We are continuing with our Women’s Month campaign, She Techs Her Way, where we highlight women doing tech their own way here at Integrove. This week, the spotlight is on Nkosazana Jameson, who works as an Engineering Consultant, a very interesting role in a constantly evolving industry, mining.

Her journey began in the corridors of Wits University, where her love for chemistry led her to Chemical Engineering.

“I wanted a degree that would equip me with both deep scientific understanding and practical, problem-solving skills that could translate across sectors,” said Nkosazana.

Fast forward to post-graduation, she landed herself an internship here at Integrove, where she found her passion, becoming her daily life and working in mining, a male-dominated industry.

The industry was nothing that scared Nkosazana or made her feel like she didn’t belong. She believes that “there is strength” in being a woman in this ‘rugged’ field.

“Just being here, in this space, is proof that women have a place in tech; they bring something unique,” she echoed her previous point.

Nkosazana She Techs Her Way New Quote

In efforts to get to know what a day in her role looks like, she mentioned that no two days are the same.

“I’d say it’s a mix of mining knowledge and digital problem-solving. One day, I might be helping with coding maintenance spares, another day I’m reviewing operational readiness plans or working on maintenance tactics. Sometimes it’s all about collaborating with client stakeholders to keep things moving smoothly.”

While it is important to note that the role she is in keeps her on her toes, a person with a curious mind will be able to balance the technical and hands-on nature of the mining industry.

“If something doesn’t fully click, I research it, I ask questions, and I learn from those around me, especially during site engagements. I’ve been really lucky to have opportunities to keep learning since joining.”

Self-improvement and a can-do attitude are what make our integroovies great at what they do, and Nkosazana has been learning from day one and continues to do so. “I’ve earned a Power BI certification, completed a Data Science bootcamp, and I’ll be doing a Project Management Essentials course soon.”

Nkosazana is not ‘just a girl’, she gets her hands dirty by being involved in big mining projects, one of which was a greenfield project, the most rewarding she has worked on yet.

“We were building everything from the ground up. Being part of that gave me a real appreciation for how much effort goes into establishing a site. I got to see the full process from start to finish and even played a significant role in the procurement side of things. It was hands-on and incredibly fulfilling.”

Getting Ready for Leadership

Even though Nkosazana is still at the beginning of her professional career, she believes that she has been exposed to environments that are shaping her to approach problem-solving in a collaborative way, setting a great path for leadership.

“I’ve had to step into rooms where people come from very different backgrounds than mine, and it’s pushed me to collaborate in ways I didn’t expect.”

Collaborating with different people and teams has “opened up her perspective and definitely shaped how she approaches problem-solving with more curiosity, empathy, and openness to other ways of thinking.”

Asked about what message she has for girls who might not see themselves in tech roles, specifically hers, she stressed that “Your voice, your ideas, they’re needed,” therefore, no one should believe they are not worthy of being a woman in tech.

“You don’t have to look or sound like everyone else to belong. Honestly, you get to write your own story even in spaces that weren’t originally built with you in mind. The truth is, your perspective matters.”

She continued: “So don’t wait to feel like you fully fit in before showing up. You already belong.”

How She Techs Her Way

Nkosazana is all about writing her own story and creating her own destiny, a perfect example of a woman doing tech her own way, and standing out for her uniqueness and her work.

“She Techs Her Way to me means owning my journey and defining success on my own terms. It’s not about following a path that was already laid out, it’s about creating my own, with intention and purpose.”

Watch the video below to get to know her more and see her take on the big world of mining her way!