Age 32
Where are you based at the moment (who do you work for)?
I am based in Johannesburg, and I currently work for Nando’s South Africa.
In what year did you complete your honours degree?
2014
What path did you follow before ending up with your current company?
I have had quite a long-winded path.
Upon completing my Honours, I joined a Consultancy and Construction company, where I worked as a Trainee Manager. I then left to further my studies abroad, and then returned to work for an international development finance organisation, where I worked mainly in the Energy / Green Economy sector. My last destination prior to joining my current employer was a strategic investment and public innovation organisation whose aim was to provide civil society with the knowledge and tools to support their work, share research and lessons learnt and build connections between people and organisations.
What is your current position and what does the role entail?
I am currently a Design & Development Project Manager at Nando’s. As Design & Development Project Manager, I am accountable for the timeous design and development of new and revamped restaurants in accordance with operational and brand standards through effective project management of construction projects including the management of and interface with contractors, suppliers, and internal / external stakeholders.
What advice would you give a current construction management student?
In no order:
• Be open-minded;
• Do not be afraid to take chances, and
• Back yourself, always!
Your construction Management degree can open a world of possibilities (not just site based). I believe the different modules which range from pure construction to business and economics, and law, are, among others, what makes the programme so special. For example, I have worked in different sectors including consulting, development finance, energy, retail - you name it. My Construction Studies and Construction Management Honours degrees gave me the confidence to not limit myself to the possibilities that are out there, you too should not.
What was your favourite module?
This is a tough one, but I would say KMM (Materials & Methods) as well as my Research module.
Who was your favourite lecturer?
I think because of the journey I had with this lecturer whilst doing my Honours research, I would say, Prof. Smallwood. The belief he had in me encouraged me to push myself to a level I did not even know I had within me and is something I will never forget.
What are your plans for the next 5 to 10 years?
I determine my next step by analysing the skills I possess, as well as skills / knowledge areas I need to improve on or develop.
As I write this, a knowledge area I would really like to develop is construction contracts, therefore, I would like to be in a space where I get to nurture and develop that knowledge area.
I also want to be in a role where I am responsible for the growth of the business / company I work for. I think, for the first couple of years of one’s career, the focus is on developing your skills as a professional and to do your job well. As much as I believe there is still a lot to learn as a professional, I do believe that there comes a point where one must develop an owner mindset, as opposed to an employee mindset. I think when you become responsible for the growth of a business, a lot changes, and you must develop new skill sets, and you face different challenges. That is an area I would like to venture to.
Finally, I’d like to play a role in academia (not sure in which capacity, yet). One of my best years as an adult and professional, was my Honours year, specifically, my Honours research. I believe I came into my own. I thoroughly enjoyed the knowledge I gained, the conversations I had with different people as part of my research, the late nights, and working towards something I was genuinely interested in. That shaped who I am today, and I believe there is so much that we can do not just in academia, but the world, and I think academia is one of the tools we can use for that change.
27 July 2023