In just six months Maria Foundanellas has transformed the lives of two very busy Flowstars, as well as the taste buds of the rest of the staff, and she has done it with graceful ease. As assistant to Flow CEO Tara Turkington and MD Tiffany Turkington-Palmer, Maria is the glue that holds the office together.
Says Tara, “Maria has been a godsend to Flow, but particularly to Tiffany and me. She supports us in a million ways – from scheduling meetings to baking birthday cakes for the staff, to ensuring that there is always emergency tequila in the cupboard.”
Described by Writing Studio Manager Colin Ford as “a superlative organiser and superior baker of creative, delicious confectionery”, the cakes Tara refers to have become the stuff of legend here at Flow Communications.
Maria has produced some imaginative and mouth-watering creations such as Flow’s sixth birthday cake and Media Developer Bianca Bothma‘s birthday cake, which was made to look like Harry the Hominid, the icon for Maropeng.
Maria is a first-generation Greek and assures me with a laugh that she had a typically Greek upbringing. “It was very strict, very loud and there was always lots of food.”
It was her love of food that inspired Maria to run a successful restaurant for five years before hanging up her apron (sort of) to pursue other interests. “I needed a change of scenery; I was looking for a challenge and I certainly found that here.”
According to Tiffany, Maria “quickly made herself invaluable to the Flow team” and did it with ease. “She is quick, efficient, hard-working and always has a smile on her face. I don’t know how we ever managed without her.”
Tara agrees with this sentiment: “Her attention to detail is superb, her passion for people and for her work shines through in everything she does, and she is the epitome of a Flowstar. Tiffany and I and all of Flow feel so lucky – and so proud – to have her as a colleague.”
And Maria is happy to assist the TTs, as they’re fondly known, to “manage their lifestyle”.
“I love Flow and I’m very grateful to be a part of the team. I love the people, the creativity, everything about this place. The atmosphere at Flow is casual and warm, like one big family, but definitely not a Greek one!”
Maria’s other passion is her cake creations although she only bakes part time these days. “I enjoy doing it because it’s fun and provides a creative outlet.” Although food is second nature to her, the cake design and baking started when the ever-efficient Maria found herself once again looking for a creative challenge. “It just started out of boredom. I was looking for something different and decided to do a cake-decorating course, and I just happened to love it,” she adds.
Maria readily admits to enjoying eating cake too, and confides that her favourite flavour is definitely chocolate!