Columbus Stainless - Women in Industry

Bokamosho Khechane

Position: Technician at Cold Products (VBA & SP2)

Date and Place of Birth: 17 April in Soweto

Education: I studied Operations Management and ventured into Quality Management at the University of Johannesburg. 

Management style: Democratic leadership style. I believe that the success of a leader is predicated on the effort that he/she invests in their team. If your team is not achieving it will reflect on you as a leader, therefore it’s imperative to build a strong team. The best way in fostering a strong team is through participation and establishing a forum which enables the team to share its ideas so they too are empowered. 

Personal best achievement: Being a Cum Laude graduate. I obtained all my qualifications till honours level with distinction.   

Philosophy of life: Whatever is meant for you, will be for you.  Do your part and everything will fall into place.

Message for other women in the South African business community: Step into who you are meant to be, stop playing small. You are meant for greater things!

Lizel Greyling

Position: Senior Manager: Strategy

Date and Place of Birth: 2 June in Stellenbosch

Education: BA and HD degrees in Industrial Engineering and an MD in IT (Big Data Science) from the University of Pretoria, currently completing a PhD in Computer Science at the University of the Witwatersrand.

Management style: I am more of a scientist than a manager by nature, but I absolutely love leading the team entrusted to me, enabling and optimising their unique strengths. I have very high expectations of my team, and we believe in excellence and superior performance - but these characteristics flow from relationships built on trust and vulnerability, as well as continuous learning and growth in the team.

Personal best achievement: My greatest achievements can be described in terms of the solid relationships that I have been able to build, both in the personal and professional spheres of my life.

Philosophy of life: I believe that you are never too old to learn, that you are never too clever to be wrong, and that you are never so different from someone else that you cannot build some kind of a connection. 

Message for other women in the South African business community: Don’t wait for someone to push you or lead you or encourage you before you start doing the things that need to be done.

Mpho Kgoetiane

Position: Services Coordinator/Technician

Date and Place of Birth: 5 March in Secunda

Education: Matriculated in 2008. Completed my National diploma in Chemical Engineering 2011 and B Tech in Chemical Engineering – 2020

Management style: One of my key strengths is the ability to work exceptionally well with people. I believe in fostering a culture of open communication, trust and respect among team members. I encourage a participative management approach with my team, ensuring that everyone has a voice and a stake in the team’s objectives.

Personal best achievement: Completing my B-Tech qualification in 2020, while I was pregnant during Covid 19 pandemic was a remarkable achievement for me. Balancing the demands of academics, pregnancy and the challenges brought about by the pandemic required determination and perseverance. Overcoming all those challenges demonstrated my strength and ability to thrive under any circumstance.

Philosophy of life: My philosophy of life is to cultivate a healthy mental lifestyle through exercising empathy and understanding. I strive to create an environment of understanding, respect and mental well-being around me.

Message for other women in the South African business community: As women leaders we must refuse to be limited by societal expectations and biases.

Nompumelelo Khoza

Position: Production Team Manager

Date and Place of Birth: 24 October in Gauteng

Education: Advanced Diploma in Operations Management

Management style: My management style is Consultative Management; I consult with my team to obtain their suggestions and opinions to help me make informed and strategic decisions.

Personal best achievement: Being one of the organisation’s youngest team managers.

Philosophy of life: Stay afraid, but do it anyway. You do not have to wait to be confident, just do it and eventually the confidence will follow.

Message for other women in the South African business community: Being a woman in a male-dominated field is not easy, but never forget that you are just as capable and never compromise on your value. You can achieve everything you set your mind to by working smart and remaining resilient.