Jonathan Levy is the Country Manager for Shopline, a leading global omnichannel commerce platform empowering over 400,000 brands with market-leading tools to sell everywhere.
Let’s start with your background! Can you share with us your career journey and what you’re currently up to?
I joined SHOPLINE as the Country Manager and employee number one in December last year. Over the last two decades (but who’s counting!) I have spent my career working in entrepreneurial and growth roles in the retail and e-commerce industry, helping businesses expand into new markets.
Retail has always been in my blood. My grandfather had a retail business, my uncle was a director at Woolworths overseeing the clothing division and my father owned a business that manufactured and wholesaled baby products.
I moved to Australia from South Africa right before the GFC to launch my own business in customer experience and brand engagement. From there I was heavily embedded in the startup scene before joining Temando which was later acquired by a large multinational company. I also lead global partnerships with several ecommerce platforms. After that, I joined WooCommerce where I sat on the global leadership team, launching new products in the market.
This led me to my current role at SHOPLINE today where I am leading the company’s expansion into Australia. SHOPLINE is a leading global omnichannel commerce platform empowering over hundreds of thousands of brands with market-leading tools to sell everywhere.
We’d love to know what a typical day is like for you. Could you describe a recent workday?
I start my day by having breakfast with my kids and then walking them to the bus. Once that’s done, I head to the office and begin my work. A typical office day mainly consists of internal meetings and check-ins with the global team and head office. After work, I attend my children’s soccer training.
On certain days, I also engage with community-related events as well as some social poker games. As the week comes to an end, my family and I, along with friends, have a Friday night Shabbat dinner as a family. It’s a special time when we take time as a family. It’s the one night we all know that we will be together.
Can you define work-life balance for yourself and share with us your approach in maintaining it?
As SHOPLINE’s country manager, leading the company’s expansion into Australia, having a work-life balance is pivotal. For me, work-life balance is about seamlessly intertwining work commitments with your personal life.
We implement this at SHOPLINE by focusing on open communication, ensuring that team members feel comfortable expressing their needs and setting clear boundaries. We also champion flexibility, allowing for remote work and adaptable hours to accommodate diverse responsibilities.
Prioritisation is another key aspect – honing in on impactful tasks rather than spreading oneself thin. We also place a big focus on wellness, with wellness programs and mental health support readily accessible to everyone.
Personally, I lead by example by advocating for breaks, respecting limits, and fostering a positive atmosphere. We emphasise the importance of disconnecting from work during personal time, enabling our team to recharge effectively.
Change is constant, and it’s essential for growth. Have you made any lifestyle changes in the past year to improve your work-life balance?
I believe in the importance of change for growth. Over the past year, I’ve made a couple of lifestyle changes to enhance my work-life balance. I joined a soccer team to prioritise my fitness and build new networks and friendships. This not only helps me stay active but also gives me a chance to socialise outside of work.
Another thing I did was I made it a mission to attend my kids’ sporting events and actively show interest in their achievements. Being there for them in these moments not only strengthens our bond but also reminds me of the value of balancing work commitments with family time.
We’re always on the lookout for new resources! Can you recommend any books, podcasts, or newsletters that have helped you in your journey towards balance?
There are two books that I highly recommend – Mark Manson’s The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck and Eddie Jaku’s The Happiest Man on Earth.
The book by Manson, in particular, gives a refreshing perspective on balance by emphasising the power of saying no to things that aren’t truly important
Before we wrap up, do you have any final words of wisdom or insights on work, life, or balance that you’d like to share with our readers?
I have three things I want to leave with the readers. One, either in work or in life, it’s essential to know the difference between urgency and importance, and then prioritising accordingly. Second, having a trusted confidant to share thoughts with can bring fresh perspectives and help in decision-making. Lastly, dedicating Sunday nights to reflect on the past week and set objectives for the upcoming one has been a practical approach in maintaining balance.
