We’re one big familia at Mad Mex, and our People and Culture Manager, Emily van Wessem, is the one that we rely on to make sure that we’re all having the best experience possible. Whether it be our luchadores that deliver you that perfect burrito every time, or the people that work behind the scenes to make the magic happen, Emily drives our core values of Connected, Cheeky and Authentic, and that makes us one of the best places in Australia to work.
We sat down with Emily to have a chat about what it was about Mad Mex that appealed to her, and what it’s like working in HR when “people” and “culture” are not just corporate speak!
What attracted you to work at Mad Mex?
Emily: When I came across Mad Mex, I saw immediately that it was all about the values; Connected, Cheeky and Authentic – and that is everything to me. To say that Mad Mex is a values-led organisation is an understatement, and is something I am super proud to demonstrate every day in my role. Culture sets the tone of an organisation and connected, cheeky and authentic are what makes Mad Mex so fun.
What do you love about your role?
Emily: Firstly, I get to work with the most amazing bunch of people. Secondly, my role as People & Culture Manager is really valued and I know that I am contributing to making Mad Mex an even better place to work (watch this space!).
What does a typical day look like for you?
Emily: In the world of HR there is no such thing as a typical day, and that is one of the reasons I love HR! A day in Mad Mex HR can range from creating and designing a best-in-class Employment Value Proposition with our marketing team right through to creating and implementing new policies to keep our people safe through this challenging time.
What has been your favourite achievement in working at Mad Mex so far?
Emily: My proudest achievement has been implementing our Employee Assistance Program (EAP). During the peak of COVID-19 last year, we realised we needed to offer our people extra support and one of the ways was through the implementation of our EAP. Lockdown and COVID-19 have impacted everyone in each unique way and sometimes a conversation with the confidence it isn’t being shared is one of the best ways for our familia to overcome challenges. So, we enabled that, knowing that a problem shared, is a problem halved.
Finally, what Mad Mex menu item do you recommend to us, and why?
Emily: My favourite Mad Mex meal is chicken with medium spice, added guac and extra jalapenos… but then I also love the spicey vegan – so delish.
Mad Mex is going through a period of rapid growth, and we’ve got all kinds of job openings available. If working for one of the happiest familia in Australian food sounds like your cup of tea, just head over to our jobs page for more information.