A career built on ambition, expertise and infrastructure
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17-08-2026
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“Don’t let perceptions of the industry define your ambitions. Construction offers opportunities to make a real difference by delivering infrastructure that improves lives and supports economic growth.”
This is the message of Mandlakazi Folose, Commercial Manager of M&D Construction Group, whose career spanning approximately two decades provides compelling evidence of the opportunities available to women in the construction industry.
Having worked on some of South Africa’s largest infrastructure projects, including supporting major projects such as Medupi and Kusile Power Stations, Folose has developed extensive commercial and contractual expertise. She has progressed to leading commercial teams across portfolios worth several billion rand, negotiated significant commercial settlements and, more recently, helped drive commercial strategy on renewable energy and water infrastructure projects.
For Folose, however, success in commercial leadership is not defined by technical expertise alone. She believes women can bring valuable qualities to the discipline, including collaboration, communication, stakeholder engagement, careful planning and relationship-building. Combined with sound technical and commercial knowledge, these strengths can help build trust, resolve disputes and deliver stronger project outcomes.
Where women can make their mark
Folose’s own experience has shown her that construction offers women more career opportunities than are often recognised. “Beyond engineering and site management, the industry needs professionals in quantity surveying, contract management, procurement, tendering, commercial strategy, claims management, risk management and executive leadership,” she says.
These roles allow professionals to influence major infrastructure projects while developing expertise in business, strategy, contracts and law.
For Folose, commercial management has provided precisely that opportunity: to play a strategic role in projects that are helping shape South Africa’s infrastructure and future.
“These projects contribute directly to the country’s infrastructure and future,” she says.
An unexpected route into construction
It was by chance that Quantity Surveying found Folose.
Born and raised in Sebokeng, she attended Suncrest High School in Vanderbijlpark before initially pursuing Life Sciences at university. A conversation with a friend studying Quantity Surveying unexpectedly introduced her to the Built Environment.
“That chance encounter ultimately set me on a career path that would take me from quantity surveying into commercial leadership and some of the country's most significant infrastructure projects,” Folose says.
She went on to complete a BSc Honours in Quantity Surveying at the University of the Witwatersrand, followed by a Master’s degree in Project Management from the University of Pretoria.
During her studies, she discovered that construction brought together many of the disciplines that appealed to her: technical knowledge, business, finance and people.
“I have always been drawn to problem solving and practical execution. Knowing that the projects I work on improve infrastructure and communities has always been a strong motivator,” she says.
At the heart of project delivery
That combination of disciplines led Folose into commercial management, placing her at the intersection of contracts, finance, procurement, risk and project delivery.
“No two days are the same,” she says. “One day I’m reviewing a contract for a tender, the next I’m preparing or resolving claims, managing risk, supporting project teams, drafting contractual correspondence or chasing payments.”
For Folose, the variety is one of the profession’s greatest attractions. Commercial management allows her to influence a project from tender stage through to final account while ensuring that commercial decisions support successful delivery.
“What I enjoy most is creating value by protecting the business contractually and commercially while helping projects succeed,” she says.
Experience that builds commercial leadership
Folose’s career on major infrastructure projects has reinforced the importance of disciplined commercial management. Her experience on projects such as Medupi and Kusile provided valuable insight into the scale and complexity of major infrastructure delivery, as well as the need for a thorough understanding of contracts, early identification of risks and strategic claims management.
As she progressed into leadership positions, Folose took responsibility for commercial teams across portfolios worth several billion rand. The experience demanded not only technical and commercial knowledge, but also the ability to lead people, manage competing interests and make sound decisions under pressure.
Negotiating significant commercial settlements has further reinforced her belief in the importance of preparation.
“Every negotiation should be supported by facts, a thorough understanding of the contract and a clear appreciation of risk,” she says.
However, commercial success, she believes, is not simply about securing the best outcome for one party.
“Successful negotiations are rarely about winning at someone else’s expense – they’re about finding sustainable solutions that protect both the project and the business.”
Breaking through the barriers
Folose was conscious of the gender imbalance in construction from the outset of her academic career. Women were significantly under-represented, particularly in leadership positions, and even most of her lecturers were men.
Her undergraduate dissertation therefore focused on the under-representation of women in the South African construction industry – research that would prove valuable preparation for the realities she would encounter in her own career.
“When I started my career as a Quantity Surveyor, I was determined not to let my gender define me or limit my progression,” she says.
There were times when she had to work harder to establish her credibility, but she learned that competence, consistency and professionalism ultimately speak louder than stereotypes.
She has also witnessed meaningful change during her career. More women are now leading projects, managing commercial functions and participating in executive decision-making.
Although progress is still needed, Folose believes the industry is becoming increasingly inclusive.
“Construction contracting companies increasingly recognise that diverse leadership teams make better decisions and deliver stronger results,” she says.
Growing with others
Folose encourages women aspiring to leadership not to become fixated on job titles, but instead to invest in their technical knowledge, continue learning, ask questions and seek mentors.
“You will never have all the answers, and your mistakes will often be your greatest teachers,” she notes.
That philosophy has guided her throughout her own career. She has benefited from experienced leaders, colleagues and clients who challenged her to think differently and continuously improve.
For Folose, this approach also resonates strongly with M&D Construction Group’s core value, “Khula Nathi – Grow with us.” She believes professional growth should extend beyond individual advancement to creating opportunities for others to develop their capabilities and take on greater responsibility.
“In most instances, the most valuable lesson has been how NOT to do things,” she says.
Building a legacy
After two decades contributing to major infrastructure projects, Folose’s ambitions extend beyond commercial performance.
As South Africa celebrates Women’s Month, she hopes her contribution will also be measured by the people she has developed, the standards she has helped establish and the example she sets for women following behind her.
“I hope my legacy will be one of developing people, strengthening commercial and contractual excellence and demonstrating that women belong at every level of leadership in construction.”
For Folose, that would be a meaningful measure of success: helping create an industry in which the next generation of women enters construction with greater confidence because they have already seen women succeed before them.
Her message to women considering a career in construction is clear: “build your capabilities, embrace every opportunity to learn and do not allow perceptions of the industry to determine how far you can go.”
For more information please contact:
David Poggiolini
Debbie Poggiolini
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