Women in the workplace: Elanza van Staden

In South Africa, August is National Women’s Month. In honour of the women who work at PG Bison, we’re taking this opportunity to profile some of them. In this post we chat to Elanza van Staden, PG Bison’s sales consultant for the Limpopo region.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I started with PG Bison in 2002 at the country branches. When those branches closed in 2012, I stayed in the industry and then had an opportunity to come back to PG Bison in 2016. So I’ve been in the industry for around 20 years.

My role is difficult to define because it changes all the time depending on what PG Bison’s goals are in a particular month and what client needs I can see at different points in their business’ journey. I don’t have one set role. I’m everything that I need to be, when I need to be it.

I see myself as having to be the face of PG Bison for clients, because customers don’t deal with a company, they deal with a person. To clients, what I represent to them is the company.

I can be headstrong and stubborn, but that’s all part of being a problem-solver, and that’s part of what I do on a day-to-day basis: solving problems. I find ways to assist and keep everyone happy in order to try to help build the future of PG Bison.

What are some of your highlights and challenges of being a woman working in the manufacturing sector?

It’s tough to be a woman in the manufacturing industry. I have to deal predominantly with men across the industry; from buyers to owners. Sometimes they think you don’t know much because you’re a woman – so you need to do a lot of proving yourself, proving your worth. It’s hard work. It takes commitment, consistency and following through on your promises. That wins you their trust, which helps to form a bond with clients.

So, it’s challenging walking into spaces as a woman and convincing people that you are there to stay, that you know what you are talking about, and that you can help them with whatever they need. On the plus side, though, once you have broken through that barrier, you will find very loyal customers and great relationships.

What gets you up in the morning?

I love what I do. I don’t see it as a job, I see it as a career. I love the time I get to spend on the open road driving to clients and engaging with customers who are excited and happy to see me. In sales you also don’t only talk about business, we get to catch up regularly with the people we visit and build relationships. I love that feeling of, “You’re welcome here. I enjoy your company and I can share with you.” When you help someone it’s very rewarding, especially watching businesses grow and things like seeing sons grow up into taking over their fathers’ businesses and having been there to help them along the way.

What words of encouragement do you have for other women?

To all the women out there giving it their all every day, working towards the future running between your duties as a wife, sister, mother, employee, I know your worth. And I know your strength and I know what you’re capable of achieving. Never stop doing your best, even if you might think your best isn’t good enough.