Page 27 - KZN Leaders Portfolio E-BOOK 2107

Managing Director of LA Consulting Engineers (Pty) Ltd technical nature, bringing the business that male dominant
touch, whilst I provide feminism and an open door
ino Govender says that survival is the key to all policy. Being a female in a male dominated environment
aspects of her life. “Nothing has come easy, hard has proven to be challenging; I have often have to
work and dedication has been the strong driving work doubly hard as my male counterparts to ensure
Vforce behind my success.” deliverance at all times.”
Over the years, Govender has been faced with many Govender is a consummate professional, and is a
hardships. She was diagnosed with meningitis that resulted passionate, results oriented leader with excellent business
in a coma and was on life support, when her son was acumen. She has a great ability to support, inspire and teach
five years old. Two months after her recovery, she lost her team. Her approachable demeanour demonstrates great
her husband through suicide. Thereafter, she was faced leadership as she always make time to provide direction and
with the unexpected situation of being retrenched, leaving find solutions. “I always remain focussed, and also ensure
her with no money and highly depressed. Her son was that my team remains focussed on outcomes and ensuring
held up at gun point and shot at within close range when work ethics at all times. However, I am flexible, and I am
he was 16 years old. And later, he was involved in a able to change my sails when the wind does not support the
traumatic car accident, leaving him in a coma and his best direction we are moving in.”
friend dead.
She says, “For us, staff are not merely numbers, they
Govender says that the combination of hardships are individuals with their own dynamics and flair and we
experienced would result in many individuals, especially treat each staff member with the respect and dignity they
women, not want to face the world anymore. “Even though deserve.” We encourage all of our staff to reach their full
I was faced with many traumatic experiences that had developmental potential through the implementation of
gotten me to the darkest phases of my life, I still managed long term development plans, which are updated annually.
to build up on my strength and willpower to get out of the Govender says that LA Engineering is passionate about
darkness, for the sake of my son, and also achieve much its company social commitment initiatives (CSI), and have
more in my life.”
incorporated environmental management and awareness
“I have tried to set an example out there, to let others into their Business Management System and product
know that nothing is impossible, as today I can say that I realisation. However, she says, the company is far more
am the managing director of LA Consulting Engineers (Pty) passionate about the organic growth of its staff and the
Ltd, which was achieved through dedication, perseverance, impact that LA Engineering has on them and their families.
and hard work.” Govender was initially employed as an They are firm believers in generational growth as a true
administrator at LA Consulting Engineers and ranked up form of sustainability. The management team are committed
the ladder as an associate, then financial director and to organic succession planning to ensure the long term
eventually now managing director. After completing matric, sustainability of LA Engineering.
Govender was employed at a bank and studied accounting. “The world has become a place of turmoil and moral
She moved on to do her articles, specialising in internal degeneration. We firmly believe that we can positively
auditing and financial management.
impact on the world not only by the work that we do in
She commented that she has never allowed herself to sink the communities that we serve as engineers, but also by
in times where she felt that she was not capable. “I aligned positively impacting on the families and extended families
myself with positive thinking individuals and like-minded of our own staff through the concept of generational
individuals to uplift me. I swallowed pride and ego, and building. We have also incorporated this concept into our
focused on goals. I accepted my mistakes and worked CSI initiatives.”
on corrections. I used my weaknesses to enhance my Being devoted to charity work has helped Govender
strengths. I never backed off from a challenge. I accepted balance her family/social and work life. She spends her
that despite my limitations, I had time to grasp the moment spare time with her son, spreading love at old age homes
and put my best foot forward.”
and orphanages, visiting the sick, encouraging troubled
A challenge that she has faced determinedly has teens, and giving food to the poor. She added, “There is
been being surrounded by an all male partnership and no doubt that the training and coaching that I deliver also
shareholders that were senior to her. “I knew at that point positively impacts the lives of many and I know I have
where I really wanted to be, in an industry where women, already made a difference, especially to young women.
particularly Indian women, knew very little about. I crossed Therefore, I plan to continue being part of these projects
many hurdles with dedication and passion for my dream, as I have excellent people skills and I don’t shy away from
making me a successful businesswoman today.” Her hard difficult conversations constructively held.”
work has resulted in Govender being acknowledged as one “My son is the light of my life, has been my deepest
of Africa’s 25 women in leadership in Africa.
inspiration, spurring me to succeed, and reach greater
Govender says that she is now flanked by two dynamic heights. Being able to juggle the life of mother, wife and
partners, Alan Wright and Gordon Hutton, who provide career women has always been something that women face
balance to the company. “They have strengths of a daily and I am no different.”

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