Edition March 2025

Takalani Netshipale is a young civil engineer whose career journey is as dynamic as the infrastructure she builds.

Born and raised in Pretoria North, Netshipale’s formative years cultivated the determined professional she is today.

“As a child, I was one of the quietest yet brightest students in my class,” she recalls. “I have always been a talented individual with a love for sketching, painting, dancing, singing and experimenting with poetry and songwriting.”

Her passion for these artistic endeavours did not overshadow her academic drive.

“I was always striving to be at the top of my class, and I consistently ranked in the academic top 10 throughout high school,” she said. She finished as one of the top two students in her Grade 12 class.

Netshipale credits much of her personal and professional growth to the values instilled in her by her parents.

I was raised in a home where independence was valued, my parents taught me to navigate challenges on my own while always being there to guide me and offer support,” she said.

Though she did not have female engineers as role models growing up, her father was a critical influence.

Imparting knowledge

“My father became my greatest source of encouragement, urging me to pursue engineering despite the industry's male dominance”. This inspired her to succeed in an environment where only 30% of her classmates were female. It also drove her passion to uplift female engineering students. By her third year at university, she had already begun mentoring others.

Her dedication to mentorship led her to being named the best mentor in 2015, an honour she deeply cherishes.

“This recognition reinforced my passion for mentorship. It is a role I continue to embrace in every space I find myself in”.

She holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering (BEng) and a BEng Honours degrees, both from the University of Pretoria. She also holds a post graduate qualification in Project Management Fundamentals and a specialised project management qualification, both achieved with cum laude from the University of the Witwatersrand.

Career goals

Netshipale has clear goals for her career. “In the next five to 10 years, I aspire to become
a professional civil engineer, a professional construction project manager, and an internationally recognised multi-disciplinary specialist in engineering,” she said.

Beyond her technical aspirations, she envisions a role as a philanthropist and global advocate for Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

“My goal is to empower individuals from underprivileged backgrounds who lack access to vital information on career paths and opportunities.

I want to reach communities far and wide, transforming lives and contributing to the development of sustainable cities and communities.”

Additionally, Netshipale hopes to continue speaking at conferences, with the ambition of sharing her insights on global platforms like TEDx. “I envision myself as a young yet renowned philanthropist and global STEM advocate, dedicated to empowering the next generation,” she added.

Milestones

Throughout her career, Takalani has had numerous milestones that she holds dear. “One of my most significant milestones was expanding my network in radio to amplify my initiatives,” she reflected.

“I had the incredible opportunity to be interviewed for 45 minutes on Power FM 98.7 with Denzil Taylor, where I spoke about empowering young African girls by showcasing relatable role models in STEM and engineering”.

She was also named one of the Sunday World Top 200 Unsung Heroes in 2024, a moment she described as a “lifelong dream come true,” and a huge honour. Another proud moment for her was winning the 2024 Big 5 Construct Southern Africa Rising Star Award after being named a finalist the year before.

What can be described as one of the most personal moments for Takalani came when she was appointed as an Alternate Civil Engineer on the Health Infrastructure Approval Committee for the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health.

“Being appointed to this role was a recognition of my contributions to the health sector,” she said, reflecting on her work with critical capital projects like upgrading hospitals and restoring health facilities damaged in the 2022 floods.

“My focus is on constructing, maintaining, and protecting health infrastructure, ensuring access to water and sanitation services, and maintaining roads that lead to health facilities in good condition,” she affirmed.

Targeting grassroots

In November 2024, Takalani launched her first early childhood STEM development programme, Sibo the Engineer, in partnership with STEM Explorerz (Zimbabwe) and the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Africa Catalyst Fund.

Through this initiative, I introduced children aged 8 to 12 to STEM, helping them understand their role in global solutions,” she said with pride.

This initiative is especially close to her heart because it aligns with her belief in the transformative power of education. She was also featured in the Women in Science and Engineering magazine, where her school-to-workplace journey was shared to inspire the next generation of innovators.

“My journey has always been about inspiring others and showing them that it is possible to break through barriers,” Netshipale said.

More recognition

In 2024, Netshipale received the prestigious SAICE (South African Institution of Civil Engineering) Presidential Award, a moment that left her in “complete disbelief…I had no idea how the recipient of this prestigious award was selected”

Initially invited to deliver a speech at the SAICE Presidential Inauguration, Takalani was surprised when instead of being called up to speak, she was invited to the stage to receive the award.

“I was overwhelmed with emotion, tears welling in my eyes … Gratitude took over, I felt deeply honoured to be recognised for my dedication, hard work and passion.”

She said winning the award was both a professional mile- stone and a personal validation.

“Professionally, winning this award signifies that I have made a meaningful contribution, not only to SAICE but also to the broader civil engineering community,” she reflected. On a personal level, it provided a sense of relief from internal conflicts she had experienced in her career.

“I had been unfairly labelled as a non-engineering influencer,” she said, acknowledging how difficult it was to be recognised for her true contributions. “To me, this award validated my successes, especially as only one individual is recognised each year”.

Advice for young engineers

Takalani’s advice for aspiring engineers, particularly young women, is simple but powerful: “Young ladies, this is your time to shine and embrace the incredible accelerations that lie ahead. The world will reflect back to you what you believe you are truly worth, so never doubt your value”.

She encourages young women to face challenges head-on. “Do not shy away from challenges, they are your opportunities to learn and grow…Help each other succeed, and always push forward, even when fear tries to hold you back”.

Her message extends beyond career advice; she stresses the importance of balance. “ Trust in your journey, and take the time to rest as needed,” she advised. “As the saying goes: ‘work hard, play hard, but most importantly, pray harder’”