Page 31 - Buzz Magazine

PRIPDAEGAEwSATRADPS
The team who walked away with top honours, XX, Pravashan Naidoo, Richard Napier (MD Africa Development), Harold Webb, XX, David Anderson (General Delegate), XX and Eva Duvenage (HR Business Partner).
and having consulted the cutters to nd out which sizes these were, the team then chatted to an engineer who freelances in maintenance at the plant.
Together, they came up with the concept of a spacer. The rst one cost about R5 000 to make and using it recouped that cost in about a day.
The team is delighted that their idea will be implemented in other plants too, but they couldn’t help chuckling about the irony of the only plant without an on-site Engineering department coming up with this winning solution.
Theo said “I think we’ll fund a braai for the whole plant with our prize money. Everybody is
part of the team.
We all do our utmost for the company.”
E is for excellence
Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence. This belief underlies everything he does, according
to Sibusiso Mthembu, Business Development Manager at Isover Samrand and this year’s Leadership Pride Award winner.
“Being involved in sport gave me a strong competitive spirit and grounding in teamwork,” said Sibusiso, who was
a football coach at the University of Johannesburg until 2011 and keeps the Isover action cricket team competitive.
These traits underlie his hands-on approach to developing those around him and his contagiously positive, upbeat attitude.
A collaborator of note, he constantly identi es opportunities for other business units and helps to open doors. He represents Saint-Gobain
far and wide, even in parliamentary meetings!
For the past ten years or so, Sibusiso has been harnessing his passion and skills to advance affordable housing in South Africa.
“My life took a turn that brought daily involvement in building a house for an old lady. When we gave her the keys, I suddenly realised we hadn’t handed over a house, we had handed over a home and changed her and the next generation’s lives.”
This driving force made Sibusiso instrumental in starting the My Comfort
affordable housing collaboration with Brazil, India and Colombia.
Our PRIDE: Teamwork
Being the winners for teamwork, came as a huge surprise to the Technical Support business unit. “We didn’t do it for the competition,” insisted Pravashan Naidoo, one of the team members. “This is how we always do our job!”
The winning team consisted of Pravashan, Member Mashabela, Sheldon Volsoo, Bongani Benya, Gift Khosa, Patrick Mboniswa and Shadrack Kosa*.
Their winning teamwork was noted during a project to demonstrate a new product called Habito. They built a construction in the head o ce where heavy items – even a motorcycle – were fastened to drywalling. They had to nish the project in two weeks and it had to be done without interrupting the regular business activities.
“It was hard and meant working long hours, but we enjoyed the project. We work well together and understand one another,” explained Member.
What makes this team even more special is that they don’t have a team leader. Pravashan explained: “We are all equals and work towards a goal so that the business will bene t. Flexibility is key.”
*Shadrack sadly passed away recently. Our condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.
SUMMER 2016 | BUZZ | 31