Founder introductions Pt.1
Our cofounder & CEO
With the hype of the Barbie movie well underway and it being Women’s Month, we thought, for the purposes of introducing our founders to our subscribers, we’d get the ball rolling by introducing Sarah.
Knysna Elephant Park, South Africa, is home to 7 rescued elephants that are undergoing rehabilitation before being released into a larger reserve in the country. Elephants are Sarah’s favourite animal.
Give us a bit of insight into your background and why you’re doing what you’re doing.
I was born in Durban, along the east coast of South Africa. When I started reading I was curious about everything Science-related. I loved the ocean, animals, space, archaeology… I wanted to grow up to be a lot of things! I was a very active child, always outside, and forever being begged by my parents to get out of the ocean when they wanted to go home. I would be glued to National Geographic and Animal Planet, or reading science books to my mom while she cooked. So, it was unsurprising that I ended up majoring in Zoology and Microbiology, only to complete my PhD in Molecular Biology. For me, like Richard Feynman said, Science adds another dimension of beauty - the ability to question and investigate unlocks more layers of intricate beauty to our understanding of the workings of the world around us and how we can better progress as a species. And so, with research that inevitably has real-world applicability, it stands to reason to find ways to implement it. Hence, MariHealth Solutions.
2. Who inspires you and why?
Carl Sagan, no doubt about it. The way he described space, the cosmos, and our own existence in the vast blackness of the universe, will forever be etched in my mind. Anyone who has ever listened to him speak or watch his series Cosmos will know what I mean. Someone who expresses their passion the way he did could only but inspire those who are just as curious about the stars and our existence.
3. We all have bad days. So, what are your top 3 pick-me-ups?
Music - I reckon I have stellar music taste (don’t we all), so depending on what I am in the mood for (70s vs indie-rock/pop), I will crank up the volume on songs like All Right Now by Free, or 6’s to 9’s by Big Wild. Trust me, songs like these are a proper jimmy-jam.
Food - Yeah I know… the age-old solution, but really, there is scientific proof that nutrient-dense foods improve mental health. However, I don’t grab an apple when I am feeling down - what heresy is this. Ice-cream. Now that’s a good pick-me-up, and there’s a shop here that sells the best home-made ice-cream I have ever had: honeycomb and dark chocolate.
Fur-baby love - Evie, my rescue doggo, is just the best. Going for a walk with her and watching her react to the world around her, or spending time cuddling her on the couch, is a sure-fire way to get me feeling better. She’s a real gem - I couldn’t imagine life without her.
4. If you could pick one superpower, what would it be and why?
Easy. The ability to learn and retain information at an unprecedented rate. Because my memory is that of a bee’s (YUP, not goldfish. Bees are surprisingly more forgetful), and who wouldn’t want to remember everything they read/learn? Plus, I would finally be a great asset to any pub quiz team.
5. What don’t our subscribers know about you?
So, when I get into something, I don’t ever do it half-baked. I started getting into plants, veggie growing and plant collecting just before Covid started. Living alone and having extra free time meant I was reading anything and everything about plants, not to mention collecting. As of a few months ago I had well-over 300 house plants. There’s nothing I don’t love about this hobby - being part of a community who shares in the same passion is amazing, and the space I created for myself was nothing short of peaceful and beautiful. But with work commitments I have had to cut my collection back a bit, so I have been giving quite a few plants away.
I would also say I am no amateur in the kitchen. I really got into baking bread and maintaining a sourdough culture during lockdown, while my specialty dishes include mushroom risotto, chicken and thyme pie, and chocolate fondant.
Also, I am a huge Lord of the Rings fan, and I was so incredibly lucky to visit Hobbiton when we attended a conference in Auckland earlier this year. It was a dream come true, and something my dad and I had always talked about doing. I have watched the movies, including the extended editions, an embarrassing number of times.
