The women on the panel at the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA) Women of Steel Conference on August 21 share many of the qualities of steel, not least strength, durability, and malleability.

Facilitator Honey Mamabolo began the conference, held at Komatsu Africa Holdings Training Centre in Germiston, by reminding the attendees that the theme of Ignite. Forge. Lead was a call to action for everyone and that we should move “from forging ahead to forging together.”

The themes of education, perseverance, authenticity, empathy and giving back that were touched on during the presentations reinforced this view.

Pam du Plessis, the MD of Invincible Valves, was the first speaker. She spoke of how when she took over the company, she had to stand her ground and face her fear of heights and an unwelcoming “boys club”, later making sure she learnt all she could about her industry and using her high EQ to better understand the people she worked with. “I went out and educated myself- that set me apart from others. Today I can strip a valve and reassemble it,” she says.

Homera Kadwa, a Director at Thuthukisa Advisory & Consulting, the Project Manager, of the SEIFSA Training Centre, does not shrink herself to fit her industry. She is a combination of all her many roles, including being a mother, a wife, a Muslim and an Indian South African, she says. She emphasised the vital role that education plays and the importance of viewing it as a lifelong journey and not a destination. To make sure that real learning can take part every day, “remain teachable and coachable”, she advised.

Jessica Hutchings, the head of prevention at Rand Mutual Assurance (RMA), understands the value of education, explaining to the conference how her PhD had helped her “get a place at the table.” “The title of doctor, when I got my PhD in psychology and engineering, changed how I was perceived and received in the industry. I got more respect,” she said.

In a departure from the usual Women’s Month line-up, Mamabolo introduced Sylvester Makamu, Group Human Capital Director at ACTOM, as the rose among the thorns, or the only male speaker and one of a handful of men attending the conference. 

He admitted that being the only man on the panel was a little intimidating but added quickly that it would give him an idea of what it is like to be the only woman in a male-dominated industry - a recurrent theme among the women speakers.

Makamu calls himself “an ally for women in the industry”, saying he is honouring his mother - who became a single mom of five children after his father died - by taking part in the conference. As a labour lawyer he found his work was about representing companies when a worker faced dismissal. “One day I thought, let me empower people around labour law so they do not make mistakes and lose their jobs.... Since then, I have been involved in many initiatives to empower women.”

Colleen Commons, the MD of BSI Steel, said she had found that “faking it until you make it” helped and also “if you don’t know something, shut up and go and find out. Your confidence will come from really knowing your industry.” She also stressed the importance of listening to others to really understand. “Speak up but also listen to what is happening around you.”

Natalie Van Vreden, the CEO of the Plastic Convertors Association of South Africa (PCASA), really knows how it feels to be the only woman at the table — she is the only female CEO in her industry and many members of the executive resigned when she was appointed. But she showed all the best characteristics of bold unwavering leadership and began the process of rebuilding the organisation. “Today my team is all female,” she says. She may be the boss, but she was quick to tell her audience that her title is irrelevant. “You are never too important to make a difference, rather be humble.” The rocky start to her tenure as CEO has made her realise that “our hardships help to form us and prepare us for what lies ahead”.

The Steel Sisters and Brother, used their real-life experiences to provide advice and even short cuts on how Women in Steel can make their mark in the metals and engineering industry.

Entrance to the Women of Steel Conference was free and all that SEIFSA requested was that each attendee donate a pack of sanitary towels for young girls, that will be handed over to the menstruation foundation, a non-profit company striving to eliminate period poverty in South Africa. SEIFSA is pleased to announce that due to the generous support of our woman leaders over 327 sanitary packs were collected and will be handed over.