Take Charge – Career Snippets
Thandeka Nombanjinji-Nzama, 38, managing director of Mbokodo Building, shares how taking initiative, coupled with tenacity, got her to the top
Talk us through your career journey.
My late father was a property developer who planted the entrepreneurial seed in all of us. I studied Public Relations after school, but wasn’t too sure of which direction to take. I started off as an intern at Joburg City Auto, the first black-owned BMW dealership in South Africa. I created this position for myself by relentlessly approaching one of the owners, and then taking the initiative to prove what an asset I would be to the company; and, I was willing to work for free. At the end of my first month, the bosses were so impressed that they paid me a salary and sent me on the BMW Sales Programme to write assessments. Once I had completed the Sales Cadet Programme, I was then hired as a sales executive. I was with Joburg City Auto for three years before being headhunted to join Sandton Auto, another BMW dealership. From there, I was headhunted by an Audi dealership in 2010 where I broke barriers as one of the top three sales executives in the country with high sales volumes, which saw me being rewarded with a trip to Audi group headquarters in Germany. How did you end up in the property and construction business?
While at Audi, my father lost his battle to cancer. I was then faced with the tough decision of stepping into his shoes and heading up the family commercial property business Nombanjinji Family Property, which has a portfolio in office and retail space as well as residential apartments. I initially didn’t want to be subjected to living under my dad’s shadow and wanted to create my own legacy. The journey was tough, but I grew to love and embrace the business. I held on to my resilience until I carved out a path that felt more purposeful to me. I had registered a construction company, but hadn’t been serious about getting its operations off the ground. I approached a friend who was already in construction and asked him to take me on as an intern. He was initially confused as to how a CEO could regress to being an intern, but took me under his wing and taught me all the fundamentals of the construction sector. I then decided to rebrand and restructure my business from Nombanjinji Construction and Projects to Mbokodo Building when I realised the patriarchal discrimination suffered by women in construction. I wanted to be deliberate and unapologetic about helping women who were struggling to break into the industry. It’s generally difficult to get a deal or be taken seriously as a woman in construction, hence I felt the need to minimise the gender gaps and ensure that females form part of the inclusive and equitable part of the industry – and, there aren’t that many individuals willing to readily share information or mentor us as there is a misconception that women cannot thrive in construction. The company is, unapologetically, by and for females.
What advice would you give to other women who work in male-dominated industries – how can they forge ahead without dwelling on some of the challenges? Be fearless in your approach, know what you stand for and ensure that your work, integrity and credentials always speak for themselves when faced with difficult battles. Lastly, remember that a door closing in your face is not necessarily a ‘no’, but a redirection to greater paths that God has planned for you. What career advice got you to the top? I do everything with integrity – that, and human capital, are important to me. When you have integrity, everyone will vouch for you. I also believe in having a good reputation without stepping on people’s toes or being forceful in your dealings. Secondly, looking after your staff is half the battle won because those are the people that represent you and assist in holding the company together daily. What aspect of the construction industry are
you desperate to change? There aren’t proper support structures or networks for women, and the existing few aren’t reaching as many females as they should. I would create a women-only network within the industry that would gather often to discuss and strategise on how best to advocate for more of us to join, and encourage more construction businesses to hire females and optimise their skills.
What helps you hold your head up high when the going gets tough? No one is immune to those moments. Therefore, it is important to get whatever negativity that is weighing you down out of your system, and understand that you do not have control over everything in life. Use each day to restart, and don’t treat it as a continuation of the previous one.
What song sums up your career path? This Girl Is On Fire by Alicia Keys. There is an eternal flame burning within me that spurs me on and helps me overcome daily challenges.