ENERGY AND ENTHUSIASM SEIZE THE DAY!
Metal Connection founder Pauline Arde is a passionate professional who has risen to the challenge of being a woman in a traditionally male dominated industry. Thanks to her fearless approach and deep understanding of the industry her company has not only survived but thrived in the last two years…
Q. Why do you think you have been able to succeed in our industry and what are the key strengths that have allowed you to achieve success?
A.Women who are driven and ambitious are unstoppable in any profession they decide to pursue. The reason I rose to prominence wasn’t that I was terrified, rather, it was because I persisted despite my fears.
Being a female leader in the scrap steel industry has been challenging but well worth it in the end. It’s also one of the reasons that led me to study for a Bachelor of Management as I realised early on that I needed to be a leader to my staff members and someone they could look up to.
Being in a completely male dominant industry for the last couple of years, it was very important for me as a strong female to learn and adapt to the industry. At the top of my agenda was to get the men who are currently involved in this industry, as well as my male staff, to respect and look up to me as a role model and a leader.
Q. How did the first years of your career build on what you learnt during your studies, but in a more practical setting? What were the key lessons you learnt during this time?
A. I started my career building and supplying scrap dealers with scrap bins to transport all types of scrap. Well, after that I was sold on the scrap industry, as it amazed and intrigued me so much, that all I wanted to do is learn and enhance my knowledge of the industry itself.
I am currently the sole owner of a very successful scrap recycling empire and have been for the last five years. Metal Connection has grown and become one of the biggest suppliers to all our local foundries for their scrap requirements.
Q. How would you describe a typical day in your current position?
A. A motto of mine is, ‘When you have discipline you will always have self-control’. A typical day therefore starts with my management team and myself planning our deliveries, collections, and pricing and discussing where and what we can further improve for us to keep up with all the constant changes in the industry. I find input from my staff plays a big role in the strategic decisions made in the company, as we strive to work together as a team.
One of the most difficult challenges I had to face when starting in this industry was to gain respect and acknowledgement in such a male-dominated industry as, unfortunately, this industry has had a stigma around it for so many years as a ‘man’s industry’. However, after perseverance and growing daily, I am proud to say that stigma has slowly shifted.
Q. Why do you feel that stainless steel has such an important role to play in getting South Africa’s economy back on track following the COVID-19 pandemic?
A. COVID-19 had a major impact on the industry and affected every single sector of the economy, causing shortages of materials, losses in jobs and major losses in the production sector which in turn affected the scrap industry with massive shortages.
Q. What do you consider as the most exciting innovations/product developments happening in stainless steel right now and what sectors hold the greatest potential for the use of stainless steel in the future, e.g., aerospace?
Stainless steel is a very durable, versatile material that can withstand harsh environments and has been used for many years in the manufacturing of many advanced machinery and equipment. However, stainless steel has also had to adapt to different operating methods. This has been a big advantage for the industry as this change caused a rise in demand for stainless steel given its superior sustainability and ‘green’ credentials.