No back seat for Mary
Taking the back seat is not what Mary Phadi, a 37-year-old Middelburg entrepreneur, had in mind when she entered the male-dominated world of coal transport.
In the short space of four years this fearless go-getter has built up a successful commercial transport business which now owns seven tipper trucks and employs 24 people.
Mary is the managing director of Basadi Peniel Logistics (Basadi meaning women), which transports coal and chrome from the mines around Middelburg to Eskom’s power stations and different factories. Basadi is contracted directly with both Eskom and Samancor.
She obtained her industry experience while working for major coal companies, mainly Anglo Coal at new Denmark Colliery and Sasol Mining. However, Mary ascribes much of her success to the BSSA Core Programme she completed over six months as part of the drive by the Middelburg Chamber of Commerce to train SMME owner-managers.
“The programme gave me a better idea of how to run a business and making my customers happy. The course on cost management was my favourite,” she says.
She has since referred at least 50 other budding women entrepreneurs in the area to the BSSA courses.
Mary says when she started her transport operation, her efforts were met with some degree of skepticism by those in the industry.
“Even my drivers didn’t initially believe that a woman could run this kind of business. Being a hands-on manager and demonstrating my knowledge of the industry specifics quickly turned them around. I can’t drive a truck, but I do know its dynamics and how it is put together,” she says.
Her many achievements include being named a finalist in the 2008 FNB Businesswoman of the Year competition, and being elected deputy chairperson of the Coal Transporters’ Forum. She is also the national chairperson of the South African Network for Women in Transport (SANWIT), an organisation launched by the Department of Transport in 2007.
Mary advises all women starting out in business to “never say never”.
“Investigate any industry, including those which are traditionally male-dominated. However, it is crucial to understand the particular business environment really well before investing too much capital,” she adds.
