This Women’s Month we’re celebrating female powerhouses who juggle roles as wives, moms and leaders. Meet four incredible women from Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa, women who lead with strength, grace, and empathy … effortlessly and stylishly!
Lornay Nel
Area Manager, Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa
Whatever life throws her way, Lornay Nel is the kind of woman who rises to the occasion. She will always get up, dress up and show up. Not just physically, but emotionally too. And she hopes to inspire every woman out there to do the same.
As Area Manager for Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa based in Pretoria, Lornay’s position involves several key responsibilities that revolve around overseeing sales activities and driving performance within the CCBSA commercial team for the area.
She wears many hats. From team management and customer relationship management to performance monitoring and reporting … these are just some of the day-to-day tasks she keeps busy with – in addition to reaching sales targets.
“The daily interaction with customers and my team is the best part of my job. The position gives me the perfect opportunity to talk to many people. I enjoy the conversations around opportunities and how we can grow transactions.”
Her biggest achievement so far? She’s all about the growth. Lornay just loves seeing her team develop, both as individuals and a unit … empowered to take over the baton.
When she’s not at the office, Lornay will most probably be found … well, outside. Think running, horseback riding and scuba diving. And, when she’s indoors, she reads about exploring foreign countries. Her biggest bucket list goal is to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. For Lornay it boils down to resilience, which she believes is any woman’s secret weapon.
“Women demonstrate remarkable resilience in facing adversity, overcoming challenges, and bouncing back from setbacks. This resilience allows us to persevere through difficult times and emerge stronger.”
On this note, she’s proud to be part of a company that offers equal employment opportunities, women’s leadership initiatives, advocacy and support on women empowerment.
Her definition of success? Being certain of your purpose and walking in it.
“Life and the world are so interesting; at every corner you get to learn something you have not known before. It is in this quest and striving to stretch my limits, viewpoints, knowledge and insights that gets me up every day. Being curious is how we learn our purpose in life.”
Phenyo Koji
Senior Supply Manager, Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa
‘‘Success is simple. We work together to achieve set goals. When we succeed, we reinforce the success and when we lose, we track where we made mistakes and correct them’’
What does it take for women to thrive in the workplace? Phenyo Koji believes she’s got the winning recipe. While the main ingredients are assertiveness and being an inspiration to others, she believes we shouldn’t do away with the essence of womanhood … a generous dose of compassion.
Phenyo is the boss lady when it comes to all things production, primary distribution, inventory management for raw materials and engineering stores, and daily production reconciliations.
“My job is very interesting, and it cuts across all business units … from the beginning of the chain (raw materials) till the end (consumer). This means I get to interact with manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, sales and more. It also involves strategic and operational elements.
‘Challenge’ is Phenyo’s middle name. She loves mentoring young women in business, guiding them through the industry and watching them bloom. Seeing them realise their strengths and capabilities is an achievement she wouldn’t trade for the world. In fact, making a difference in other women’s lives by sharing her knowledge is what she’s all about!
As much as she thrives in her work, Phenyo adores spending quality time with her loved ones. Because balance, right?
She takes three vacations a year … one with her kids Orefile and Oreratile, one with her husband, and one with her friends. Because what’s better for unwinding than sipping cocktails with the girlfriends?
When it comes to women in the workplace, Phenyo is excited to share that she’s seen the capabilities of many women in all work-related fields.
“There have been great achievements and confidence from women due to opportunities granted by CCBSA. I myself am set on my goal to achieve my Doctoral Degree. I can already see myself wearing that red graduation gown.”
Thandeka Lorna Makwela
Utilities Maintenance Controller, Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa
Despite being in a male-dominated role, Thandeka Lorna Makwela stays true to her softer side. For her, it’s all about balance. Just because she’s in charge of a whole team doesn’t mean she can’t be kind, humble, and supportive. After all, who says you can’t lead with both strength and compassion?
As the utilities maintenance controller, Thandeka controls, guides and manages all the maintenance activities to ensure that the work executed meets the required standards. Plus, she manages the preventative maintenance and schedules all the work within the allocated budget. In essence … she’s the one making sure all the goals are crushed.
It comes as no surprise that she’s a magnificent problem-solver too … which makes sense, because she’s got three kids – Oratilwe, Oageng and Omontle.
“Every day is a new challenge and I enjoy using different techniques to solve the problems at hand. Other than that, I love interacting with different people in the industry and understanding the operating philosophy of the machines.”
Thandeka sees herself as someone who’s come a long way, and will forever be on a journey to achieving even greater things.
“Completing my N6 Diploma in electrical engineering and completing the trade test to qualify as a millwright artisan has to be one of my biggest achievements so far. I’ve held various positions within the company over the years. And now I’m in the leadership space within the engineering department. I also have 12 employees reporting directly to me.”
Although she describes her position as challenging, she’s never opposed to learning new things within the field, and is always open for criticism. Because that’s the only way to grow.
That’s why she encourages all women in similar roles to always stay focused, keep their eyes away from distraction and keep pushing past their fears and doubts.
“It’s important to stay humble while working hard. Never do anything to impress anyone. And always stay true to your own goals.”
On a personal level, one of her biggest challenges she overcomes on a daily is raising a special needs child. Whenever she’s got some time to spare, she loves spending it with her family, even if it means simply watching cartoons with them.
Vuyisanani Kani
Multipack and Aseptic Lines Unit Manager, Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa
“Women should remember that nothing can prevent them from fulfilling their dreams and ambitions and that they can do anything they put their mind to. I urge you to recognise your strengths, persevere, and be determined to achieve your goals, regardless of any odds, societal stigma, or stereotypes.”
What keeps Vuyisanani Kani’s fire burning? It’s her humble beginnings. She never forgets where she started, and that memory pushes her to constantly reach for more. She’s on a mission to develop herself and become the best version of herself in everything she does.
And, despite the challenges, you will always see her flashing her signature smile.
In her role as a unit manager, Vuyisanani juggles the immense responsibility of overseeing a whopping 109 employees. Her job is no small feat as she ensures a safe working environment, maintains high product quality, and achieves cost-effectiveness while fostering capable employees.
It’s safe to say that leadership is her strong suit, and she uses it to steer her team towards success. Vuyisanani champions teamwork and fosters a culture of continuous improvement, always guiding her employees to reach new heights.
“My key responsibilities include enforcing safety regulations, conducting risk assessments, and ensuring compliance with all safety protocols. I oversee quality control processes to meet customer expectations and regulatory standards.
“I manage the unit’s budget, monitor operational expenses, and implement cost-saving initiatives. Additionally, I focus on employee development by identifying training needs, mentoring, and providing opportunities for career growth, ensuring the team is skilled and motivated to meet operational goals.”
Her fave part? Getting to empower employees and being actively involved in their progress. And, when it comes to building a successful business, Vuyisanani swears by three secret ingredients … attention to detail, active listening and resilience.
“As women, our secret weapons are resilience and communication. Resilience enables us to navigate and overcome challenges, while effective communication fosters strong relationships and collaboration.”
At home, Vuyisanani is your typical mommy next door, who loves spending time with her two kids, Khwezi and Okuhle. When she needs a break to recharge, you’ll find her hitting an exercise routine … letting off steam and unwinding.
Whether she’s at home or at work, this dedicated and passionate mom is always on a mission to learn and grow, striving to be the best version of herself in everything she does.
