Mpumalanga Business 2019/20 edition

What has helped you the most along the way?
INTERVIEW
BM: Ensuring that I’m competent at what I do, always asking
questions and continuously learning new things. Certain people I
met along the way, currently my two leaders (Mangaliso Sethethi
and Baltimore Miles) and my mentor (Hemuna Bhola) have been
playing a vital role in my development.
JS: The most important building block of my career was mentoring.
Through these mentoring relationships I found my rhythm allowing
me to dance to beat of my own drum.
Johanne Struwig
BIOGRAPHY
With a Bachelor’s degree
in Chemical Engineering,
Johanne was the first women
(and youngest) Plant Manager
to be appointed by Exxaro
Resources at the Leeuwpan
Coal operation. With a speciality
in mineral processing, she also
has diplomas in management
and training in risk management.
She previously worked as a
metallurgical engineer and has
been applying metallurgical
principles to optimise coal
beneficiation strategies. As a
leader, Johanne has always built
solid relationships with internal
and external stakeholders.
How did you feel to be nominated for the awards?
BM: This was a very humbling experience; this award means a lot for
me. It means my contribution is recognised. However, this also comes
with a vast responsibility to pave a way for young upcoming women
to ensure they don’t go through the same experience I went through.
JS: It was probably one of the proudest moments of my life. I
am truly humbled and want to thank Mangaliso Sethethi (LPN BU
manager) for believing in me and making me believe in myself.
Is the current mining environment better for women?
BM: The industry has made significant strides in executing
transformation and promoting gender. A gap still exists in converting
women in technical positions to senior and board management levels.
More work must be done to create a space that is more accommodating
to everyone, a space where diversity is embraced and a place where
our differences make us strong.
JS: I suppose it is. Over the past 10 years, women went from
being tolerated to being accepted and even respected. Women
are not appointed for the sake of statistics but as decision-makers
and change-drivers in core positions. However, the way women
approach the mining environment has also evolved. Women are
more confident, which allows them to really show their competence.
LPN specifically has also embraced diversity to the fullest and proved
the value it adds to a business.
What should be prioritised to empower women?
BM: Companies need to develop clear strategies that focus on
development and empowerment of women within businesses. This
could include retention, fast-tracking programmes and executive
mentorship programmes. Women also need to embrace the challenge
and use the opportunity to empower themselves and others.
JS: Growing and making a difference in the mining industry requires
confidence, it requires women to be authentic. It requires us to be
strong under pressure. It also requires us to remain women because
that is what makes all the difference. As female leaders we have
the responsibility to teach this to every lady that wants to make it
in this industry through mentoring and coaching.
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MPUMALANGA BUSINESS 2019/20