Page 11 - Standard Bank KZN Top Business Women 2021

Just having the courage to really push myself and push the boundaries

for my team members so that we all work towards one single vision.

Regional Manager for Communities and Corporate Having courage seat for a female in the workplace or in this industry, you
Affairs Tronox South Africa bring your own, and that’s something that I have really
Nozuko says that her decision to move to KwaZulu-
started being vocal about.”
Natal has been an amazing journey that has required
ozuko Basson’s role at Tronox, which is
her to really stretch herself. This meant going into areas Leaving behind a legacy
based in northern KZN, entails making
where she thought she would never be able to venture.
sure that the mining company honours In the future, Nozuko wants to leave behind a legacy that
She added, “Just having the courage to really push myself
Nits responsibility of creating value for its says, “When Nozuko Basson was in that community or
and push the boundaries for my team members so that
stakeholders, of which, communities take centre stage. was working in that organisation, she made a positive
we all work towards one single vision. This requires that
difference.” In terms of her career, she sees herself
The most significant event in Nozuko’s life is, she says, we stay close to the cause and really live our own personal
growing from strength to strength. Right now, she is
when she became a mother. “I had my daughter when I values, as well as the values of the organisation in which
focused on her work in South Africa, but soon, she wants
I work right now.”
was fairly young and from the moment she arrived in this
to share her knowledge and skills with the rest of the
world, I knew that the game had changed. It’s an ambition
In commenting on the challenges that she has faced, world. Nozuko added that she is fortunate to work for an
of mine, that when my daughter is asked who your role
Nozuko says that as a young female professional, the organisation that has the platform that will allow her to
model is, she mentions my name.” In ensuring that she is an
first challenge that she would like to focus on, is the do so when the time is right.
inspiration to her daughter, Nozuko constantly evaluates
“pull her down syndrome”. “When you, as a female,
how she behaves, how she practices professionalism in the On the personal side, Nozuko wants to travel the world.
start rising in your career there are times when other
workplace, and how she treats other people. “I want to touch other lives in my own personal space.
females do everything in their power to pull you down.
I want to live my best life and it’s something that I’m
I have a strong view that if one of us rise, we all rise.
Nozuko believes that she has got to where she is today
making a deliberate effort in doing and I know that I’m
through hard work, dedication, a lot of praying and the It’s hard enough being a young female, let alone being
on the right track.”
support from many people who have crossed her path. black in the workplace; we need to hold each other up
“I’m somebody who is focused on her religion. I’m and motivate each other.” In advising others, she says, “It’s important not to be
a Christian and I’ve always believed that everything side-tracked by other people’s opinions. It’s important
The second challenge she has faced is working in the
that I do is enabled by my faith. I started my career as to remain true to yourself. It’s important that when you
mining industry, which is a male dominated sector. Over
a journalist, but I realised that was not the life that I venture out, you understand that not everybody will be
that, working within the community, which is also a
wanted to live. I’m not a social and out-there type of cheering for you, so learn to be your own cheerleader
male led environment that still subscribes to traditional
person, so I moved into public relations. I was fortunate and as you’re cheering yourself, cheer those around you
practices has brought a great deal of learning, that has
to work for an agency where I had an amazing mentor because they may not know the power that they have
come with its own difficulties.
who helped me in building the capability to understand within themselves.”
how media relations works.” Currently, the third challenge has been dealing with
Nozuko believes one needs to put their heart into
unconventional community issues, that pose a serious risk
From there, Nozuko moved onto one of South Africa’s everything that they do. “I always say to people, if you’re
to Tronox’s public reputation. “This is where the company’s
largest medical insurance organisations, Discovery. not going to give it your all, rather don’t start. I believe
values, procedures and policies need to guide you to deal
Here, Nozuko said, she had mentors who helped guide in dazzling people. One of Tronox’s values speaks to
with the challenges in a manner that does not compromise
her through her career. “I’ve been fortunate that I had doing the right work, the right way in every aspect of
your role or its reputation,” said Nozuko.
other people lifting me, guiding me, and making sure our business and that’s really what I subscribe to. I don’t
that I stayed on the right track. My journey has been “Lastly, I have often found myself feeling not quite take short cuts; it’s about doing something right all the
difficult; it’s always good to be reminded by those who welcome around the ‘table’, as if I am a token BEE time. It’s behaving in an ethical way and ensuring that
are ahead of you how to remain positive and confident candidate,” says Nozuko. “I’ve learnt that I shouldn’t wait everything I touch, doesn’t only represent organisational
in what you are doing.” for somebody to offer me a seat at the table. If there’s no integrity, but also my own personal integrity.”
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