Premala Singh – Marketing Director & Board Member

I was born in the sleepy hollow of Pietermaritzburg on 19 March. I am very grateful for my humble beginnings, which helped me to develop key traits needed to survive in today’s world.

Thanks to my various academic accolades – including an MBA and degree in Marketing Management – I climbed the corporate ladder and am now responsible for the BVi group’s marketing needs.

My management style focuses on transformational leadership, which is underpinned by trust, resilience, courage and compassion. I feel it is very important for leaders to show compassion and empathy, as this connects us to our people – especially during these uncertain times.

My proudest accomplishment is that of having and managing a family. Should the opportunity arise, I would most like to meet New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, as I feel she is a dynamic, empathetic, clear and concise leader who uses her power to influence positive changes in her country.

Annemarie Smalberger – Professional Structural Engineer (BVi & Red-Earth)

While participation and bouncing ideas between engineers ensures confidence in the final proposed solution, you do need to distance yourself from feelings and be strict as and when required to ensure that you get the best out of your team.

My management style is both authoritative while ensuring participation, and I believe that the most dangerous moment in your career is when you think you know everything.

However, I would encourage other women leaders to keep their heads up, stay positive and remember their worth. There will be moments in your career that you realise you are not there to make friends, but to do a job, and do it well, even if you are unpopular for it.

Always remember to be the woman who is able to correct another’s crown without making it known that it was skew in the first place.

Khuselwa Ntlonti – Group HR Officer

I was born on February 14 in the rural areas of Transkei, in Ngcobo town, in the Eastern Cape. My tertiary education comprises a National Diploma in Accounting, and a BCom in Human Resources (HR). I manage the group’s HR processes, and provide support to regional HR officers, employees and management, while also facilitating the performance management process. I am also the secretary of the main BVi’s Employment Equity Committee.

My philosophy of life is that when life gives you lemons, just make lemonade. This also means that you must maintain a work / life balance and as a woman leader in South African business (or even a wife, mother, aunt, or grandmother), that requires a lot of adjustments and sacrifices. While it is not easy, it is doable – and you must never try to be better than others but to be better than you were yesterday.

I use this philosophy in my day-to-day life, and even in my management style – which I aim to be a combination of consultative and leading by example. The person I would most like to meet is Oprah Winfrey.

Pulane Tshetlho – Civil Engineering Technologist

I was born in Kuruman in the Northern Cape. I obtained my National Diploma in Civil Engineering from the Tshwane University of Technology and later obtained my B.Tech degree from the University of Johannesburg.

I am based in the Kuruman office where I oversee and manage rural water and roads projects.

My biggest personal achievement has been independently managing projects.

As a young female civil engineering professional it can be quite daunting to take up space in a male dominated field. My advice to other female leaders is that they should not be afraid to make mistakes. I have learnt that sometimes the biggest mistake you can make is being afraid to make one.

Boitumelo Matyeka – Professional Civil Engineer & Associate

As the world we live in keeps changing, one needs to learn to adapt to the changes and always try to surround yourself with people who inspire you and make you be the best version of yourself as Roy T. Bennett says.

I am a Civil Engineer and obtained my tertiary education from the university of Cape Town. My education and work experience helped me achieve my goal to qualify as a professional engineer, which I now use to guide my daily work activities. My management style is collaborative leadership and coaching. I believe in working together as a team.

My philosophy in life is that you should believe in yourself and that you have the power within you to achieve great things, and perhaps one day, that will mean I get to meet Oprah Winfrey.

Natalie June Fredericks – Associate Professional Structural Engineer at BVi Western Cape

One needs to remain cognizant of the fact that success is not final, and failure is not fatal – you simply need to have the courage to continue, as what you do next is what defines you.

You also need to give with an open heart without expecting to receive anything back, and you can find solace is the Serenity Prayer: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.

It is through this philosophy that I always try to see the silver lining in a dark cloud, and it affects my attitude – which makes a huge, positive difference.

Outside of my work life, my personal best achievement is winning SA Colours in Ballroom and Latin American Performing Arts in 2016.

Anri Snyman – Professional Town Planner & Project Manager

I am an energetic and curious Professional Town Planner and Project Manager with eight years of experience.

I completed my Bachelors Degree in Urban Planning and my Masters Degree in Development Studies and have registered as a Professional Project Manager Professional (PMP®) in 2020. While striving to develop as a project specialist I started with my Masters degree in Project Management in 2022 (M.Sc.) and aim to finalise the degree by 2023.

Although I enjoy academic development, my greatest achievement was the completion of the 70.3 Ironman in East London in 2018, fuelling my philosophy of life that anything in life is possible through hard work and perseverance. My recipe for success to other women in the South African business community would be to work hard, show up, lean in, speak out, always be teachable and never miss an opportunity to uplift others.

Moleboheng Botsane – Civil Technologist – Site Supervision

I was born on 20 March and completed matric at Mampoi High School.

I completed my tertiary education by obtaining a National Diploma: Civil from Durban University of Technology, and a B-tech: Urban Engineering from Tshwane University of Technology.

My greatest achievements are often related to my greatest challenges, the capacity to pick oneself up, bounce back and carry on.

In terms of management skills, I am more diverse and know when to implement the best style, give clear direction, offer motivation and I am very keen on encouraging professional development of oneself and fellow colleagues.

My philosophy of life is that we must learn to love people and use things rather than loving things and using people.