PERSONALITY PROFILE

The women in South Africa’s private security industry

With August being Women’s Month, we spoke to some of the many inspiring women in South Africa’s private security industry: Nombulelo Irene Mini, Ashleigh Parry, Laura Moodley, Mariette du Plessis, Pumla Lucia Kave and Tiziana Hayward.

Nombulelo Irene Mini, Field Manager, Stallion Security (Gqeberha)

Nombulelo entered the private security industry in 2008. “I wanted to make an impact,” she says of her career choice, adding: “Security is fundamental to our daily lives, and it needs to be conducted with diligence, resilience and agility, right across the board.”

What do you love most about your job?

“I love the fact that it gives me the opportunity to pursue and fulfil my dreams, and that it offers me so many opportunities.”

Your career plans and dreams?

“One day I plan to have my own security company, which will allow me to transfer skills to those in need and to leave a legacy for the upcoming generation.”

Who are your mentors? Who inspires you?

“People who advise me and who practice what they preach are blessings.”

Your advice to women who would like to work in South Africa’s security industry?

“Embrace your self-esteem and believe that women may be just as successful as men. Give it your best shot and invest in yourself and your career.”

Ashleigh Parry, Securitas Country President/CEO

Ashleigh sent her CV (curriculum vitae) to the local security company after attending her suburb’s Residents’ Association AGM in 2014. “The head of the security company in the area gave a presentation on what their plans were for installing cameras on a fibre network and proactive patrolling. I believed wholeheartedly in what they were saying and doing, so I sent my CV to them, saying that I wanted to be a part of their plans in some way. I had a job within a week, and three months later was promoted to the position of MD!”

Your career plans and dreams?

“I would like to be part of the solution in South Africa, whatever form that may be. I hope that I may challenge industry norms and stereotypes. I dream of true equity, be it at the boardroom table or the dinner table.”

What do you love about your job?

“I love the sense of purpose, that in some way I am part of something that is positive and contributing to the safety and – hopefully – wellbeing of people. I work with a great team and so I am regularly filled with pride by the members of our Securitas family and how much they put into their jobs, despite the obvious hardships which many are experiencing.”

Who are your mentors? Who inspires you?

“I have had many different mentors, in often unusual and unexpected ways. My inspiration is drawn from all women who face challenges head on, on a daily basis, who keep going in the face of adversity and discrimination and show courage that only other women will understand. Particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic, I believe that women have borne a huge brunt of the responsibility, often at the sacrifice of their own careers or progress.”

Your advice to women who would like to work in South Africa’s security industry?

“Don’t try to be a man, be authentic. Diversity in all its forms is to be embraced and celebrated, our differences bring a richness to and a fuller comprehension of everything. The more diversity we are able to systematically build and the more confident and competent people feel in expressing their unique viewpoint and insights, the more likely we are to build a fertile soil for growth. Remember too, many clients are women. Believe in your value and support other women.”

Laura Moodley, Chief Commercial Officer, Excellerate Services

Laura joined the industry in 2000. “My passion found me and for that I am truly grateful. In life, sometimes you are faced with a career that doesn’t always align with your passion, and for a long time I believed that my career was to be solely in finance, although my heart lay in the security industry.

Your career plans and dreams?

“My career plan has always been value-centric. I believe in the Excellerate brand and the contribution it makes to all its stakeholders. This falls into place like a puzzle piece for me, as it’s always been my aspiration to be a value-add to the brand, to the people and to myself via the inevitable growth which all of this is aimed at achieving.”

What do you love about your job?

“At the risk of sounding clichéd, my job is my passion. It allows me to enjoy every level and layer of what I do, from the casual chats with our team members to being faced with the challenge of a seemingly impossible task. Everything contributes to the bigger picture.”

Who are your mentors? Who inspires you?

“My mentor in the business is certainly Clinton Phipps, our COO. He is someone who I aim to emulate. He possesses an uncanny ability to be solutions-oriented rather than dwell on the issue at hand. His most significant talent, which I strive to emulate in myself, is his ability to empower and draw out untapped potential in others.”

Your advice to women who would like to work in South Africa’s security industry?

“I may be reproved for coming across as a feminist; however, this is universal advice that applies to all, irrespective of gender. Perseverance and uncompromising dedication to the development of yourself is first and foremost. The road to success is not paved on the back of others but rather through a bridge of support you create as you work to empower each other to reach a common goal, being the success of all, collectively.”

Mariette du Plessis, Group Human Resources Manager, Quatro

Mariette entered the security sector in 1998. After completing her studies at Pretoria Technikon, she joined a national security company in a reception/administrative position. “Those were the early days in the security industry, during which time the foundations were laid which created the industry as we know it today. As I began to gain more experience – through internal business exposure – I realised that my attention to detail, coupled with my management abilities, were well suited for a career in human resources.”

Your career plans and dreams?

“I would like to develop my skills and abilities, not only to perform the traditional duties of recruitment and managing employees but to be involved with developing training programmes too. I enjoy challenges and look forward to opportunities where I will be able to assume more responsibilities. Ultimately, I’d like to move into an executive role. I am very fortunate to have been surrounded by industry leaders who have been generous with their knowledge, and I look forward to an opportunity to reinvest my knowledge as a mentor for others – like me – within this field.”

What do you love about your job?

“I have always had a passion for the human resources side of the business, working with employees to improve their quality of life through support and communication. One of my main goals is to develop my knowledge of human capital management and promote employee wellness programs.”

Who are your mentors? Who inspires you?

“Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, author and professor of business psychology at the University College London, has been a great inspiration in the field of leadership development, focusing on the difference between normal performance and top performance: how to engage it, develop it, the dark side of talent, and the future of talent. The reality is the talent pool is becoming smaller and we face a drastic decline in youth entering the market to make a career of it. I have always been intrigued by the difference between normal performance and top performance. For some people, there’s a large gap between the two, while for others, top performance is fairly similar to their normal performance.

“The public sector in South Africa is facing challenges imposed by a shortage of skills, limited resource allocations and unreliable or non-existent infrastructure and adequate support structures. The demands on staff members are enormous and the management support systems are not always readily available to assist. Effective leadership and management are about providing the tools and techniques that enable managers to organise their work and meet constraints. My task is to recruit the right candidates for the right job with the right skill sets, with management systems to ensure optimal performance.”

Your advice to women who would like to work in South Africa’s security industry?

“Women have made major strides towards gender equality and empowerment in the last few decades, but more still needs to be done. More women are beginning to pursue careers that were previously perceived as ‘work for men’. My advice to women interested in entering the security industry is to always strive to make their goals a reality. Don’t be set back because it appears to be a male-dominated industry, but see it more as a challenge to stand out and be who you are meant to be.”

Pumla Lucia Kave, Human Resources Director, Stallion Security

After studying human resources, Pumla secured employment at a cash-in-transit company. “I realised very quickly that I love HR and climbed the corporate ladder while furthering my studies.”

Your career plans and dreams?

“With the pandemic I had to adjust my career plans – I’m now repositioning my career to stay on top of HR trends and further pursuing my studies.”

What do you love about your job?

“My current role is versatile, and I am exposed to many different facets of the business, but what is very close to my heart is the Education Assistance Programme. This programme doesn’t only help the employees to further their studies, but their children and grandchildren, too. Stallion is not only looking after its employees but also helping better the lives of the next generation.”

Who are your mentors? Who inspires you?

“Mamokgethi Phakeng, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Town. In 2002 she became the first black female in South Africa to obtain a PhD in mathematics. She is the founder of a non-profit organisation that provides financial and educational support to students from townships and rural areas. She inspires women to improve their lives through education.”

Your advice to women who would like to work in South Africa’s security industry?

“When an opportunity presents itself, grab it with both hands and be prepared to work hard. Have the willingness to learn and be open to positive criticism. Sometimes it may not appear to be a linear path as you may encounter challenges, but if it’s moving towards working on things that really matter to you, it will eventually be most rewarding.”

Tiziana Hayward, Group Sales and Marketing Director, Stallion Security

Tiziana decided to enter the security industry at the age of 35, after having tried a few different work experiences, mostly in retail. She identified the security industry as the market sector where she would achieve her goals and realise her career dreams. “Once I had entered the security industry, it didn’t take long for me to feel passionate about what security meant and I began understanding why it was so important in South Africa. I knew after a short while that I was in this for the long run.”

Your career plans and dreams?

“My career plan was to always be a great leader and, as a woman in a male dominated industry, I feel I’ve definitely achieved that. My dream is to leave a legacy with a company that I have now been dedicated to for 18 years.”

What do you love about your job?

“Everything! My team is what makes my job great. I love that the industry presents new opportunities, new products and new solutions every so often. I meet new people every day and believe in building and maintaining solid relationships with my clients. I love that every client has unique security challenges and I love the thrill that comes from identifying a specialised solution that will improve and enhance their security operations.”

Who are your mentors? Who inspires you?

“My mentor is my husband. Working together is no easy task and to separate work and home life is challenging but somehow we manage. He is a great mentor and even after so many years, I still learn valuable lessons from him, and I now have a clear understanding of the complexities of running a successful business. I would have to say, my greatest inspiration comes from mentoring and guiding my salespeople to eventually become even better equipped than me to excel in their jobs. When you step back and realise that you’ve developed a salesperson who is better at your job than you are, your job is done! I am the type of leader that my people aspire to be, not because they have to, but because I have played a major role in their journey, their growth and their success.”

Your advice to women who would like to work in South Africa’s security industry?

“It will be an experience you will never forget. It is not easy, but it may be extremely rewarding. The industry is best suited for go-getters with a keen desire to make their mark in security. It is for women with a strong operational understanding and a sense of pride and willingness to excel and learn continuously. To realise that more women are embarking on their own journey in the security industry is a milestone on its own. We see strong, independent, motivated and committed women becoming leaders in the country, which makes me proud to be a woman.”