Caroline was in good spirits despite the cold, wet Cape Town winter. The headline development since the assignment is a new hire who has been with the gallery for two months and is proving to be a super-efficient asset.

His presence has been transformative for Caroline’s own freedom: it allowed her to be away for the whole of May and will let her step away again for the month of July, with the gallery running, in her words, “amazingly beautifully” in her absence.

The space itself has evolved too. The gallery has begun renting areas to two complementary brands, “Trés Nagal,” a natural perfumery (another client of Imperial Business School this year), and “Pure Solid,” an artisanal linen clothing label, whose products now fill and enhance the space.

For Caroline, the single biggest improvement has been the successful delegation of duties. Her main goal was to “dilute the responsibility” of having to be physically present every day to hold the space. By handing over admin and gallery management, she has achieved exactly that. The added brands have also lifted foot traffic. Because they are so well aligned, the mix has been a positive addition that may well translate into more sales, particularly of smaller items.

Caroline is deeply grateful and appreciative for the time spent with the Imperial team, an “amazing asset to the unfolding of the business”, as she puts it.