Nmisa - Women in Industry

Dr Nwabisa Takata
Scientist at the National Metrology Institute of South Africa (NMISA) under the Chemical, Material and Medical Metrology division.

Main activity of company: The main activity of NMISA is to keep, develop, maintain and disseminate the National Measurement Standards. It serves as a crucial foundation for accurate measurements in South Africa and the region, contributing to the overall quality of life, trade and regulatory environments. NMISA ensures that measurements made in South Africa are accurate, comparable and internationally accepted, instilling confidence in the local and export markets.
 

Management style: If I am given any task at hand to lead, my general approach is a collaborative approach. I find this helpful because two minds working towards a common goal are better than one, objectives can be achieved faster and more efficiently. This also helps create a holistic picture of the end goal of that specific task for everyone involved in it.
 

Personal best achievement: The most remarkable achievement to this date is completing my Ph.D. Given the circumstances that I was under, I had all reasons to give up. My studies took two extra years to complete. I am proud of how much resilience and fortitude I displayed through it. The examiners of my thesis were impressed with the quality of the work I produced and becoming aware of that made me even prouder.
 

Person you would most like to meet: I am most intrigued by the Late Ndoni Mcunu who founded Black Women in Science. If I ever had the chance to meet her, I would thank her for blazing the trail and inspiring countless women and girls, including myself, to lead, make a difference in the world, and persevere.
 

Philosophy of life: I believe I am on this Earth to make good things happen, and this is not limited to my professional career, but to those I love, my community, and beyond it. In everything I do I try to give the best I can, so even if the expected outcomes do not come to fruition, I would know I gave my best.
 

Message for other women leaders in the South African business community: I would like to encourage women to embrace redirection: it's good to have set goals and plans, but sometimes they do not always go accordingly. One should be open to other opportunities that may present themselves within their career journey. I also would like to remind women that mentorship is needed at all levels and is essential for propelling career growth. The women who have been able to make it in the South African business community need to take it upon themselves to lead other young people toward success because young women need relevant role models.