CAPE TIMES WOMEN IN BUILDING
Published in The Cape Times in October 2003

THE POWER GROUP

Marlene Cronje is the Organizational Development Director of the Power Group of Companies, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. The Group  employs more than 1600 people and provides a comprehensive range of civil engineering, blacktop paving, manufacturing and township development services with major contracts that spread across the Western-; Eastern-; and Southern Cape.

She says: “The Power Group is committed to Employment equity and thus also to the empowerment of women in the industry. Women are represented on all levels throughout the company and our intent is not to only have women in clerical or administrative positions, but also in technical careers. We were therefore proud to appoint our first female Engineer, Alex Capostagno, in 2002. We have also allocated bursaries to 3 female students for 2004, and are proud to play an important role in their education and training.”

The Power Group furthermore focuses on the development of women within the company. All staff members have personal development plans, which address their aspirations, the competencies needed for present and future positions, as well as the behaviour competencies required. This has played an important role in the development of the female workforce and many women have over the past years progressed to more senior positions as a result of the latter.

Marlene holds Honours degrees in Social Work and in Industrial Psychology. She was appointed to the board of the Power Group in 2001, and after consulting to the Group for five years, joined the company on a fulltime basis in 2002.

She says: “I do not regard the Construction Industry as a man's world. It is an industry for people, both male and female, with guts, tenacity, a willingness to work hard, and for people who enjoys overcoming challenges and have a passion for what they do.”

Woman in Industry - Power Group of Companies

The Power Group is committed to Employment equity and thus also to the empowerment of women in the industry. At the moment we have employed the following females at the following different levels:

We intend to increase the above and will also have 3 female bursars for 2004. Our intent is not to only have woman in clerical/administrative positions, but also in technical positions. Our first female Engineer, Alex Capostagno was appointed in 2002.

We also focus on the development of women in the Company. All monthly paid staff members have personal development plans which addresses their aspirations, competencies needed for present and future positions as wel as behavior competencies needed. Various females have over the past years progressed to more senior positions as a result of the latter.

Information on Marlene Cronje

• Married with twins aged 13
• Honours degree in Social Work - University of Stellenbosch
• Honours degree in Industrial Psychology - UNISA
• Started career as a social worker in 1983 and while working at the Koeberg nuclear power station as an industrial social worker, decided to change career to human resources field. Specialised in Organizational Development.
• Started own consulting business in 1997 with partner - Helene du Toit
• Involved with the Power Group since 1997 as a consultant.
• Appointed to the Board in 2001 as Organizational Development Director
• Full time employee from 2002

I believe that one should live a purpose driven life. If you understand your calling in life, you develop a passion for what you do. My passion is the development of people.  I further do not believe that women need to compete with men. We have other qualities and talents that we can bring to the table, which are very needed in any industry today, especially with regards to motivation, intuition, teamwork and interpersonal skills and even leadership in general. I am a firm believer in the value of diversity. It is in valuing our differences that we can achieve so much more.

I do not regard the Construction Industry as a man's world. It is the industry for people (male and female) with guts, tenacity, a willingness to work hard and for people who enjoys overcoming challenges and has a passion for what they do.

I regard myself as a very privileged person, although life was not always easy. I had to overcome many challenges and disappointments in life. I fully enjoy what I do and believe that our Industry can also provide other females with the same opportunity.