LIONESS WEEKENDER COVER STORY
Africa Steel Holdings, a boutique investment holding company in the steel and metals value chain
Mayleen Kyster Nduli is the founder of Africa Steel Holdings in South Africa, a boutique investment holding company with interest across the steel and metals value-chain. Her business ASH was founded on the foundation of her passion for the steel industry as well as her sound education and personal experience of 15 years in steel. Mayleen sits on various boards in her industry as either Non or Executive Director. Mayleen is passionate about woman empowerment and inclusion in all industries. Mayleen is a wife to Zano and mother to Rocco and Nala.
Lioness Weekender chatted to Mayleen Kyster Nduli to learn more about her pioneering entrepreneurial journey in Africa’s tough steel and metals sector, and her aspirations for the future.
What does your company do?
Africa Steel Holdings is a boutique investment holding company with interest across the steel and metals value-chain.
What inspired you to start your company?
Office politics.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
We are 100 % women-owned and led.
Tell us a little about your team
My team are mostly male in operations and female in administration. I hope to facilitate the transition to more females on the production floor and vice versa.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
I am not born into an entrepreneurial family. I am not only part of the first generations of entrepreneurs in our family, but still the only entrepreneur by choice in our family. My entrepreneurial journey in the steel and metals sector was pre-destined. I say this for the following reason. Whilst completing my final year of full-time study towards a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting I was also quite frantically applying for articles at any of the top 5 auditing firms. Surprisingly it was an off the chance single application to a graduate program at Steel Mill that responded promptly and invited me to an interview. Upon my arrival I was told that there were at least 300 candidates who formed part of the selection process. I was so disapproving of the environment anyway I was secretly praying that they would not choose me. Back then environmental laws were underdeveloped and even the offices were dark and gloomy from the air pollution that darkened the windows from outside. This was certainly not the image I had created in my mind of what my career would be like. I was looking forward to a beautiful, clean, and professional looking workspace and more especially to finally afford to buy the suits and heels I had envisioned myself in after graduation. Needless to say, I was one of 7 candidates chosen for the graduate program at the steel mill.
It was during a tour of the steel mill that I saw steel in its raw form, blazing hot, liquid and gold. It changed my view on the industry and I was surprised at how privileged I felt to be one of a few females to get the exposure that I received both in steel-making but across all the other business units which make the delivery of steel to clients possible. 10 years later and in a senior executive position I found myself very unhappy in the industry I loved so much. The politics in the workplace was difficult for me to manage and I struggled to be pretentious to get ahead which was in my view the only way to impress the boss. Three months after being unemployed I founded Africa Steel Holdings. We started off supplying steel to power stations throughout South Africa and acquiring stakes in businesses who supplied us. Our business model is to supply steel to projects and we continue to do so. Our value proposition being a one-stop shop steel merchant for primary steel as well as manufactured and fabricated steel based on my reputation in the industry and also the fact that I am an expert in how our industry functions and its capability. I am able to advise my clients, as well as negotiate the best deals.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
I hope to increase our investment portfolio across more niche metals as well as across the value chain from mining all the way up. I hope to facilitate the placement of more women into my beloved industry through these investments and ensure their rise in these entities.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
Being in control of and ultimately managing my own time is the ultimate luxury for me. I would choose this over and over again over the security of employment. I am a full-time and hands on mom whilst managing the career of my dreams. I love interacting with my business partners and learning from them, each with a unique way of doing things. I solve complex issues rather than do monotonous tasks in a job. To remain relevant to my clients and partners I need to be creative and embrace change.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Reduce as much of your debt as possible given your unique circumstances, then start. Start right where you are. Start with what you have. Grow organically doing little tasks exceptionally.
To find out more about the work of Africa Steel Holdings, email: info@africasteelholdings.co.za or visit the company website: http://www.africasteelholdings.co.za
