ADA Fellowship Programme Motivation
Submitted by Pralene Mahabir
Why do I want to become an ADA Fellow?
I am completely committed my personal growth and being a lifelong learner. Learning is an intrinsic part of my daily life and career. In my vocation, I translate my learning to my teams and colleagues, to motivate others to learn, to ensure empowerment and innovation of ideas. This process helps me greatly to foster a learning environment, so as to ensure that the work we all do is with purpose and drives sustainability in my workplace.
Here I believe the ADA fellowship will enhance and elevate my current knowledge, attitude skills and competencies for life and work, both.
I enjoy working cross culturally and across the world. Over the years, I have amassed a network of people from a plethora of fields, some are now, even dear friends, confidants, mentors, coaches and colleagues. I’ve spent twenty three years thus far, in this automotive industry, climbing my way up through the organisation.
Aside from the network, I have gained significant institutional knowledge as well as business sense, that has framed my experience, in various aspects of learning, performance management and organisational development. Once of my greatest pleasures, was to work abroad for two years, whilst based in Germany, the largest part of the project was in Asia. Since returning to South Africa in late 2019, I have still maintained a network there, and still empower, coach and support the OD team in Beijing on a regular basis.
To this end, I maintain that the fellowship, will provide me with access to collaborate cross functionally and cross company, within the sphere of digitalisation and sustainability that’s serves organisations and my passions alike.
Lastly, over the last couple of years’ time, my interest in the digital space has grown, my curiosity has been sparked by the relationship between humans and machines, and yes, the current fashion to learn about all things ‘green’, is slowly sowing a seed in my heart too.
I’m a creative and a member of the corporate jungle, and I try to maintain a balance between my different lives, as far as possible.
I’m keen to explore new areas of knowledge, in the area of AI, Ethics in Tech, and other emerging technologies that will guide countries, companies and communities across the globe.
I look forward to joining the ADA fellowship!
How will I contribute to transformation?
Right now, I am in my Orgnisational Development capacity, in close collaboration with the CEO of Mercedes Benz South Africa, and his leadership team, crafting both the Board Strategy for Mercedes Benz South Africa and Manufacturing strategy for the East London Plant respectively.
I am currently crafting various change and digital transformation and sustainability initiatives by leveraging off partnerships, networks, both internal and external, by learning and observing, bring cutting edge innovations that drive sustainability of Mercedes Benz South Africa as a whole as well as the East London Plant.
Why is this important?
In South Africa, there are two major sources that drive the economy, besides tourism viz. manufacturing and mining. The Automotive sector, along with its supplier and support bases, provide tangible employment and career opportunities for many, in SA, and n East London, in particular. There are some factors that impact our ability to provide products and services, mainly the consistent supply of water and electricity. These resources are scarce and part of the transformation process will be to find alternative resources of water and electricity that sustain the company.
In a nutshell, if the transformation process here is unsuccessful, if MBSA closes, the economic door of opportunity closes for East London, the economic portal of the automotive industry in South Africa will begin to dwindle.
Therefore, my role, along with my colleagues, in driving this change process, the South African story alongside the Mercedes Benz story will continue to co-exist, to thrive, for generations to come.
Pralene Mahabir • +27 68 212 7720
Email : pralene.mahabir@mercedes-benz.com
“The biggest part of our digital transformation
is changing the way we think”
– Simeon Preston