Celebrating our Engineering Talent during Women’s Month

As Process Engineers, Technical Support Engineers, Production and Technical Managers, their management styles may differ but these young women all have one thing in common – a love for maths and science, for solving today’s challenges and using innovative ways to improve on the circular nature of the pulp and paper industry.  They all enjoy creative problem-solving and practical application of their skills, finding a profound sense of accomplishment in witnessing tangible results from their efforts.

As trailblazers in the engineering field, they have a strong message of encouragement for other young people -especially women - to pursue engineering, highlighting the excitement and diverse opportunities it offers as a career. Between them they hold qualifications in BSc Chemical Engineering, BEng in Electrical Engineering, MBAs and Postgrad Diplomas in Business Administration – to name just some of their impressive credentials.

Mashaka Nedohe, Production Manager: Chemical at Ngodwana Mill, exemplifies adaptive leadership, believing that influence is more powerful than authority. She takes pride in both the small and big wins in her personal and professional life, which motivate her to keep moving forward each day.  Her life philosophy is to always aim to improve oneself in a thousand tiny ways at every opportunity, striving to be a better version of oneself each day.

To other women leaders in the South African business community, Mashaka’s message is to dare to dream big. She believes the mind is unlimited in its capacity and encourages women to show up in spaces that feel like uncharted territory. Mashaka chose engineering because of her love for chemistry, mathematics, and physics in high school. She would definitely encourage young people to pursue engineering, due to the many exciting opportunities in fields like AI and robotics.

Sappi provides her with a flexible and engaging environment that she appreciates for allowing her to build her skills and gain experience across the manufacturing value chain.

Niksha Govender, Process Engineer (Technical) at the Sappi Saiccor Mill’s inclusive management style encourages her team to share their ideas and opinions, sparking creativity and fostering ownership. Her life philosophy is simple: if you dream it, you can achieve it. She believes in persevering through challenges, knowing that nothing is impossible. Her message to other women leaders in the South African business community, is to stay true to yourself and know your worth. She echoes Michelle Obama’s words: “There is power in allowing yourself to be known and heard, in owning your unique story, in using your authentic voice.” 

Niksha’s passion for engineering was ignited as a teenager when she visited a factory and spent a day with a Chemical Engineer. She encourages young people to pursue engineering, highlighting the career’s challenges and the endless opportunities it offers for innovation, fulfilment, and problem-solving.

At Sappi, Niksha appreciates the opportunity to work on new and exciting projects that challenge and develop her engineering abilities, valuing the training and support provided which helps her achieve her career goals.

Dieketseng Napo a Senior Technical Support Engineer at Saiccor Mill approaches management as a teachable moment for both herself and her team. She invests time in building skills in those in the technical field to boost motivation and confidence.  She approaches life with an attitude of being authentic and fair, ensuring her personal values align with her actions. On a personal level, discovering her love for hiking and the outdoors has brought her a sense of accomplishment and pride when she pushes herself physically.

She believes it is a privilege to be in a position to cultivate and motivate the upcoming generation of young women in the engineering field, a field she chose for its limitless potential for technological innovation and advancement.

She enjoys the creative problem-solving and practical application of her skills, finding a profound sense of accomplishment in witnessing tangible results from her efforts. She encourages young people to pursue engineering, highlighting the exciting opportunities to apply creative solutions to fundamental needs in South Africa, especially in the energy sector.

Sappi has played a significant role in Dieketseng’s professional growth by providing numerous opportunities to collaborate with diverse teams on various projects. This experience has enabled her to effectively utilise her skills, apply her knowledge, and solve problems creatively, making her a more well-rounded and effective engineer.

Thamandri Naidoo is a Senior Process Engineer at Saiccor Mill. She combines charismatic, situational, and adaptive management styles to lead her team. Her proudest personal achievement is becoming a mother to her beautiful daughter, while professionally, she takes pride in managing and guiding a team of highly skilled engineers.

She chooses to remain positive even in the darkest of times, believing that every challenge has a solution. To other women leaders in South Africa, Thamandri advises staying humble, using logic and knowledge to make decisions, but leading with your heart, as it will define and set you apart.

Her passion for finding solutions to challenges led her to a career in engineering, where she enjoys solving complex problems and shaping the world around her. She encourages young people to pursue engineering, highlighting the excitement and diverse opportunities it offers.

Thamandri credits Sappi for helping her achieve her goals by providing her with inspiring mentors and ample opportunities to learn, grow, and apply her skills early in her career. These experiences were crucial in her professional development and success.

Sarah Hawksworth, a Process Engineer at the Sappi Saiccor Mill, believes that her collaborative management style has helped her make significant progress in a field traditionally dominated by men and she finds it encouraging to see the positive changes happening for women in engineering.

Her life philosophy is to always do your best and show up, not for rewards, but because it’s the right thing to do. To other women leaders in the South African business community, Sarah’s message is clear: the success of your team is your success. “To lead people, walk behind them,” she quips.

Sarah chose engineering as her career path, to use her love for maths and science to solve real-world problems. She encourages young people to pursue this exciting career which offers endless possibilities. At Sappi, Sarah appreciates the opportunity to work on new and exciting projects that challenge and develop her engineering abilities.

If you’re interested in an exciting career in engineering, find out more about these and a diverse array of other exciting career opportunities at the Sappi Career Hub. https://bit.ly/4dDT9FI