Avellon Williams
SOUTH AFRICA- She has grown from a farmer to become an award-winning Chemical Engineer, to obtaining her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Thandi Princess Ngxongo is from South Africa.
A farm along the Mooi River in South Africa is where Thandi was born and raised. Working on the farm with her parents and around cars and other machinery, she developed an interest in chemical engineering. In spite of her local background, Thandi developed an interest in cars and the industry, leading her to pursue the path of her passion.
“I grew up as a kid playing in worn and ragged cars which were filled up with petrol and oil smell. I quickly developed an instinct for cars and the oil industry. I yearned for success in the male-dominated business,” said Dr Thandi.
After enrolling at Durban University of Technology, she obtained a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) in Chemical Engineering. After that, she worked with refineries and other oil companies in the petroleum industry.
Having been dissatisfied with the gender-based inequalities and injustices in the petroleum industry, Thandi enrolled for a Master’s in Business Administration and then obtained her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in 2022 with a research focus on women empowerment.
As a result of her contributions to the oil and gas sector, Dr. Thandi has won several awards and recognitions. In 2022, she was nominated as a Powerful Woman in the oil and gas industry by the Global Award Winners.
Today Thandi is the proud owner of the BP Moore Road Service Station on Che Guevara Road in Glenwood.
“I still pat myself on the back for deciding to do an MBA – the course has played a huge role in preparing me for business management and leadership. I still have all my books at the office that I refer back to, especially on the finance side of the business,” she said.
“BP Moore Road is one of the flagship service stations in Durban known for excellent service and great customer experience. Jumping into that kind of a moving ship requires a sober mind and enough energy so as not to lose customer confidence and satisfaction – it is both exciting and overwhelming.”
Ngxongo expressed her gratitude for her academic accomplishment by saying: “I have this overwhelming deep gratitude and a sense of accomplishment. I embarked on this journey for self-fulfillment and to contribute to a body of knowledge.”
According to her, community and self-development are important things, and she is currently the Head and CEO of ‘uThandekile Foundation’, an organization she uses to empower and uplift women, youth, and communities in South Africa.
A life motto of hers is to never stop learning, which has led her to enroll in a program for international business leadership.
“I believe in empowering myself and contributing to the body of knowledge. If I am to remain relevant as a businesswoman I need to keep learning every day,” she added.
