Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Meet Manoko Nong, The Maslow’s maintenance co-ordinator
KEEPING her own house in order is a task that Manoko Nong enjoys, so it comes as no surprise that she enjoys her job keeping The Maslow Sandton shipshape as the maintenance coordinator.
Nong joined the four-star luxury business and leisure hotel in Sandton in 2012 in the housekeeping department as a room attendant and was moved to the maintenance department in 2018. She described the promotion as “life-changing” and revealed that her mentor at the hotel was the maintenance manager, Wilson Bantwini. He trained her in all the duties and responsibilities of a maintenance coordinator.
“I admired his leadership style and gathered the courage to tell him I would like to learn from him,” said Nong.
She said that when the maintenance coordinator position became available, she applied and got the job.
“Wilson pushed me and that gave me the encouragement to strive for excellence even when I did not have the confidence, and I am very grateful for the step I took,’’ said Nong.
Her daily tasks include sending reports to the service providers and ensuring that all the services are scheduled and completed.
“I am also fulfilling functions of a safety, health and environmental (SHE) coordinator and would like to progress to become a SHE officer.”
Nong said that the maintenance department appealed to her because the work produces visible results. “If someone reports a dead light bulb, my team is responsible for replacing it, and once the job is done there is evidence,” she said.
As a woman in the industry, her leadership style is in tune with her femininity. “My approach with the team is not abrupt, I treat people with respect and it makes my job easy. In our team we are a family, we are able to talk freely and are relatable.”
The Maslow has outlined their goal to reduce its environmental impact.
Nong helps monitor monthly emissions and petrol, diesel, electricity and water usage. “We aim to reduce our carbon footprint and reduce electricity and water use. We are on track to meet Sun International’s group objective of zero waste to landfill by 2025.”
Although she describes herself as shy, Nong is a straight talker who is considerate to others.
In her spare time, she enjoys binge-watching Investigation Discovery and staying on top of household tasks like ironing and laundry.
“My 4-year-old daughter is the love of my life, I named her after my late sister, and I see her love shine through her every day and that gives me joy,” she said.
Her advice to other women this Women’s Month is: “Always have faith in yourself because the harder it gets only means you are getting closer to your goals. Lastly, don’t get too comfortable, because nothing good comes out of that.”