Working smart
Always being open to knowledge is the best asset one could have, Sonja van Kradenburg says.
Elizabeth Joseph
Referring to her position as “person meets machine”, Sonja van Kradenburg sets the bar pretty high for aspiring youth as the safety and asset manager at Namdeb.
Her job requires a very open and focused mind.
“I have to make sure we have the correct systems and processes in place to prevent and/or mitigate any harm that can be cause to humans,” she says.
“Also, I need to see to it that we comply with legal requirements and maintain certification to global safety and health standards and improve the condition of assets (equipment and machinery) and performance.”
One of her biggest challenges has been dealing with the generation gap in the mining industry while implementing change. According to Van Kradenburg, a challenge is not a challenge unless it ends up motivating you.
“I have accomplished a lot but one of the most valuable lessons I've learnt is that my accomplishments are linked to self-awareness in relation to confidence.”
After matriculating from PK de Villiers Secondary School in 2006, Van Kradenburg decided to take a gap year, to find her feet in the adult world.
A typical day
She says her days are normally very unpredictable because anything can happen at any given time.
“We need to stop everything to ensure that our people are safe and our equipment runs optimally, in case of any emergency. My team and I have key measurement controls in place to provide assurance that we are meeting our targets and deadlines - these are reviewed daily.”
She helps to consolidate and coordinate various aspects important for the team in the department in which she works. These aspects are safety, equipment, machinery and operational performance.
Apart from being a sport and fitness junkie and being involved in many competitions, Van Kradenburg is also a lover of books and is currently reading a series of financial intelligence books by Robert Kiyosaki.
“These books inspire me and are changing my entire view on a lot of things,” she says.
She loves to inspire people to reach greater heights. When asked what advice she had for the leaders of tomorrow, she said: “Work smart.Define what your goals are and get your mindset and daily routines right to accomplish them. Tap into experience.”
Van Kradenburg's short-term goals include investing in financial, sales and marketing education to broaden her skills set.
Referring to her position as “person meets machine”, Sonja van Kradenburg sets the bar pretty high for aspiring youth as the safety and asset manager at Namdeb.
Her job requires a very open and focused mind.
“I have to make sure we have the correct systems and processes in place to prevent and/or mitigate any harm that can be cause to humans,” she says.
“Also, I need to see to it that we comply with legal requirements and maintain certification to global safety and health standards and improve the condition of assets (equipment and machinery) and performance.”
One of her biggest challenges has been dealing with the generation gap in the mining industry while implementing change. According to Van Kradenburg, a challenge is not a challenge unless it ends up motivating you.
“I have accomplished a lot but one of the most valuable lessons I've learnt is that my accomplishments are linked to self-awareness in relation to confidence.”
After matriculating from PK de Villiers Secondary School in 2006, Van Kradenburg decided to take a gap year, to find her feet in the adult world.
A typical day
She says her days are normally very unpredictable because anything can happen at any given time.
“We need to stop everything to ensure that our people are safe and our equipment runs optimally, in case of any emergency. My team and I have key measurement controls in place to provide assurance that we are meeting our targets and deadlines - these are reviewed daily.”
She helps to consolidate and coordinate various aspects important for the team in the department in which she works. These aspects are safety, equipment, machinery and operational performance.
Apart from being a sport and fitness junkie and being involved in many competitions, Van Kradenburg is also a lover of books and is currently reading a series of financial intelligence books by Robert Kiyosaki.
“These books inspire me and are changing my entire view on a lot of things,” she says.
She loves to inspire people to reach greater heights. When asked what advice she had for the leaders of tomorrow, she said: “Work smart.Define what your goals are and get your mindset and daily routines right to accomplish them. Tap into experience.”
Van Kradenburg's short-term goals include investing in financial, sales and marketing education to broaden her skills set.
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