and organisational goals, hard work, dedication and resilience keep me going,” he says. 

He believes in surrounding himself with people who have a positive impact on his life, his academic pursuits  and his career – people from whom he can draw inspiration. 

“If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room – this expression emphasises the importance of surrounding yourself with individuals who challenge you intellectually, inspire growth and offer diverse perspectives,” Baatjies says. “It encourages continuous learning and self-improvement; collaborating with people with different expertise and knowledge can expand your own understanding and abilities.” 

While he loves his career, if he were given the chance to do something unrelated to his current role, Baatjies says he would be a pilot, or do anything in aviation, so that he can be paid to do what he loves most – travel.  

“I love to fully immerse myself in other cultures, the cuisine and anything related to the great outdoors, as well as exploring arts and cultural activities.”

Baatjies says he’s been blessed with amazing mentors and role models who recognised his desire to escape societal norms to succeed and guided him along the way.

“To the many teachers, church leaders and dear friends and family (both on Earth and beyond) who played crucial roles in supporting me on my journey, I’d like to say thank you! Your wisdom and encouragement have shaped me into who I am today, and for that I am immensely grateful.”