Unleashing Leadership Potential (ULP) and EmpowaWorx hosted the EmpowaWomen in Oil and Gas Leadership Summit on 4 August at the ULP House in President Park, Midrand.
The four keynote speakers were Khumo Nthla, the CEO of Women in Oil and Energy in South Africa (Woesa); Priscillah Mabelane, the CEO of BP SA; Pria Hassan, the CEO of Women in Fuels and Oils and Priscilla Selele, the general secretary of the National African Energy Wholesalers Association South Africa (Naewasa).
ULP is the brainchild of Sasol Limited’s executive vice president Maurice Radebe.
Hundreds of women in oil and gas with various companies, skills and passions in the industry were in attendance to hear how those that are ahead of them were able to unlock the doors of opportunity as well as to explore the various institutes, organisations and companies offering opportunities to small business, especially women in business.
Some of the challenges women raised were:
- Difficulty in funding
- People employed at the front desks of companies aimed to help us do not make the process easy nor are they helpful
- Access to information and guidance as a start-up.
Some of the solutions offered were:
- People can become members of Woesa and Naewasa
- Entrepreneurs can invest in each other to develop themselves
- Can invest in bigger companies and find mentors to guide them through the processes and steps of making in this industry.