Dr Sherin Ramparsad

Position and Company Name: Programme Manager: Successful Application of Technology Centred Around People (SATCAP), Mandela Mining Precinct

Main Activity of the Company: Mining research, development and innovation SATCAP Programme: The main focus of the SATCAP programme is to understand how people relate to each other and with technology in the process of modernisation; as well as to understand the challenges, effects and impacts of modernisation on people in the mining sector. An objective of this people-focused programme is to lend support to the ESG agenda, more specifically the social-related agenda, with the programme’s goal of contributing to a productive industry through “sustainable relationships and shared value for people in a modernising minerals sector”. SATCAP is intent on taking stakeholders along on the mining modernisation journey, and creates opportunity for awareness, understanding, acceptance and capacity building for mining modernisation.

Date and Place of Birth: 16 April, in KwaZulu-Natal

Education: Doctorate Degree 

Management Style: Situational leadership: It allows me to adapt my leadership style to each unique situation, or task, to meet the needs of my team and the company.

This style supports: 

• Guiding and directing to create movement and action within my team;
• Coaching to create an understanding of what, where, how, when, and why;
• Collaborating, participating, facilitating to create alignment within my team;
• Delegating and empowering to allow for personal or self-mastery, and task mastery.

Personal Best Achievement: My career has been influenced by purpose. The inspirational words by Jim Collins (from the book Good to Great) “it is impossible to have a great life unless it is a meaningful life. And it’s difficult to have a meaningful life without meaningful work” resonates. To me this means having a career that is meaningful, has purpose, and makes a difference… with having a positive impact on others.

Philosophy of Life: Make a difference that matters…for the betterment of others! The starfish story relates: A man walking on the beach sees a boy picking up starfish laying on the shore and throwing them back into the ocean. He says to the boy that there are hundreds of starfish on the beach and that the boy cannot make a difference with his actions. The boy throws in another starfish and says, “I made a difference to that one!”

Message for other women leaders in the South African business community: Be mindful of your blind-spots; Introspect; Develop personal mastery acumen, grow your technical and leadership skills; Elevate others and find ways to unlock the potential in others; Stay determined in the face of adversity; Be courageous, and challenge yourself.

Michelle Pienaar

Position and Company Name: Advance Orebody Knowledge (AOK) Programme Manager, Mandela Mining Precinct

Main Activity of the Company: Mining research, development and innovation AOK Programme: The The main focus of the AOK programme is to create the ultimate ’’Glass Rock’’ environment which includes improving geological confidence ahead of the face, reduction or identification of risk associated with geology and ultimately to have timeous information.  This will contribute to the optimal extraction and ‘’zero harm’’ objectives. 

Date and Place of Birth: 31 January, in Roodepoort, Johannesburg

Education: BSc Hon. Geology, Management Diploma and GDE

Management Style: Coaching Management Style - I enjoy building strong relationships and follow a mentor-mentee approach, trying to keep a balance of support. Constructive feedback has made me an effective manager, that is well respected.

Personal Best Achievement: I have many; however, I am extremely proud of the people that have been part of my team and to see how they have grown and developed. It is extremely satisfying to see those individuals that you mentored/managed being successful and leaders in their own way.

Philosophy of Life: Treat everyone the same and with respect, no matter where they are in life.

Message for other women leaders in the South African business community: Be proud of yourself, be honest with others, live your values, but most of all never stop dreaming and believing.