For Lerato Ntuli, becoming the first woman to lead Engen's Langlaagte Terminal was about more than reaching a personal career milestone. It marked an important step in her career and demonstrated what can be achieved by women in an industry where they remain underrepresented.

The 44-year-old Terminal Manager has spent 15 years at Engen and has built a career spanning five different roles across the business. With more than 22 years of working experience and a Postgraduate Diploma in Management Practice from Henley Business School, Lerato says adaptability, perseverance, integrity and continuous learning have been central to her journey.

Her Engen career began in May 2011 as a Dispatch Supervisor in Lubricants and Chemicals at Isando DC. Two years later, she moved into the role of Relief Depot Manager for Fuels in Inland East. In 2014, during an organisational restructuring, she accepted a Plant Supervisor position in Chemicals.

Although it represented a step back in her career progression at the time, Lerato says the experience reinforced the importance of being adaptable and persevering through change.

In 2018, she returned to the Fuels business as Depot Manager for Alrode, a joint venture tenant operation. Three years later, she applied for the position at Langlaagte Terminal, based in Johannesburg, a role she had once viewed as the "giant" of the business.

The reaction to her application only strengthened her determination.

"Several people told me it was a dream that was unlikely to become a reality because a woman had never led Langlaagte before," she says.

Rather than allowing those comments to deter her, she used them as motivation and made a promise to herself that she would become the first woman to lead the Langlaagte Terminal.

"When my appointment was announced, one colleague called and jokingly asked whether I had already bought a bulletproof vest. It was a reminder of the challenges that lay ahead, but I was ready for the journey."

For Lerato, working in a traditionally male-dominated environment has meant recognising that women may sometimes have to work harder to prove themselves, while remaining confident in the strengths they bring to the workplace.

"One of my greatest sources of inspiration is the opportunity to succeed in an industry where women remain underrepresented," she says. "I firmly believe that women bring unique strengths to the workplace."

Safety is also central to how she approaches her role. Having managed serious HSEQ incidents during her career, Lerato says these experiences have strengthened her leadership and crisis-management capabilities.

"Safety, in particular, is very close to my heart. Ensuring a safe operation is not just a business priority for me, it is a personal commitment that guides my decisions and actions every day."

Her approach to leadership extends beyond the terminal's operational performance. Lerato says she is passionate about developing people and has mentored and coached numerous individuals during her career, several of whom have gone on to lead terminals and take on greater responsibilities.

"I genuinely believe in people and their ability to achieve great things when given the right support, encouragement, and opportunities," she says. "I make it a point to look beyond where people are today and focus on what they can become."

Advice for women entering the industry

For women considering careers in operations, engineering or the energy sector, Lerato’s advice is clear: invest in yourself and never stop learning.

"If your circumstances allow, strive to make an NQF Level 8 qualification your minimum academic achievement, even for an entry-level position. Never stop learning. The world is constantly evolving, and continuous development will always set you apart."

She also encourages women to develop a strong sense of purpose and to believe in their own capabilities, particularly when faced with doubt from others.

"There will be moments when others doubt you, but you should never allow those doubts to define your potential."

For Lerato, career progression should never come at the expense of personal values.

"Never be apologetic for standing up for what is right. Your integrity will be tested throughout your career, but do not succumb to pressure."

She believes women should remain adaptable and flexible while refusing to compromise their principles. "The moment you compromise your principles; you risk losing your credibility, authority and authenticity."

A career milestone: Leading the Lesedi Depot project

Looking back, Lerato says the commissioning and operationalisation of the Lesedi Depot stands out as one of her most significant leadership achievements. She successfully led the project from infrastructure commissioning and product sourcing through to operational readiness and Go-Live, coordinating multidisciplinary teams, ensuring HSSEQ compliance and aligning key operational processes. The project demonstrated her ability to lead complex operations, manage multiple stakeholders and deliver a safe, efficient and fully integrated depot.

A team achievement

While becoming the first woman to lead Langlaagte remains an important milestone, Lerato is quick to recognise the team around her.

Under her leadership, Langlaagte Terminal received the Terminal of the Year award in the Category 1 division in both 2023 and 2024. The terminal also received the Sustainability Award in 2024 and 2025 and was recognised as the most improved terminal on the Net Promoter Survey (NPS) – Retail in 2023 and 2024.  For Lerato these achievements belong to the team. "The great team in Langlaagte. We did this!!"

Looking ahead, Lerato intends to continue investing in her own professional development, with a Master's degree as her next academic milestone.

Her final piece of advice is not to try to navigate a career alone

"Find a coach and a mentor who can guide and challenge you. Learn from those who have gone before you, draw from their experiences, and use their wisdom to help navigate your own path to success."

She is also inspired by women within Engen who have progressed into General Manager roles.  "I admire their leadership and the path they have forged for others to follow," she says. "Looking at their journeys gives me confidence that such a goal is within reach, and I remain focused on preparing myself for the opportunities that lie ahead."

Engen Skills Development Facilitator Pontsho Matshediso says: “Lerato's career journey is an inspiring example of how determination, continuous development and perseverance can help women progress and thrive in traditionally male-dominated industries.”

“When women rise into operational leadership positions, they do more than achieve personal success, they create opportunities for others to follow,” adds Andiswa Mkhize, Engen Talent and Development Manager.  

This Women's Month, we celebrate the exceptional women across our operations whose expertise, resilience and leadership are transforming the petrochemical industry. “Their journeys serve as an inspiration to young women, showing that the industry offers exciting opportunities to grow, make an impact and build rewarding careers as future leaders."

For Women's Month, Lerato’s story offers a practical message to women considering careers in fuels, logistics and operations: build your knowledge, stand by your values, seek out mentors, remain resilient and do not allow someone else's doubts to determine how far you can go.