Sassda recently posted a series of in-depth interviews with the female leaders shaping our industry on our social media channels.
Fiona Jacobs: From Stainless Steel Pioneer to Industry Leader
EMVAfrica’s Director of Procurement, International Trade, and Business Development Fiona Jacobs, has built a remarkable career over three decades in the stainless steel industry. Her path is one of adaptability, mentorship, and resilience, breaking boundaries in a male-dominated field and inspiring a new generation of leaders.
Embracing a new career
Fiona’s entry into the stainless steel industry was unplanned. She initially trained as a chef but pivoted careers to balance work with family commitments. Joining EMVAfrica with no prior industry experience, she embraced on-the-job learning, mastering procurement, supply chain management, and international trade. Her determination and ability to adapt propelled her into leadership, proving that passion and a willingness to grow are critical to success.
There were no formal mentorship programs then. I had to learn as I went along,” Fiona recalls. Her commitment to continuous learning was key to her rise within the organisation.
Mentorship and Integrity
Mentorship played a pivotal role in Fiona’s career. Two key mentors at EMVAfrica Hugh Witty and Ken Perel instilled in her the value of integrity, which remains central to her leadership philosophy. “Integrity was everything,” she says, recalling moments where ethical decisions shaped her professional approach.
Now, Fiona mentors others, guiding both men and women in the stainless steel industry. While she celebrates progress, she acknowledges persistent gender bias, sharing her experiences of being overlooked in meetings where male colleagues were assumed to hold senior positions.
An evolving workplace culture
Fiona is encouraged by the increasing presence of women in leadership and engineering roles, particularly dynamic black female engineers driving innovation in the field. “It’s wonderful to see and work with these women,” she says, celebrating the creativity they bring to the industry.
She also notes a significant cultural shift toward work-life balance, contrasting sharply with her early career days when prioritizing family was rare. “It’s refreshing to see colleagues prioritising their families now,” she says, adding that balancing professional demands with personal responsibilities has been a cornerstone of her own journey.
Collaborative leadership
Fiona’s leadership style emphasises inclusivity and collaboration. “You don’t know everything. Listening to your team brings the best ideas,” she explains. At EMVAfrica, she has fostered a culture of openness, encouraging employees across departments to share their perspectives. This approach has strengthened the company’s operations and enhanced its reputation as an industry leader.
Building a legacy
Fiona is focused on empowering the next generation of leaders in the stainless steel industry. She advises employees to actively seek out training and development opportunities, saying, “You have to put yourself forward.” Her legacy is one of mentorship, passion, and inclusivity. Fiona’s journey showcases the power of adaptability, integrity, and collaboration to break barriers and shape the industry’s future. Her story is not just about excelling in stainless steel but about resilience and transforming the workplace into a more equitable and innovative space for all.