SPOTLIGHT: Sebasti Badenhorst, Calcamite & JoJo Sales and Marketing Executive
In an industry that has long been perceived as a man’s domain, the journey of women into construction is often filled with challenges, perseverance, and remarkable achievements.
Today, we have the privilege of speaking with an accomplished engineer who defied expectations and followed her passion, inspired by strong role models and a relentless drive to succeed.
" A job done, and done well, is hard to argue against "
From her early days at Stellenbosch University to working on groundbreaking projects, her story is a testament to the power of determination and the importance of mentorship in shaping a successful career in construction.
Can you share your journey into the construction industry and what inspired you to pursue a career in this field?
My father is a civil engineer, and I admire him very much. However, my father did not want me to become a civil engineer as he believed it was a man’s world, which it was in the 1980’s. In the end he relented, and I graduated as a civil engineer at Stellenbosch University in 1995.
I have had many role models along the way, who supported me and inspired me. Allison Lawless, who I met as a student in 1993 at the faculty, and who I still have contact with today. The time and energy she have spent in promoting civil engineering to all young people, and the mentorship programmes she established was remarkable.
Then my two materials engineering professors, Mark Alexander and Yunus Ballim. Yunus Ballim guided me to complete my MSc in Engineering at WITS in 2003. At the same time, I had two sons, one born in 2000, and the other in 2002. It was tough, but it was worth it.
Dr Martin Slavik from BKS was a remarkable person, and it was a privilege to work with him, his level of thinking was an example how you need to think out of the box, and be innovative. He and I worked together on a computerised mechanistic prediction model for concrete properties based on South African materials which was at the time groundbreaking.
There are so many other people who has touched my life and inspired me in this profession, and I can only encourage young people to appreciate the mentors that you have, because they will not be there for ever. .
What have been some of your most significant achievements or projects that you are particularly proud of in your career?
My father told me that engineering is more than a job, it is a profession, and as a professional you must strive to make a contribution to society.
That has always been my cause to work for. One of the most memorable projects were the extension of the OR Thambo airport in 1997. I was responsible for the design and site supervision of the airport parkade which was a four storey post tensioned concrete structure. As a design engineer you get so involved in the detail that you sometimes forget what you are busy with.
A few months after project completion, I visited a construction trade show and there was a massive aerial photograph of the project. It was only then that I realised what I was part of, and only then could I appreciate the effect of it. It is of course a structure that I personally use regularly till today, which gives me great pleasure.
The other memorable project was the construction of the Nelson Mandela bridge in Newtown. It was a design and construct contract, and the contractor approach AfriSam to design a special self-compacting concrete which they could fill the steel pylons with. At the time, self-compacting concrete was a relatively new technology, and it was the first time it was used in a construction in South Africa, to the best of my knowledge.
The development took hours in the concrete laboratory, but with the assistance of Eddie Correiea from Chryso, and Rajen Naidoo from AfriSam we managed to design a self-compacting concrete suitable for the application.
It was however not only the contribution to society that matters, but the contribution that one makes to individual people’s lives through career and personal development. That is significant.
Construction cannot happen without the efforts of a team of people from all levels, and in the construction game good quality people makes the difference.
What unique challenges have you faced as a woman in the construction industry, and how have you overcome them?
I do not think that men have it easier in any way. Engineering is a stressful job, It is a lot of responsibility. As you gain confidence you would think that the stress will be less, but then you stress because you might make a mistake because you are not stressing about it. However, with time you get use to it. It is tough as a young person to establish yourself and prove yourself in your career, it takes perseverance
" it is always good to work for a cause "
How do you see the role of women evolving in the construction industry, and what changes would you like to see to support more women in this field?
I think it has improved a lot over the years, practical things, like where is the ladies toilet is things that I use to stress about, but I think most sites now accommodate women.
It is hard to work and raise children, and what I have found is that many women think it is either-or. I must either have a career, or I must have children, I cannot have both. I was very privileged to have both. I could only have achieved it through the support structure I had in my husband, my mother and mother-in law, the good schools my children went to, Jan Celliers Laerskool and Helpmekaar college, and of course the rock in my life, Thuli.
At work, many men would discriminate against women with children, they see that they do not work as hard as men. If your job is always done, and you deliver good quality work, you have nothing to feel guilty about or feel that you are a lesser employee. A job done, and done well, is hard to argue against.
What advice would you give to young women who are considering a career in construction or other traditionally male-dominated industries
Don’t think about it as a man’s world. Do the job because you want to do it, if it something you can be passionate about, it is something that you will enjoy! And do it for yourself
" Don’t let other people define you "
As we wrap up this inspiring conversation, it's clear that the path to success in the construction industry is paved with resilience, passion, and support from those around us.
Sebasti's journey underscores the importance of not letting societal expectations define your career choices and the value of a strong support network in balancing professional and personal life. For young women considering a career in this field, her advice is simple yet profound: pursue your passion, embrace the challenges, and never let others dictate your worth. The construction industry is better for having voices like hers leading the way. A special thanks to Sebasti Badenhorst (LinkedIn) for your insight and inspiration, www.jojo.co.za, www.calcamite.co.za
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