THE WOMEN
DRIVING THE WORLD FORWARD

Meet Anca Priscu Group Director: Production Originally from Romania, Anca joined Sumitomo Rubber (Dunlop’s parent company) in 2021 as a New Group Director: Production. Her role involves designing and implementing strategies for the Ladysmith Plant to maximise shareholder value for the group. Anca is driven by the challenge to continuously improve in order to remain relevant in the automotive industry. read more She commends women in leadership on the way they dream big, challenge assumption and inspire their teams, translating new ideas into concrete action and results. Anca believes you can see women’s strength in the way they’re able to pursuit their aspirations despite the obstacles in their way. Her advice to those entering a male dominated industry is to know what you want, take action, notice what is working or not, and, if necessary, change your approach. While Anca has just recently joined the Sumitomo family, she’s already assumed the position as one of the inspiring women driving Dunlop forward. hide text

Meet Petra Els Dunlop Zone Owner Petra’s desire to be a strong competitor in a male dominated industry is what drove her to become a Dunlop Zone owner. Her peer’s initial response to her plans was largely negative, but she didn’t let that stop her and today she owns three tyre dealerships in Kimberley. Petra finds working in the industry very interesting, often being underestimated until it comes down to talking read more business. As a woman, she places a high value on safety, regularly investing in Safety Training for her staff. Petra feels that women’s tailored approach to customers is what makes their impact so unique. She believes it’s important that women rally together, because if one woman is capable of so much on her own, imagine what they could achieve united. We’re so glad Petra defied societal norms to take her rightful place as one of the fearless women driving Dunlop forward. hide text

Meet Lorette Grobbelaar Dunlop Zone Branch Manager After working in the tyre industry for many years, Lorette partnered with the Dunlop Development Programme to become a Branch Manager in Mossel Bay. From the beginning, she was underestimated in the industry and decided to take a stand. From educating herself on product knowledge to joining in on client visits, Lorette was committed to understanding every read more aspect of the business and it paid off. Today, she sees safety as women’s freedom to experience the world as fearlessly as men do. That’s why she ensures her branch is intentional about educating customers on vehicle safety and emergency situations. Lorette believes that now, more than ever, it’s essential women rally together because their experience of the world gives them a deeper understanding of what will bring about true change. We love having Lorette on our team as one of the perseverant women driving Dunlop forward. hide text

Meet Joanne de Freitas PR & Events Manager Joanne’s been with Sumitomo Rubber (Dunlop’s parent company) for the past 16 years – she calls it the best decision she’s ever made. Her first role involved working for the Exports, Marketing and Commercial Directors. She then entered the Marketing department, going from Associate Manager for Channel Development to Channel read more Manager for the Coastal Region and then National Channel Manager - the perfect fit for a self-confessed “people’s person”. Today she manages the company’s internal and external reputation through Communication, Public Relations, Corporate Social Investment and Events. Jo believes that women are vital to the industry. She attributes this to their unwavering patience, multi-tasking abilities and dedication to grow their team to their full potential. Our Sumitomo family wouldn’t be the same without Jo as one of the dynamic women driving Dunlop forward. hide text

Meet Shahnaaz Moola Director: Khans Fitment Group Shahnaaz has worked in the automotive industry for 25 years. At 14, she began working at her late dad’s tyre fitment store and by the age of 15 left school to work full time, spending years learning about the industry. Fast forward to 2003, Shahnaaz and her husband started a fitment centre in Kroonstad, without much capital or equipment. read more She recounts those years as being tough while making her even more passionate. Today, Shahnaaz owns multiple tyre fitment centres and believes women play a major role in the industry with their fine attention to detail, motivation to get things done and drive. Her advice to younger women is to be independent and honest, work hard and most of all, know your industry through and through. We are so fortunate to have ambitious women, like Shahnaaz, driving Dunlop forward. hide text

Meet Katlego Khambane Dunlop Business in a Box Dealer Coming from a business ownership background, Katlego fell in love with the Dunlop Business in a Box concept and the rest was history. Today her success has changed the minds of many of people who were previously sceptical of how she’d survive in a male dominated industry. Katlego believes that women should feel safe at all times and as a result read more she is dedicated to educating customers about purchasing the correct tyre, as well as doing regular tyre checks, wheel alignment and wheel rotation. She commends all the women standing boldly at the forefront, learning to run successful businesses in industries they aren’t expected to exist in. And Katlego has done just that, as one of the many influential women driving Dunlop forward. hide text

Meet Seama Govender Group Director of Corporate Services Seama grew up in an empowering, women-dominated home. “We did everything from housework to changing car oil filters to painting our own house,” she recalls. She started out at Sumitomo Rubber (Dunlop’s parent company), as Group Manager in 2013 and worked her way up to Company Secretary in 2015. read more In 2019 she assumed her current position as SRSA’s Group Director of Corporate Services, where she oversees Human Resources, Procurement, IT, Legal, Security and Governance. Throughout her career, she has worked her way up the ranks and elevated our company along with her, while paving the way for others to do the same. Wife, mother and professional - here’s to Seama, another powerful woman, driving Dunlop forward. hide text

Meet Mandisa Mbuyazi Lab and Supplier Quality Mandisa has worked as an engineer at Sumitomo Rubber (Dunlop’s parent company) for more than 11 years. She started as an Inservice Trainee lab technician and was later promoted to Lab Supervisor. In her current role as the Laboratory Associate Manager, she’s responsible for the lab budget, testing read more and investigation activities, quality management and auditing, new machine setup specifications, equipment maintenance and talent management. She even visited Sumitomo Rubber’s international headquarters in Japan for additional experience in her field. Mandisa is dedicated to problem solving and ensuring her team’s success in everything they do. She believes women in the industry cause a shift in innovation as they’re able to contribute a unique point of view. Mandisa has continually stood out as one of the many women dedicated to driving Dunlop forward, both in the past and today. hide text

Meet Yolandi van Wyk HR and Employee Relations Yolandi joined Sumitomo Rubber (Dunlop’s parent company) recently in 2021. Her HR and Employee relations Divisional Head role involves defining strategy from a human capital perspective, managing relations with unions and employees, as well as focusing on culture and organisational development. Yolandi is passionate about helping businesses increase their read more revenue and productivity, developing employees so they reach their potential and building a culture of care, engagement and empowerment. She believes that companies have the ability to perform better than the rest when they include and acknowledge women in their workforce. Her advice to women looking to work in a male dominated industry is to always stay true to who you are and work hard, because it pays off. Although a new addition to the Sumitomo Rubber family, Yolandi has already proven to be one of the women passionately driving Dunlop forward. hide text

Meet Nontobeko Kubheka Group Manager: Credit Control Nontobeko has been a part of the Sumitomo family (Dunlop’s parent company) for just over three years. She leads the team that takes care of important domestic and international customers, ensuring their accounts are well managed and giving them access to credit solutions that empower them to grow their read more businesses. Nontobeko is passionate about helping businesses and her peers thrive, both professionally and personally. She believes it’s important to have women in traditionally male industries like the automotive sector, because it enables the upcoming generation of women to envision themselves occupying and making a difference in these spaces. She advises young women to believe in themselves before seeking external validation, to set goals that stretch you, put in the word and use every experience as a learning curve. Nonto is just one of many brilliant women driving Dunlop forward. hide text

Meet Shalane Moodley Manager: Demand Planning & Fulfillment Shalane is a Manager at Sumitomo (Dunlop’s parent company) and is described by many as a go-getter. In the 14 years she’s been a part of the company she’s risen from one position to the next, moving from warehousing and logistics to purchasing and sales analysis. In her current role read more she’s responsible for things like stock and project management, order fulfilment, strategic and import planning, production oversight and cost control – she can do it all! Shalane believes that when given the opportunity, women play an essential role in the automotive sector with their keen attention to detail, efficient planning and implementation abilities and their empathy to those around them. We are so lucky to have Shalane, a force driving Dunlop forward for over a decade. hide text

Meet Letta Gumbi Infield Technical Services Letta is a qualified Chemical Engineer and has been with Sumitomo (Dunlop’s parent company) for the past three years. Her role involves conducting track testing to evaluate tyre performance, supporting customers with tyre placements and conducting controlled wear testing to determine mileage warranties. Letta is currently the only woman read more in her department and advises other young women out there to work hard, be motivated, respectful, and most of all, believe in yourself. Letta definitely holds her own as a female employee in the male-dominated automotive industry, serving as an inspiration to women everywhere. Thank you Letta for being one of the bold women driving Dunlop forward, in our hearts and on the test track. hide text