Page 57 - KZN Top Business Women - eBook 2023

Get your hands dirty, show up in a meaningful way

and cream will always rise to the top.

to build capacity for local manufacturers. These include Pushing into spaces
Head of Sustainability, Risks and
the Medical Device Association of South Africa and the
Quality Systems Beier Group South African Medical Technology Industry Association Speaking of the people who have inspired her along
(SAMED) and various technical committees. the way. Tracy says that Warren Sachs and Wolfgang
racy Moonsamy works for the Beier Group which Beier have both provided opportunities for her, while
is based in Pinetown. She is head of sustainability, Tracy’s journey at the Beier Group started 25 years ago also pushing her into the spaces where she was
T risks and quality systems for the group and has when she was a learner and participated in the company’s uncomfortable, which allowed her to grow. She added,
been at Beier for 24 1/2 years. CATS programme. Subsequently, the late Hans Beier “I think that having a space where you can fail safely is
employed Tracy, and she joined the Beier Group in the
Tracy has spent the bigger part of that time managing accounts department, which was fortuitous. Speaking important to be empowered. Everyone experiences
quality systems implementation compliance. Over the last of her career direction, she commented, “I realised that I challenges, if you start with the self, it’s always around
two years, she has built a portfolio around sustainability – didn’t love accounts and I started doing some work in the whether you feel like you belong. A little bit of imposter
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and risk, which quality department. I think it was a bit of luck, my own syndrome always finds its way in.”
have been the most exciting two years of her career.
work ethic and good timing.” A big challenge for Tracy was that she didn’t have
Beier is a technical textiles manufacturer, and their value Fast forward nine years, there was an opportunity to build a degree that allowed her to walk into a business in a
proposition is that they engineer for the customer. Their middle management role. She started at the bottom,
benevolent intent is helping to protect and improve a clean room that is the state of art for the manufacture of which she said is great because it gives you good
the quality of life and that is evident in the strong ethos medical devices. Tracy worked very closely with Warren knowledge and grounding in the business. However, she
around local manufacturing, growing local capacity and Sachs, who’s her COO now, and together they commissioned added that starting at the bottom sometimes creates a
contributing to sustainable economic growth. a world class manufacturing plant; a Class 7 clean room shackle to the place that you’re started at. Dealing with
which is still supplying Europe and the United States.
the limitations one places on oneself and breaking those
Foster relationships In 2016 Tracy was appointed the first female director in chains for oneself is important to grow.
the history of Beier.
Tracy is proud of the many achievements that she A second challenge that Tracy has experienced is that the
participates in both at work and personally. manufacturing sector has always had layers of complexity
Triple bottom line and historical stereotypes that need to be broken. Tracy
She comments that Beier’s biggest achievement is in explained that she was able to break through these
the dedication that comes through in the way that they Over the years, Tracy’s job has evolved. Businesses now layers. She commented, “You can never ask for a seat
do business. “We foster relationships with communities, have to look at their triple bottom line and evaluate how
bringing small businesses into our business, localising they can make profits while taking care of people and at the table or expect a seat at the table if you’re not
products that would have been imported,” explained Tracy. the planet. These needs evolved into environmental, showing the value that you bring. Often people want the
social and governance pillars, which are the some of the seat without showing value. The way I overcame this was
In addition, the Beier Group, through the Mkhulise Young elements of sustainability. to show my value.”
Minds Development Foundation, has a strong bursary
system that, provides support from pre-primary up to Tracy said, “The reason I love sustainability is that I’m a Tracy stressed that it’s important to, “Get your hands
postgraduate level. The company aims to empower people risk-based person and sustainability takes into account dirty, show up in a meaningful way and cream will
through education and training to create a strong pipeline of risk management. It is not just your environmental always rise to the top.”
prospective employees as well as grow existing employees. carbon footprint and your waste management, it is how
you take care of people, value chains and future proof Area of influence
“My belief is that we’re only going to change the economic your business. How do you make sure that you’re moving
situation in South Africa if we grow manufacturing women and those previously disadvantaged through the Being part of KZN Top Business Women 2023 is meaningful
capacity,” stressed Tracy. to Tracy on many levels. She commented, “It means that
process and creating a strong pipeline?” recognition comes from somewhere else. And I think that
Personally, Tracy is involved with an NPO called United Hands She added that having governance controls in place sometimes that’s important to understand that your area
of Hope, which was founded by her brother. They provide allows you to make the right decisions. “Sustainability of influence has grown.” In addition, said Tracy, “In the
spiritual and physical aid to impoverished communities really asks the question: What are the things you need to words of Warren Sachs, we want to make manufacturing
creating a spirit of empowerment and ubuntu.
do so that your business is still here and thriving in five sexy again. We need more people, especially women,
Tracy is enthusiastically involved in industry associations years and in 10 years?” in manufacturing.”

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