Having followed in the footsteps carved out by her grandfather − of diligently and consistently working towards your education − Michelle Austin is a testament to the fact that with a solid educational foundation, one’s future is almost certain to be brighter. Empowerment through the power of knowledge is the primary source of encouragement etched into the DNA of her family and is undoubtedly embraced by Michelle. Michelle won the Forty under 40 Africa Award in the manufacturing category in March 2023.
Michelle’s outstanding and inspiring work in the manufacturing industry has not gone unnoticed, pushing her toward reaching her personal goals and, ultimately, her achievements within a male-dominated industry. Therefore it comes as no surprise that she found herself being recognised by the Forty under 40 Africa Awards, which celebrates young business leaders who are citizens of any of the 55 African nations, who live either on the continent or in the diaspora, and who continuously push the boundaries and are seen as champions of success, committing themselves to be seen as prime examples of excellence, innovation, and community development. These individuals, such as Michelle, pride themselves in contributing to their country’s job creation efforts as well as tirelessly working towards their country’s economic growth, resulting in a positive impact within their communities and sectors.
The qualification criteria for the awards are categorised into four key areas:
- Firstly, professional and entrepreneurial achievements are evaluated, including notable business accomplishments, past distinctions and awards, professional designations or memberships, licences, and educational qualifications.
- Secondly, innovation, vision, and leadership are considered, assessing professional innovation, industry, and team leadership, and industry disruption.
- Thirdly, power and influence are evaluated, considering board appointments, professional growth, and roles in key decision-making.
- Lastly, business and community involvement are considered, including board memberships in industry associations, participation in professional mentorship programmes, and engagement in non-profit boards or activities.
Michelle’s remarkable achievement shines through as she emerges as the winner of an exceptionally prestigious and internationally acclaimed award. This remarkable accolade places her in an elite group of individuals who have triumphed in the face of intense competition from participants from diverse corners of Africa, each occupying prominent positions in their respective fields. The level of competition in this coveted award showcases the exceptional talent and expertise exhibited by participants, making Michelle’s victory all the more remarkable and deserving of admiration.
Every parent aspires to ensure their children get the best education opportunities. Parents understand that by investing in their children’s education, they can assist their young ones in working towards a brighter future. It is a way in which parents can at least guarantee a more stable future for their young ones; amongst other things, education assists in developing critical thinking, the skills needed in building relationships, and being presented with more secure and well-paying jobs. This concept was valued by Michelle’s grandfather, Reginald Stevenson, whose personal achievements stemmed from continually seeking success through empowerment that can only be offered by education. He passed down this attitude to his descendants such as Michelle, who went on to achieve success that impacted not only her personal life but also the lives of those who make up the manufacturing industry of South Africa.
Michelle’s grandfather, a British engineer, found himself seeking opportunities in South Africa and later went on to develop Leonard Light Industries (Pty) Ltd, now known as the Keegor Group Of Companies. The company expanded into the Keegor Group of Companies after undergoing restructuring, which Michelle spearheaded.
Although she eventually went on to work for the company founded by her grandfather, Michelle’s plans were initially a little different. It took a few lessons along her journey to eventually put her on the path of discovering her true potential and purpose. Her journey of self-discovery to success started when she completed a BCom degree in Accounting and a Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting at the University of Cape Town. However, in her second year of studying accounting, she was reminded that she was indeed human and on her own path when she had to repeat her second-year course.
Although it might’ve been perceived as a setback, when she looks back, she realises it gave her time to realign and explore her other interests. During this time she looked into different modules such as computer science, which she later realised was not for her. She also took some time during the holidays to intern at a small auditing firm, which helped her realise that her aspirations to work within the finance sector were something she was interested in, and she was further encouraged to study it full time.
Soon after completing her degrees, she joined the Big 4 accounting and auditing firm Ernst & Young (EY) in Johannesburg. During this period, she completed her three years of articles and later qualified as a chartered accountant. After obtaining her qualification, which also marked the end of her training contract with EY, she embarked on a journey that she’d describe as one of her career highlights – as she completed a three-month secondment in the audit department in Southampton, UK. It was an opportunity for her to learn and explore different cultural experiences in a new environment, which offered her a new world of opportunity.
Upon her return to South Africa, she joined the Fraud Investigation and Dispute Services (FIDS) department at EY. However, after spending only a few months in the department, her father approached her to join the family business − Leonard Light Industries − as the financial manager. Although she was happy at EY, her father managed to convince her to attend a board meeting which enlightened her not only about the company’s immense potential but opened up her eyes to the potential of her personal and professional development as well as the possible value she could add to the business.
Accepting the position as financial manager allowed her to embark on a different journey that saw her transform the company’s business. Michelle recognised that the basic management of accounts and the weak control of the environment exposed the company to many risks. Some of the improvements presented by Michelle involved implementing a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) system and improving warehouse processes and inventory control. Her attention to detail helped her identify the main opportunities for improvement for the company.
This journey of twists, turns, and disappointments presented unexpected opportunities, and the joys of Michelle achieving some of her goals eventually led her to promotion to the role of group financial director. During this time, Leonard Light Industries became the Keegor Group of Companies, which further expanded into five companies: Keegor Group; Keegor SA, which has a local focus on mining equipment for the precious metals, assaying, refining, and smelting industries in the Southern African market; and Leonard Light Industries which offers similar services but with more of an international scope. The other two are Meltech and Electric Vehicles SA. The former services the metal melting and precious metal industry. It is the sub-Saharan distributor of the Morgan MMS range of crucibles and foundry products.
One of the key initiatives that Michelle and the leadership team have driven is the empowerment of the Keegor Group employees. As a result, employees were granted significant ownership of the operating company, allowing them to become shareholders and receive dividends. This initiative shows the leadership team’s commitment to its staff and helps create a culture of shared success. In addition, she was instrumental in acquiring the Morgan MMS distributorship for sub-Saharan Africa in 2015 and, in 2016, the acquisition of LH Power Electronics.
Michelle’s involvement and leadership in these and various other initiatives at the Keegor Group have led to remarkable improvements in turnover, profitability, employee engagement, occupational health and safety, on-time deliveries, and a strong sense of family within the group. Her dedication and commitment have contributed significantly to the company’s success and pursuit of excellence.
Through the strong foundation laid by her grandfather based on education and the continuous motivation to pursue growth as encouraged by her father, Michelle’s achievements and her unique eye for spotting areas of growth and development are what eventually pushed her further − allowing her the well-deserved opportunity of winning the Forty under 40 Africa Award in the manufacturing category. Beyond winning her prestigious award, Michelle will form part of the jury for the South African version of the Forty under 40 Awards. She has also recently been appointed communications director for the prestigious Forty under 40 Africa alumni, recognising young achievers who have made significant contributions to their respective fields.
Author
Lungile Gunundu, PR Account Director
