Danél Esterhuysen

"I want to build the business into a female owned, female operated, highly professional and technical equipped engineering firm." This is the wish of Ms Kurisani Maswanganyi who at the age of 30 has travelled the world, established herself as an engineering genius and entrepreneur, and received numerous awards and serves on more than three companies’ board of directors.

She has also become a symbol of women empowerment and is a devoted businesswoman always striving for perfection. Maswanganyi, the Managing Director of Kulani Engineering Consultancy’s most recent success was being nominated for the South African Council for Businesswomen’s (SACBW) Women of the Year Competition in the Entrepreneur: Small Business category.  But talking to this accomplished business women one notices that it is the basic things in life that enliven her.

She grew up in Malamulele in the Giyani area and matriculated at the Kahnyisa Education Centre. "My school days were the best days of my life. If I could go back, I would in an instance, it was a time I explored everything. I experienced myself in so many different ways from dreaming of becoming a artist, doctor and conservationist," she explains. "I wasn’t a genius in school, but I had the best teachers in the world. Ms Pauline Brown laid the foundation that one must do things right the first time, if not, take failure in a stride and get up with your head held high." After school Maswanganyi started her civil engineering studies in Port Elizabeth where after she spread her wings to the United Kingdom where she attended the renowned Cambridge University. After successfully completing her B.Eng degree she worked for the British First Co Engineering company on the Heathrow Airport terminal 5 extension. "We were responsible for the terminal itself as well as the railway infrastructure. It was a beautiful building," she recalls.

After getting married to husband Hanyani in England, the couple moved back to South Africa and started a family. Two kids Ndzalama (6) and Kulani (2) were born in the following years and the youngsters are still the greatest joy of her live. She joined African Consulting Engineering in 2005.

In 2007 she started her own multi discipline engineering consultancy, Kulani Engineering Consultancy where she focuses on infrastructure development and project managing services.

"With the type of infrastructural demands of the World Cup our skills were tested. It transformed the Polokwane landscape. I was happy to see so many women getting involved in the field and chasing various opportunities.

In the past three years Maswanganyi, a passionate biker in her spare time, reached many milestones and established herself as one of the diamonds in Limpopo. She also recently represented South Africa in Brussels, Belgium as one of the new leaders of tomorrow where she also got the chance to meet the famed reverend Jesse Jackson, the Belgian Prime Minister and several African ministers of mineral affairs.

She is the Deputy Chairperson of the Black Management Forum where she is involved in numerous community development projects. "We are now building a house and fully furnishing it for a family in the Musina area. I believe in the Christian fundamentals that when one gives, our hands are open and you will receive." She is also the provincial organiser behind the "Take a Girl Child to Work Day" initiative and currently working hand in hand with Trade and Investment Limpopo (TiL) in creating opportunities for young entrepreneurs.

Travelling is also a great part of the Maswanganyi family life, having visited many world cities. "My favourite travelling destination is Zanzibar – the flair of romance, family life and adventure is addictive. But my greatest joy remains my family. I have the best and most dedicated, supportive husband in the world. My girl is a diva, a true Beyoncé in the making and if my little boy opens his mouth, he makes me laugh."

In conclusion Maswanganyi says that for her the meaning of true accomplishment is to celebrate every milestone. "Success is more of a journey. One must see the beauty in every moment and celebrate it."