1. Tell us a bit about yourself?
I was born in Ermelo in Mpumalanga and raised in Newcastle, Kwa-Zulu Natal. My mother was a housewife, and my father was in the taxi business. When I was 14 years old, my older sister and I were orphaned. I am eternally grateful to my mother for instilling an appreciation for the importance of education and independence in me during my formative years. Today, I am a married mother with two girls, aged seven and two. I love travelling, fashion, and learning new things.
2. What work do you do?
I’m a principal specialist in business development and partnerships for the Energy Business at Sasol. I am responsible for managing supply chain business development and partnership opportunities in support of Sasol’s decarbonisation strategy. I’m excited to be at the forefront of the decarbonisation at the biggest petrochemical company in South Africa because I am especially passionate about sustainable development. There is a lot of fascinating work to do as we strive to meet South Africa’s commitments under the Paris Climate Agreement of 2015 and aim to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
3. How long have you been in the industry?
I have 16 years of work experience. Throughout my career, I have sought to build a combination of skills that complement my passion for process optimisation and improvement. I studied at the University of Cape Town, where I got my BSc in Chemical Engineering. While I was studying, I spent vacations working at the Secunda operation site in Mpumalanga, under the guidance of seasoned engineers. I’ve spent most of my career with the Sasol group, developing skills in areas such as petrochemical equipment design, technical and analytical analysis, project management, and strategy. I have also studied further, and obtained an MSc in Chemical Engineering as well as a Certificate in Digital Business from the University of Witwatersrand.
4. Has your work always been your passion? Tell us why?
A career in STEM was a natural fit for me because I’m intrigued by complexity. I am interested in unlocking value by improving efficiency, reducing costs, generating new revenue streams, and finding new solutions. I also showed an aptitude for mathematics and science in high school. As one of the many young South Africans who was unable to pay for their tuition, I was keen to study in a field where I could get a bursary to complete a degree. I found that there were some interesting degrees and bursary opportunities in STEM.
5. Being a woman in the industry – what does it take?
First and foremost, you must know that gender doesn’t define your capabilities. You must also remember to show up as the strong woman you are, not competing with your male counterparts, and ensure you have an adequate support system at home and for personal growth, this will help put you on the road to success. There has never been a better time for young women to consider a career in STEM-related fields, as there is currently a real shortage of skills.
6. What has been the most difficult challenge of your career?
In my early years as a process engineer, I struggled to break the glass ceiling (i.e., limited myself from reaching higher levels of professional success). This was until I met a female sponsor who believed in, supported, and opened doors for me. I have never looked back. Based on my experience, my advice to any young engineer is to grab the opportunity to shadow or be mentored by a senior engineer when it presents itself.
7. What advice do you have for other women in your industry?
Not even the sky is the limit. It really starts with what you believe to be true for yourself and excelling in everything that you do and very importantly, finding the right support system. Investigate the different branches of STEM to make informed career choices based on your individual strengths and passions. It is a diverse field, with many facets and specialisations.
8. Plans for the future?
I want to keep challenging the status quo and improve operational efficiency with the solutions I develop. Career wise, I want to transition to the vice president-level, becoming part of the leadership and strategic team that supports the C-suite. On the personal front, I aim to raise resilient daughters who are not scared to take their space in the world.
Connect with Nomathemba
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nomathemba-kgorane-8aaab020/
Social bio
Nomathemba Kgorane is a Principal Specialist in Business Development and Partnerships, Energy Business, Sasol Ltd and is responsible for managing market and supply chain business development opportunities and managing partnerships in support of Sasol’s decarbonisation strategy.
She’s seasoned and qualified professional engineer with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) and has 16 years’ experience in the petrochemical industry and holds a BSc Chemical engineering (UCT), MSc Chemical Engineering (Wits) and Certificate in Digital Business (Wits). She has experience in petrochemical plant operations as a technical support and design engineer, digitilisation strategy formulation and production planning & optimisation, ensuring performance and profit maximisation.