People of Vox: Spotlight on Shirley Cross
Here is a multiple-choice question – please choose the correct answer from the following options below.
Vox National Programme Manager in the PMO Office, Shirley Cross, has been with the company for:
- 30 days
- 5 months (30 weeks)
- 5 years (30 months)
- 30 years.
Well, you guessed it: the correct answer is D – 30 years! – and Shirley’s anniversary date is today, 07 August 2025. Happy Work Anniversary, Shirley – huge congratulations!
It’s a truly fantastic achievement and an awesome sign of your dedication towards Vox as an employer. We thought this magnificent milestone deserved a special mention here on our ‘People of Vox’ platform, and so we made sure to set aside time to find out more about this small lady (Shirley is very petite!) with the gigantic work ethic.
Shirley joined the company in 1995 as an office administrator, becoming one of only 15 staff members at that time. She’s since seen Vox grow to its current position as one of the country’s leading internet service providers (ISPs), with a mission to bring great connectivity at a fair price to all South Africans.
Today, Shirley is a vital, and very busy, cog in the well-oiled machine that is the Vox Project Management Office, which is an integral part of the company.
PMO: A ‘Perfectly Managed Operation’
Shirley clarifies that the PMO is responsible for ensuring that customer projects are delivered on time and with the highest level of care. She explains: “When I refer to a ‘project’, I’m specifically talking about a customer order that originates from a salesperson. Once the order is vetted, it’s assigned to a project manager, who becomes accountable for coordinating all parties involved to fulfil that order. In essence, we operate in a dynamic and fast-paced order fulfilment environment.”
She adds that the PMO is structured into various teams across the country and organised according to a tiered system.
“This tiered structure not only supports efficient service delivery but also creates clear growth opportunities for our project managers,” Shirley explains. “A project manager can progress from handling consumer-based orders or corporate single-site installations in a fast-turnaround environment, to managing complex, high-value enterprise-level or Tender projects. For example, someone may begin by supporting individual customers, then move on to SMEs, and eventually to large-scale enterprise clients.
“We invest heavily in training to develop our project managers, ensuring they uphold our Project Management Standards and are fully prepared at every stage of their career journey. At the same time, we place strong emphasis on delivering consistent service excellence, whether we’re serving an individual or a large enterprise. What’s important to me is that every project manager understands they have room to grow and is equipped with the right tools to succeed.”
Embracing Both Challenges and Family
And speaking of growth, Shirley is now the National Programme Manager.
“Amongst other things, my focus now includes ensuring that our project managers across the country are fully empowered to deliver such excellent service that Vox customers will never want to leave,” she shares enthusiastically.
“I started out in Durban, where I grew up. Back then, we were just a small team, and everyone pitched in wherever they could. I remember the late nights, sitting on the floor folding invoices by hand, franking them to post to customers. Those were also the times we’d share all the juicy stories! and I truly cherished those moments – it was such special times. I worked across several departments, from planning to debtors and creditors, until eventually I felt it was time for a new challenge. After a few conversations with our director at the time, he gave me the incredible opportunity to transfer to Johannesburg. And that’s when my real journey began.”
But the move wasn’t without its difficulties, as Shirley explains: “I found it challenging to be without my family at first, especially during the first six months, but after the first year of persevering, I was definitely happy to call Johannesburg my home. I have loved being part of this vibrant city ever since. The initial challenges in my move from Durban to Johannesburg have most definitely been worth it for me.”
Family is very important to Shirley, and with some of her family members now also in Gauteng, and others remaining in Durban, she takes time to stay in touch through regular visits. She’s one of five siblings and they remain close.
“My family is my number one support,” she smiles. “I call them my cheerleaders! I wasn’t blessed with kids, myself, but within my family I adore my nieces and nephews – and their children in turn – to bits.”
And of course she has her ‘surrogate kids’ at work also.
The ‘Family at Work’
“I enjoy liaising with the different age ranges within the Vox PMO,” says Shirley. “I make a point of actively engaging with their mindsets, their thoughts and experience, including the younger members in our PMO management team. I believe that people from different generations can think very differently from each other, and it’s a strength when people in the same company can benefit from the knowledge and thought processes of different generations – it’s another form of diversity.
“I’m so happy to have different ages within my working environment, so that I learn from the younger generations as well as having the youngsters learning from me – they give me significant strengths and insights. It’s good to have that balance in your team and that’s what I have.”
Shirley says that it takes time for her to trust people but when she does, “Our friendship will then be for life! For example, Diana Prenner, who is the Vox Marketing Manager for PR and Events, has also been at Vox for a significant time frame, and we’ve been friends almost from her first day, which means we’ve now been friends for about 20 years!”
It seems like Vox really does have ways in which the work environment is like a family… Away from work, my sources tell me that Shirley is an excellent cook, although she’s too modest to mention this herself. She is also a whizz at party-planning and loves making a celebratory occasion – for people of all ages! – even more special with beautiful decorations, matching balloons and giftbags, all set out according to a pretty décor theme.
She does say that she takes pains to be active in mind as well as body: “I love word games – it’s always been my biggest hobby,” she says. “I used to play Scrabble and other board games with my family very regularly – we played at weekends. I still try to play board games as often as I can.
“I also go hiking, with my family and friends outside work. We find different places to go to, about twice a month, and I enjoy stretching my legs and getting out into nature. I’m sticking to the five kilometre routes for the moment but might start building up my distance over time. And I have relatively recently started playing padel on a more regular basis, which I was first introduced to by some of my work colleagues.”
[Editor’s note:]
Hang on, so not so much ‘away from work’ then – the Vox PMO department is famous for working together and playing together! 😊]
Staying with the Vox ‘family’, Shirley is most appreciative of the Vox Executive team: “I’m so proud to be part of a company where the top management are always ready to show appreciation for their employees and for work well done. From Nathaniel Govender, Vox’s Executive Head of the Project Management Office, to Vox CEO Jacques du Toit and the entire executive team, they are always ready and willing to show us that they are involved with, and care deeply about, Vox employees.
“Certainly it’s true that we get paid to do our jobs, but the gratitude and the respect that they give us as people is worth its weight in gold. I am passionate about my job and Vox, and it’s wonderful to know that in turn, the Vox Executive Team is passionate about looking after its employees. This knowledge means the world to me, and is one of the reasons why I have stayed at Vox for 30 years,” she concludes.
And so from Vox to Shirley, we say once again: Congratulations on this stunning achievement. Your long hours, patience, perseverance and leadership are a shining example of dedication, passion and commitment.
We close with a congratulatory message from Shirley’s manager, Nathaniel Govender, who says: “Congratulations on your 30th work anniversary, Shirls! Witnessing your remarkable growth and unwavering maturity as a leader has been truly inspiring. Seeing your transformation over the years has been a genuine pleasure, and your journey continues to motivate and uplift everyone around you. Your dedication is a testament to the incredible professional and person you are. It sets a great standard for those following and leaves a legacy you can be exceptionally proud of. Here’s to many more years of success and positive impact!”
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