In Conversation With Shenaid de Wet (Shipping Manager, at Buhler)
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As South Africa celebrates Women’s Month this August 2025 under the theme Generation Equality, we shine the spotlight on Shenaid de Wet — a woman whose determination and resilience have taken her from cleaning storerooms to managing complex shipping operations in a male-dominated industry.
With nearly three decades in the shipping and logistics sector, Shenaid is known for her precision, adaptability, and ability to thrive under pressure. In her current role as Shipping Manager, she coordinates shipments, manages logistics partners, and ensures that equipment arrives in the right place, at the right time, and at the right cost.
Her career began far from the manager’s desk. “I started cleaning storerooms, but through hard work and a strong willingness to learn, I earned a permanent role on the shipping desk at Grindrod Shipping,” she recalls. That experience shaped her belief that practical knowledge and the ability to apply it effectively often outweigh formal qualifications.
Shenaid has worked for over 15 years at Bühler Johannesburg, where she finds inspiration in seeing women excel in roles once dominated by men. “We have women working as boilermakers and installation specialists — it shows that skill, not gender, defines capability.”
For Shenaid, Women’s Day is more than a commemoration — it’s a call to action. “In our industry, it’s important to recognise the achievements of women, highlight gender inequality, and inspire continuous progress toward a more inclusive workplace.”
Her message to young women is simple yet powerful: “Success is not defined by gender, but by determination and capability. Believe in your abilities and embrace every opportunity with confidence.”
Looking ahead, Shenaid plans to keep learning, mentoring her team, and contributing to her company’s success. Her journey is a reminder that with perseverance, self-belief, and a readiness to embrace challenges, women can break barriers and shape the future of any industry.
With nearly three decades in the shipping and logistics sector, Shenaid is known for her precision, adaptability, and ability to thrive under pressure. In her current role as Shipping Manager, she coordinates shipments, manages logistics partners, and ensures that equipment arrives in the right place, at the right time, and at the right cost.
Her career began far from the manager’s desk. “I started cleaning storerooms, but through hard work and a strong willingness to learn, I earned a permanent role on the shipping desk at Grindrod Shipping,” she recalls. That experience shaped her belief that practical knowledge and the ability to apply it effectively often outweigh formal qualifications.
Shenaid has worked for over 15 years at Bühler Johannesburg, where she finds inspiration in seeing women excel in roles once dominated by men. “We have women working as boilermakers and installation specialists — it shows that skill, not gender, defines capability.”
For Shenaid, Women’s Day is more than a commemoration — it’s a call to action. “In our industry, it’s important to recognise the achievements of women, highlight gender inequality, and inspire continuous progress toward a more inclusive workplace.”
Her message to young women is simple yet powerful: “Success is not defined by gender, but by determination and capability. Believe in your abilities and embrace every opportunity with confidence.”
Looking ahead, Shenaid plans to keep learning, mentoring her team, and contributing to her company’s success. Her journey is a reminder that with perseverance, self-belief, and a readiness to embrace challenges, women can break barriers and shape the future of any industry.
