Unathi overseas the distribution centre operations at Massmart nationally. That entails dealing with just under 2000 associates for stock coming into the centre, inventory management and delivery to all their 287 stores across the country.
Her research topic for her DBA is the identification of lean wastes in the Omni Channel Supply Chain operation and her supervisor Dr Fraser, who was also her MBA supervisor. Unathi, who was born in Gqeberha and grew up in East London, obtained her Diploma in Logistics and BTech from Mandela University. “I absolutely love it like home”, she says.
She believes she has won the award for her contribution and commitment to the furthering of others in the Supply Chain industry over the last few years. These include being the Supply Chain lead for the Massmart IE Graduate programme for the past two years and guest lecturing at Vaal University of Technology students in Supply Chain retail.
Unathi was also part of the core team that successfully rolled out the re-start plan for SAA during COVID-19 and worked with J&J to bring in the first vaccines from Brussels with the national carrier.
She also wrote and taught the Freight module for African Women in Supply Chain for businesswomen who wanted to migrate into the logistics space and has driven a conversion of more than 70% of her team to further their studies in business currently while leading the National Transport Team.
“Nothing will ever be easy, but after almost 20 years working in the world, through all the ups and downs; so far, I can say with surety; it will be okay. We all just need to take it one day at a time and take each other along, Unathi says.
“I have had the privilege to learn and grow at a rapid pace in the organisation”, she says. She led national planning when she started with supplier deliveries into the distribution centres, labour planning as well as deliveries, to all of their 287 stores around the country. She then migrated to head up the First and Midmile transport teams for Group Supply Chain as an executive and now three years later, Unathi is the interim Distribution Centre Executive.
“I am always engaged; my opinion matters and there is not a day that I don’t feel fulfilled to serve the teams that I lead. The culture is absolutely amazing!”, she adds.
Unathi’s first love is to teach and that is why she started her doctorate. “Education and sharing of knowledge in any form should be accessible and I would love to be a “pracademic (practical academic)”- I stole that phrase from a very wise lady. My mind is also geared to process and simplification, so I don’t think I will ever leave Supply Chain as an industry but writing and teaching is definitely what I would like to pursue and grow old doing.”
Her advice for women is to not doubt themselves because the workplace can be harsh, especially in operational industries. “You are in your position because you have earned the right to be there. Don’t try to lead as a man, but as yourself and be the leader you admire or wish you had had. When the door has opened for you, break it down so that others can follow (jealousy and selfishness are poison). Lastly, never ever look like your problems; dress for how you want to be perceived as, no matter how you feel!”, Unathi says.