When you have people who believe in you, they see positive things about yourself and potential that you didn’t recognise before. This is at the core of a newly launched mentoring initiative by She Is Forestry South Africa, which is encouraging women to take their seats at the table and shape the future of the male-dominated industry.
South Africa (04 September 2025) – In its continued efforts to encourage, support, promote and uplift women from across the forestry sector, She Is Forestry South Africa and Forestry South Africa (FSA) have launched an initiative that is giving women the confidence and power to influence their industry.
Mentor Me is a five-year programme designed to break down barriers that hold women back from leadership in the forestry sector.
“Building on five years of elevating women’s voices in a male-dominated industry, Mentor Me is designed for women, by women,” says Khosi Mavimbela, executive director of the Forest Sector Charter Council and director of She Is Forestry.
“The women we have spoken to cite lack of confidence, limited experience and inflexibility due to family responsibilities as the biggest barriers to advancing their careers,” explains Mavimbela.
“The Mentor Me Initiative offers women the mentorship, growth tools and inspirational role models they need.”
She adds that these tools would be accessible anytime, anywhere, to help women step into leadership roles with courage and conviction.
Hlengiwe Msibi, divisional environmental manager at Sappi comments that mentors can stretch one’s capacity to grow and are important for developing technical skills that help women transition from academic knowledge to real-world experience as they progress in their careers.
“Their institutional knowledge can help you navigate the complex landscape of organisational culture, which often has many unspoken rules”.
And on the issue of gender bias, Itumeleng Langeni, MTO Group Chief Stakeholder Relations Officer, says it’s nothing new.
“It is deeply rooted in history and reinforced by systemic norms. When people say ‘behind every successful man, there is a woman,’ it may not be said with malice, but it reflects exactly how the system positions us.”
She adds that 61% of executive directorship roles are held by men, compared to just 10% by women, and only 23% of executive management positions are filled by women.
“The time has come for actionable change, and I applaud and commend She Is Forestry for launching this mentorship programme. Progress is not just about looking forward; it’s also about looking sideways – noticing the sister who needs help, who is struggling to be heard, and reaching out to lift her up.”
At the heart of the programme are powerful, on-demand Mentor Me talks from leading female voices in forestry and beyond. There are 10 videos featuring women who have overcome common barriers to find the place in the forestry sector.
Two such women are Noxolo Kheswa, a Mondi Junior GIS Analyst and Trudy Sebelebele, a Sappi Forest Certification Manager.
This is Kheswa’s message to girls and young women:
“When you have people who believe in you, they see positive things about yourself that you don’t see. So partner and collaborate with others and put your best foot forward.”
This sentiment is echoed by Sebelebele, who encourages women to stay curious.
“Be open-minded and resilient. Your journey may not look like mine or anyone else’s, for that matter. Every single step that you take and every single question that you ask plants a seed in your future.”
The original purpose for these videos was to open the eyes of rural school children, using testimonies by women they can relate to.
Pamela Naidoo, executive director of the Forestry and Agricultural Training Organisation, added that She Is Forestry has always championed women in forestry.
“Now, with Mentor Me, they are not just acknowledging women, they are actively shaping the future of the sector.”
Here’s to more and more women taking the helm in forestry!
Sources: Supplied
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