Stories

My career started in the financial sector as a customer services officer at Standard Chartered Bank. I then joined the Botswana Diamond Valuing Company in 2004 as a trainee diamond sorter. I moved on to different departments before joining the team that was assigned to set up the Sales Department at the Diamond Trading Company Botswana as a Trainee Key Account Manager.

With the relocation of De Beers’ Sightholder Sales operation from London to Botswana in 2013, I assumed the role of managing the Far East market customers, including a few Indian accounts, as a Key Account Manager, a role I held until 2015. In 2016, I concentrated on managing only the Indian market portfolio, which is my current responsibility.

On the way, I have picked up a diploma in accounting and business studies, a BA in business administration majoring in marketing and am currently pursuing an MSc in strategic management with Derby University (part-time) in Botswana.

In the role of Sightholder Market Manager at De Beers, you must have an extensive knowledge of customers under your portfolio, to be able to represent the customers’ best interest internally and to work as an intermediary between De Beers and the customers. The best part of my job is that no one day is the same. It is an ever-evolving, intellectually challenging position, which is interesting and keeps me on my toes.

The position requires you to have a balanced view on any situation at all times as you need to represent the best interest of the customers without compromising the position of the company, a skill that requires tact and diplomacy.

In an effort to enhance my customer knowledge and get closer to the market, I have embarked on a one-year secondment to Dubai on an international assignment that will expose me to Indian and Middle East markets. This will enable me to explore any potential opportunities for De Beers Group. Having a market presence will assist us in spotting any trends as they happen, and this can be used by managers to make better decisions.

As a woman in an industry that is male dominated, you need to work harder than your male counterparts to be relevant and respected as an equal contributor to the success of the company. Self-confidence in this industry if you are a woman is key because, if you falter in any way, that could be construed as a sign of weakness or inability to perform as well as your male counterparts.

If you are a woman considering joining the mining industry, confidence is essential. You should believe in yourself and your capabilities and not allow yourself to be intimidated. You must be open to learning, be willing to go the extra mile in delivery, be open to criticism and learn from it, and above all master the art of work-life balance, which can be a challenge for very highly ambitious career women.

I must admit that standing my ground was a bit of a challenge for me at the beginning. It is still something I am learning to overcome through expediting my learning process and having confidence in my capabilities and believing in the skills that I have garnered through the years.

Learning in the world of mining does not end. Every day is a new discovery and every day the aim is to be an improvement and offer something different to the customers. My journey with the De Beers Group has had its ups and downs. It was never easy but, with perseverance and determination, everything is possible.

Outside work, I enjoy running. I have done a couple of half-marathons in the past three years, and my dream is to run a full marathon, time permitting.

Family remains the centre of who I am. I am a wife and a mother of two amazing kids, a 11-year-old girl called Legakwa and a seven-year-old boy called Letlotlo, who give more meaning to my life. I love spending time with my family and going to church.

My life motto remains ‘be the change you want to see’. I challenge my kids a lot around this motto. I want them to be independent thinkers, give me a solution and not a problem and justify every decision they make.