Meet Matshediso Marota
A remarkable woman who has climbed her way up the corporate ladder to the General Manager position of Sekelo Oil Trading. Matshediso studies hard, works hard and values her family. But instead of us telling you about how interesting she is, read on and let her tell you herself.
Very briefly describe your journey to the top.
My journey began with a graduate program aimed at developing future leaders at BP. I spent the first 3 years as a depot manage trainee. This skilled me in operations management. I then joined the refining team and then the supply and trading team, which furthered my experience into comprehending the organisation’s commercial bottom-line. My distinguishing point came when I worked on a crude trading bench as an Asset Trader in London for two years to build a scarce skill.
To whom do you owe your success?
I owe my success to most of my managers who took cognisance of my determination and hard work. They are leaders who allowed me opportunities outside my spectrum. A lot of my associates also supported my drive and resilience with most of them trusting in my abilities and integrity.
What qualifications do you have?
I have a BSc in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cape Town and a BEng (Honours) in Management of Technology from the University of Pretoria.
Was there ever a time when you doubted yourself? And how did you get through it?
When I started a job as a commercial analyst, I doubted my ability to challenge and appraise a wide audience of experts on how the business earned or lost money and what could be done to improve on this. I confronted the doubt by managing the impression I wanted. I consulted upfront with the key stakeholders to test my assumption and conclusions and then got buy-in upfront.
Who is your role model?
It’s certainly my mother. She has instilled such great values in me. She is very empathetic and modest. Having grown in her care has made me love myself for who I am. One quality that I have picked up from her is being a great mediator.
What advice would you give your younger self?
To celebrate my successes. I feel like I was chasing my dreams for most of my young life and I forgot to give myself a pat on the back.
What is the most important thing the youth of today should learn?
Never compromise your values. Be clear of what your long-term goals are and work hard toward them. Keep checking if you are still on the right track and try not to get derailed by short-term benefits.
What is the best advice you ever received?
To know what I want out of life. Not only that but be clear of:
- how I will get there,
- what I need to get there, and
- who can assist me along the way.
What are your three greatest qualities?
- I am a good mediator. This has made my role as a trader easier as it creates win-win deals.
- I have a lot of integrity. This quality makes people trust me and want to associate with me.
- I am resilient. I deliver on my promise by giving it my all.
How do you unwind?
Currently, I unwind by spending time with my parents and siblings. Having been away from my home country for two years amplified my gratitude of family.
What is next on your list?
Next on my list is to create opportunities to be involved in more than one business. This will help me transition from focusing on day-to-day affairs (towards reaching a strategic goal) onto supporting others to reach their strategic targets. I plan to do this by participating in boards of organisations that match my skill set.