These safety boots were made for walking, and that’s what Noxy intends to do! At a young age, varying structures and landscaping fascinated Noxy so much that she eagerly set out on a mission to know more about the buildings themselves. Now, she has created a platform that is motivating, inspiring, and speaks to every woman who is consistently reminded of her gender in the workplace.
What sparked your interest in construction project managing?
My interest was sparked at a very young age. The school I was attending at the time had been around for 80 years; the idea of timelessness in buildings and structures just blew my mind and I then became fascinated with architecture and buildings! As I grew up I learned more about the various roles in the built environment and decided that construction project management was for me.
After school I went on to get both my undergraduate and post-graduate degrees in the field. I thoroughly enjoyed construction studies for both the theory and practical components. Because the Project Manager's role is concerned with every stage of a construction project from concept and feasibility to design and execution, you will learn a wide variety of components from different fields such as finance and business, property law and contracts, design, and also engineering. So it is quite challenging in terms of how well-rounded you need to be both intellectually and creatively; as with any field of study, working hard will get you through. Since completing my studies, I've been managing construction projects across multi-disciplinary fields from civil and mechanical engineering, to commercial and residential projects. It's been amazing.
“This is what I’m doing it for; to reach out to other women and girls out there so that they know we’re all in this together.”
I want other women and girls to learn more about pursuing careers in construction and the built environment; for them to know that while it's a male-dominated field, there is space for women to occupy here and we have the potential to do great things. I specifically started my Instagram page so that I could document my experiences and share my journey with other women, to give them a window into what a career in this field means. Since starting my page I've been reached by women all over the world; some have even asked for mentorship and advice. This is what I'm doing it for; to reach out to other women and girls out there so that they know we're all in this together.
How has COVID-19 Effected Your Work In South Africa?
COVID-19 put a complete halt on the construction industry for a good two months. Even though we went back to normal operations as the lock down restrictions were lifted, by then so many companies had closed down; suppliers, other contractors, etc. It has been such a challenge restoring productivity levels to what they were before the pandemic. Many people have lost jobs; a lot of the governmental/municipal institutions have backlogs now, so getting documents approved or processed takes forever!!! It's been pretty difficult but all we can do is keep pushing past the aftermath of the lock down and hope that better circumstances await us down the line.
Support Noxy:
1. Instagram: @thegirlonsite
2. Wordpress blog: https://thegirlonsite.wordpress.com
3. Facebook: The Girl On Site https://www.facebook.com/thegirlonsite/