Fuelling Transformation Efforts

Pinky Moabi-Makasi is the managing director of New Africa Petroleum (NAP) Holdings (Pty)Ltd and has been its executive director since 1997. She is also the founding director of Women in Oil and Energy SA (WOESA), which comprises WOESA Investment Holdings and has about 1 000 women investors.

She says that the petroleum sector is still very much male-dominated. “Decisions are not made in the boardroom. I can think of projects where we, especially as WOESA women, lost out as we partly didn’t understand the ‘language of doing business’.”

Offering advice to women in the field, Moabi-Makasi says: “Work hard and lead with ethic and integrity. Lift others, especially your staff.” She says that taking a long-term view of the business and seeing herself as a custodian of the business for the next generation has helped her stay the distance. “And,” she stresses: “Network, network and network. Intentional social networking builds enormous capital in the future.”

She admits it’s a challenging industry to find your feet in. “In the beginning, funding was a major problem especially as the equity base was low and even a business overdraft was impossible.” That is why she is so passionate about the assistance that WOESA offers. “We offer WOESA member companies, organisations and individuals services that focus on developing a knowledge base and building capacity among women through education and training. We also facilitate access to business opportunities and do advocacy work for women by participating in drafting legislation and policies.”

Be business-savvy

Tshepi Phosa, founder of Milviforce Puma Nelspruit, first took an interest in the petroleum industry in 2013 when started an internship with Brent Oil during school holidays. She noticed, during her training, that at the time only 20 per cent of the industry globally was made up of women. “I was interested in figuring out what the industry entailed. I felt that there should be more women involved and I wanted to be one of them.”

Phosa says she loves the constant challenge of this dynamic industry, which has taught her negotiation skills and helped her to understand the remuneration structures, among other abilities.

“That so many women had failed within this space was alarming. The way men were so shrewd and undermined the role of a woman really fuelled my wish to transform this sector. The creation of jobs and being impactful within male-dominated spaces has always been one of my  goals in life.”

Milviforce Puma Nelspruit was formed when she obtained her first petrol station in September 2015. Within a year, the business had increased its petrol output volumes from 175 000 to 350 000. This was achieved through Phosa’s astute networking and introduction of strategic marketing campaigns that constantly brought traffic to the site.

She says that it was only after growing the business that she felt her male colleagues began to trust her management style and believe in her vision for the site.

Phosa advises women entering the sector to be business-savvy and keep their eyes open for unscrupulous behaviour. Experience has taught her that “women need to ensure all agreements are signed prior to making any introductions between a buyer and potential supplier”. She says that “in the beginning, I was too trusting – that was my downfall. I’d make introductions trusting that we all have ethics, and not knowing that a deal could be taken away right under my nose.”

She adds that the nature of the business demands that you constantly monitor your cash and staff and that daily reconciliations are never neglected.

In her memoir, Fuelling Futures: From Influence to Impact, which details her journey in the industry, Phosa says her recipe for success is respect, honesty, working diligently and most importantly focusing on her goals. “I strive for perfection daily and believe in building others along my journey.”