Rooted in Growth: Ieslaah Isaacs Navigates Science and Leadership at the Compton Herbarium
From multi-tasking intern to emerging leader, Ieslaah Isaacs is building her path with quiet confidence and a collaborative spirit.
“I’ve never viewed myself as a leader, but others often say I have those qualities,” reflects Ieslaah Isaacs, a Plant Taxonomy Intern at the Compton Herbarium. With a year of experience and a background in biodiversity and ecology, Ieslaah is steadily cultivating her potential in the collections field one challenge, collaboration, and curiosity at a time.
Now participating in the NSCF Emerging Leaders Workshop, she is ready to sharpen her leadership skills and deepen her impact.
Background and Career Path
Armed with a BSc Honours in Biodiversity and Ecology, Ieslaah entered the herbarium world through a plant taxonomy internship at SANBI’s Compton Herbarium. Her responsibilities are as wide-ranging as they are impactful: assisting in research and technical support, processing loans, supporting students, managing journal-related tasks, and helping with NSCF-related duties.
“I assist across many divisions,” she explains. “There’s never a dull moment; it’s a space where management and scientific studies intersect.”
Connection to the NSCF
Ieslaah’s work with the NSCF has already provided meaningful exposure to institutional collaborations and collections infrastructure. With her tasks growing increasingly independent and requiring delegation, the Emerging Leaders Workshop comes at just the right time.
She hopes the experience will give her “a better understanding of how to lead,” along with project management strategies to support long-term oversight.
Leadership and Aspirations
Although she admits to some self-doubt, Ieslaah’s thoughtful insights and adaptability speak volumes.
“Leadership, for me, is something others see in me more than I see in myself,” she says. “But I know I have the potential to grow into it.”
What she admires most in other leaders is their ability to connect with diverse people, something she aims to practice more intentionally as her responsibilities grow.
Reflections on the Field
Ieslaah is particularly concerned about capacity issues in the collections sector.
“We’re very much understaffed. This leads to people carrying multiple responsibilities, which affects work flow and sustainability.”
Her vision? To strengthen communication with HR and make a case for why certain roles need to be filled to support institutional effectiveness.
“By clearly linking these needs to outcomes and workloads, we can drive change.”
The Role of Young Professionals
She sees young people as essential drivers of accountability and structure.
“We’re not rigid, but we do value clarity and timelines,” she says. “That mindset helps prevent things from falling through the cracks.”
Human Touch
Ieslaah’s curiosity extends beyond plants. “I know random facts about things,” she asserts. One of her more memorable work experiences involved coming across a specimen that is very poisonous if kept in closed quarters; a fascinating experience..
In her downtime, she enjoys reading, and holds fast to a personal mantra:
“To always be me—to never embarrass myself from the beginning.”
Looking Ahead
As she prepares for the week-long Emerging Leaders Workshop, Ieslaah is focused on learning practical tools and developing confidence to handle increasingly complex projects.
With her growing knowledge, her balanced mindset, and her quiet resolve, she is already making her mark, and reminding us all that leadership sometimes begins when others see in you what you’re still discovering in yourself.