Page 63 - KZN Top Business Woman 2025 - eBook

Masha Padayachi

Chief Executive Officer of FT Engineering grown into a company with 60 permanent staff, 50 Reaching the 30-year company milestone was
subcontractors and a whole lot of local labourers. a moment of fulfilment for Masha. She hosted a
celebration that recognised every person who helped
asha Padayachi is the chief One of the achievements Masha treasures most is the build FT Engineering. “I invited all my clients, my
M executive officer of FT Engineering, empowerment of women within her workforce. “Of that suppliers, and most importantly, all my staff to show
a company that has shaped the staff, I empowered many women, and I now have them
telecommunications landscape for three decades. “We holding high positions in our local offices and in the rural them my appreciation. Because without them, there is
no FT Engineering.” Some staff members experienced
do telecommunication work for MTN, Cell C, Vodacom, areas.” This transformation within her business reflects a
luxury hospitality for the first time. “They did not know
and ATC, which is an American based company and core principle of her leadership: opportunity must be
what it is like to go and sit in a hotel. And that gave me
we are also into construction,” she explains with pride. accessible to those whom society often overlooks.
so much satisfaction.”
Her success is rooted in determination, resilience, and a
Masha has long been an advocate for giving people the
steadfast belief that women can achieve anything they LIVING WITH PURPOSE
set their minds to. chance to gain experience rather than excluding them
for not having it. “You go out for interviews and the first Masha’s work does not end at the company gates.
“I started from very humble beginnings,” says Masha. question you are asked is: ‘What is your experience?’. If Community upliftment and faith-based service
“I married into a very humble family,” she adds, everybody closes the door on you because you had no are essential parts of her life. “I belong to a women
acknowledging that she never had the luxury of financial experience, when are you going to get that experience? empowerment group where we help the poor in our
advantage or a straightforward path. Instead, she was I gave many people the chance to get that experience community. I also belong to a Hindu organisation where
inspired by the powerful example of her mother and at FT Engineering.” Many of those early employees have I help to deliver food hampers.” Charity work brings her
mother-in-law, who were the sole providers for their now grown into respected professionals. “There are a peace. “I find doing this service very relaxing, and I get
families. “They encouraged us in pursuing our goals and few who have their own business now. I feel very good fulfilment out of it.”
taught us that nothing is impossible. By looking at what that I empowered these people.”
As she looks to the future, Masha hopes to embrace
they did, I knew that women could do it.”
She describes the workplace she has built as a a slower pace. “I would love to spend time with my
A BUSINESS WITH HEART community. “We are a family at FT Engineering, more grandchildren now.” She lists with joy the ages of the
than the staff and employer.” With pride Masha adds, young ones who brighten her life. “I have a two-year-
Masha’s journey into entrepreneurship was driven by old, a six-week-old, and I have a son who has a twenty-
“My oldest staff member has been with us for 28 years.”
her biggest dream which was to give her children the year-old daughter and a seven-year-old son.” She
opportunity that she was not allowed or did not have. And WEATHERING STORMS says that she would also like to do some travelling to
she added her motivation was, ‘to serve the community Seychelles or Maldives with her ‘lovely husband’. “The
Success did not come without challenges. “In the
and help the poor’. beaches would be ideal. Somewhere to relax where
beginning, obviously it was finance, but I managed to
there is not too much activity and where I know I can
She recalls the early days of FT Engineering clearly. “The overcome that.” As one of the few women in her field,
just chill.”
business was established in 1995. I started with just Masha faced scrutiny on sites where her knowledge and
three staff members and myself, and I ran it from my authority were dismissed. “Going out to sites, I was not Masha’s message to young women is firm and inspiring.
living room.” Without tertiary education in engineering acknowledged and I could hear comments, but that “Never underestimate your ability. You must set your
or telecommunications, she forged ahead through did not intimidate me at all. In fact, that made me more goals and work towards them. And remember, nothing
determination, on the job learning and a strong determined to make it work.” comes for free. Everything is hard work. And you must
partnership at home. “It was all self-taught and with the get up, dress up, and go get it.”
The Covid pandemic tested her leadership further.
help of my wonderful husband, I managed to persevere
“During Covid, I really concentrated on my staff and Masha concludes by crediting her strength to the
and get to where I am today.”
managed to stretch my budget so that I could keep women who raised her. “Looking at them working so
Today FT Engineering stands as a respected player in them.” Support programmes such as Covid loans helped hard has shown me that women can do it. They were
South Africa’s telecommunications and construction her maintain salaries. She remains proud that most of my role models. I am sure they are somewhere up there
sectors. What began in Masha’s living room has her team stayed intact through those difficult years. looking at me and very proud of me.”

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