Page 41 - KZN Top Business Women - eBook 2023

To afford and achieve your life goals takes sacrifice.

So, choose a struggle and put in the effort.

of our products and processes, he taught me a lot about and craft centre to help young people express
Head of Research and Development
management and business, we had our fair share of themselves creatively.
Beier Envirotec
fights, but we grew together.”
Much sacrifice
amangwane (Zama) Khanyile is currently employed
Making an impact
by Beier Envirotec as the head of research and Her advice to young women is that success takes much
Z development. By qualification, she is a chemical Commenting on challenges that she has faced; Zama sacrifice. She explained, “You have to choose your
engineer which she studied at UKZN Howard College. says that her upbringing was tumultuous. Consequently, struggle. Waking up in the morning to go to school is
Zama has worked for Beier Envirotec for 11 years now, she wanted to do something that could help her make painful. I would much rather sleep in and watch movies
which is about a third of her life. an impact not only on the people around her but in the all day. But which pain is better, being uneducated and
world, and engineering was the way to go. not finding a good job, or getting up at earlier than
Commenting on her career choice, she said, “I’ve always you’d like to get to work and earn a decent living? To
wanted to challenge myself in some way. So, when it She added that in chemical engineering, you learn about afford and achieve your life goals takes sacrifice. So,
came to choosing a career, I did a bit of research to find chemical process engineering and design; now she choose a struggle and put in the effort.”
out which was the most difficult, as for some reason I works in technical textiles which is quite different, so she
like to make life hard for myself. Chemical engineering has had to learn everything again from scratch. In addition, says Zama, industry is really receptive
piqued my interest, and I went for it. It was taxing, but I Being a young black girl in a very male dominated of women more than ever before. “There are great
did manage to get through it in record time.” space was also a challenge in that she says you have to opportunities for women. You literally can do and
For her tertiary education, Zama received a sponsorship work almost five to ten times as much to be seen. She have whatever you want if you put in the effort.
Follow your wildest dreams and don’t be afraid to try
from the Beier Envirotec. As soon as she graduated, remembers when initially walking onto the shop floor, something new.”
she was offered permanent employment there and where the work force comprised only males who she
subsequently worked her way up to senior management. had to supervise, questioning how she was going to tell Zama is proud to say that she has had much opportunity
someone as old as her dad what to do. Her approach was in her company to deliver innovative products, and to
Helping her grow to humble herself and acknowledge that she had much to test the limits. She has been responsible for fine tuning
learn. She did not want to come across as being bossy or processes resulting in improved outputs.
Zama says that during her journey, she has been assisted cheeky. Instead, Zama was consultative. As such she was
by people at work who have really helped her grow. able to gain respect until eventually, she said, she could When Zama has time off work, she enjoys being with her
For example, she says her mentor Warren Sachs (Pr Eng “call the shots”. family. She explained her focus on her studies resulted
Mechanical) was so ‘on the ball’ that she wanted to be in her neglecting some relationships, which she is trying
half the person he was! Zama admitted that she was supported by her sponsor to rebuild. Zama has a nine-year-old daughter who
at the time who was the second-generation owner of loves going to the beach. As her daughter is artistic,
At work, she says she also shadowed a very great man, the business, the late Mr. Hans Beier. “He made sure that Zama enjoys spending time with her as she creates new
eventually taking over his role in the research and I wouldn’t be abused. Not to say that I was favoured in paintings and drawings. She added with a laugh, “I also
development space. “He was very knowledgeable. I think any way. I’m here because of the results that I’ve been enjoy using my sister as a guinea pig for trying out new
the best in Africa, and he motivated me to want to be the able to achieve through putting in the work, the time, hairstyles and reading as much as I can.”
best as well,” said Zama.
and through sheer resilience.” Being part of KZN Top Business Women has provided
Her current boss, Mawethu Ntsholo, who joined the Zama is currently undergoing a master’s programme with Zama with the recognition she has been longing for and
company shortly after her, has also been an inspiration. the University in America in textile sciences. Her ultimate she is grateful for the honour.
She explained, “He’s got a great story to tell himself. He aim is for the company to be the leading industrial filtration
comes from humble beginnings, and he’s done so well experts in Africa. “Being in a manufacturing environment is very pressurised.
for himself. But he saw potential in me, challenged me It’s high emotion. Sometimes you feel like your efforts are
and gave me the space to grow. He would also come to Besides work, Zama likes to give back to her community. not recognised. I feel that all my hard work has been for
me for assistance; I actually taught him technical aspects Her goal, as she is creative person, is to build an arts something. It’s really great.”

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