Hi, my name is  Lemanja, and I am a Technical Writer for RapidDeploy. I am on the Product team, based out of Bellville, South Africa. I chose to be a technical writer at RapidDeploy (RD) because I am passionate about technology that makes a tangible difference in people’s lives. What I love about my role is that I can match my analytical and technical skills with my enthusiasm for content creation. Knowing that each effort I make (no matter how small) can potentially save a life is important to me.  

On a more personal note, I love to be outdoors, travel with loved ones and friends, dancing, and wine tasting. I’ve globe-trotted to 13 different countries, earned the honorary title of Grandma, and spent years rocking out in a folk band. I am a runner who has collected a stash of silver medals from half-marathon runs and used to be a fitness dance instructor.  

Get to know Lemanja as she shares more about her experience working at RD over the last three years in Product.  

What originally attracted you to work at RD? The mission. It helps me to live and offer service with a purpose.  

What do you like about working at RapidDeploy? The awesome team, the mission to help save lives, working fully remote, and the work culture. I get the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in saving lives. I appreciate the flexibility of working remote in a well-organized system structure. We use Teams channels which significantly enhances communication and collaboration not only on my team, but all teams across the org. I regularly talk and communicate with others via Team’s chat, meetings, email, and events.

How do RapidDeploy’s values align with your personal values? I am driven by a passion to make a difference, and I believe that succeeding at RD requires a deep commitment to help save lives. My personal connection to this mission is profound: eight years ago, my daughter was in a severe car accident and the quick response of first responders saved her life. She was in critical condition on a rural road, and it was only thanks to the timely discovery by one of her friends that she received the help she needed. The experience greatly impacted my life and made me realize the critical importance of accurate location data and the impact it can have on helping to save a life in an emergency.  

How would you describe RD’s company culture? Vibrant and forward-thinking, with a strong emphasis on inclusivity and positivity. The team is composed of innovative, culturally aware individuals who maintain a “glass half-full” attitude and are passionate about making a meaningful impact.  

Can you describe a time when teamwork was essential to your success? Teamwork is ALWAYS essential at RD -so, all of my projects.

‍Describe your role and what your day-to-day responsibilities look like. As a technical writer, my role focuses on supporting our internal RD audience (stakeholders such as Product Management, Customer Success, Implementation, Support, Training, Experience, and our U.S. Sales team) with clear and accurate product documentation. Daily, you will find me creating and updating product documentation and collaborating closely with subject matter experts (SMEs), including Project Managers, Product Owners, and Engineers, on various documentation tasks. These tasks include documenting new features for Eclipse, Radius, and Lightning, mapping out the user experience, compiling content in our internal wiki, obtaining sign-off from SMEs, and distributing the finalized documentation to internal audiences. This documentation unlocks additional go-to-market activities such as videos and release notes created by the training team.

What are some key projects you have worked on? When I first joined RD, there was no centralized space to share our technical writing and communications. Documents were hard to manage and access because of the lack of structure, which made it difficult when we introduced new features, provided usage instructions, and explained configurations in simple terms. Sprint reports were basic and lacked detailed context, so I took the initiative to develop a comprehensive product documentation system and wiki which is our single source of truth and is easily accessible. I selected Confluence as our tool for this, which has been the most user-friendly platform for this purpose. Other meaningful projects I have worked on at RD include updating and creating essential security documents. I think creating the product documentation wiki for Radius, Lightning and Eclipse has had the most significant impact for the company and therefore our customers.  

How has your career progressed since you started at RD and what opportunities for professional development have you taken advantage of? Initially, I was hired as a temporary employee and became full-time. I received my Chartered IT Professional certification which specializes in technical writing) as well as a WordPress certification. I have completed numerous courses and certifications since starting at RD and received numerous training sessions from a senior QA Engineer, Marcy. I am currently excited about transitioning into a QA role. I love that RD offers paths for professional development courses which allows me to grow.  

What professional achievements are you most proud of while working at RD? My Chartered IT Professional qualification and the product documentation wiki.

What resources are available to help you succeed? In addition to the excellent onboarding process, RD LMS, and tools, I appreciate the ability to access LinkedIn Learning at any time, and the support from qualified team members who are available to assist as needed. RD has a wonderful tuition and professional development allowance that anyone can take advantage of.  

How does RapidDeploy support you in your role, both professionally and personally? RD helped me by providing the additional documentation needed for my Chartered IT Professional qualification. Additionally, I am grateful and excited to have been offered the opportunity to transition into a QA role.

What’s a memorable moment or project for you at RD? Radius v5 was particularly memorable due to the extensive hours spent leading teams and SMEs while ensuring we met rigorous documentation requirements.  

How does RapidDeploy accommodate your family and personal life? Work-life balance is highly valued at RapidDeploy. I had a memorable experience when my grandchild was born in Amsterdam. RD supported me by allowing me to work remotely from Europe, which gave me valuable time to spend with my family during this special occasion. Also, when my mother was in the hospital  and I needed to take family leave, RD was incredibly accommodating and understanding throughout the situation.

What do you do personally to maintain a healthy work-life balance? For me, maintaining a healthy work-life balance here has largely achieved by staying deadline-driven and employing effective planning and implementation skills.  There is a lack of micro-management, and I am able to adopt a “project completion and deadline-oriented” approach which provides essential flexibility.

What are you most excited about for the future of RapidDeploy? Radius and Lightning, and the impact this combination will make.