Honey’s success, all about humility

ABOUT 16 years after graduating as one of the first three black female chemical engineering students, her alma mater – the University of Pretoria – seemed the most obvious place to meet Honey Mamabolo.

Tuks was where it all began for the 41-year-old who went against her parents’ wishes. They wanted her to study medicine. “I have always been a bit of a rebel. Not in a reckless way, but I’ve always charted my own course,” Mamabolo says. One of the defining moments in her first yearwas getting zero for a chemistry test, a subject she had excelled in at high school. She immediately sought help from another student, a certain Ingrid Jones, who had obtained 88%. This helped her make the grade and not be forced to change course in June that year. The humility it took her to ask for help turned out to be one of her secrets to success. “Have the humility to ask questions when you don’t know,” she said.

Now the chief executive of Thebe Unico, a chemical manufacturer for the automotive sector and subsidiary of Thebe Investment Corporation, Mamabolo still abides by the same principle. “I have even worked in industries I didn’t have a qualification for,” she says.

A case in point was the six years she spent in the banking industry. Her ability to leverage skills developed in one industry and adaptability to new environments have put her in good stead as she traversed various industries ranging from mining, banking, energy, finance and manufacturing.

Nine months after joining Thebe Investments Corporation, she was seconded to Thebe Unico as chief executive and was permanently appointed to the position in January. “It is a challenging role which requires discernment as you work with people from various backgrounds, and how you carry yourself is important. You need to be humble, collaborative, yet decisive, and at the same time understanding your role as a leader.” She believes the true mark of a leader is an ability to develop others, unearthing potential in people.

Mamabolo is also a wife and mother of two teenage children. Based in Durban, while the rest of her family is in Centurion, is challenging. However, her support structure is what keeps her going. “Support is key for me. I have a great support structure in my spouse and my helper of 11 years; without them I would not have managed.”

Her mother recently received a PhD at the same university and having watched how hard her parents worked, Mamabolo hopes to pass on the same work ethic to her children. “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard” is a quote she lives by.

A trip down memory lane on the campus leads her to the familiar face of Professor Uys Grimsehl. After a brief encounter with Grimsehl, promises are made to be in touch for a coffee date. “He was my favourite professor. He loved us and wanted us to succeed.”

“The environment at the university was one that allowed me to thrive,” she reminisces.