#WomensMonth: Obstacles have fuelled quantity surveyor Mosha Senyolo's fire

Mosha Senyolo

She is the founder of Piloane Consulting Services and the recently elected junior vice-president of the Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (Asaqs).

Hailing from Alexandra Township, she is the second of 10 children. And it seems quantity surveying runs in the Senyolo family. “I was inspired by my father - the first Black African quantity surveying graduate from the University of the Witwatersrand in 1981.”

But despite this, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for Senyolo. “My parents were of the opinion that construction in general wasn’t a good career choice for me. I would be a female in a traditionally ‘rough’, male dominated sector.”

Support

Fortunately, her parents also understood Senyolo’s strong personality and desire to add value, which resulted in them finally giving her their blessing. “It added tremendously to my career growth and development.”

But even with this support, Senyolo wasn’t out of the woods yet. “One of the misconceptions in the early stages of my career was that I was a product of nepotism. Having to show up as a female of my petite stature and demeanour compounded these challenges.”

But Senyolo refused to let the opinions of others deter her, seeking mentorship instead. She also focused on her reasons for choosing quantity surveying as profession.

Outside of the office and working hours, she describes herself as a family- and community-oriented individual with a tight-knit circle of friends.

“My hobbies include travelling - culture shocks expand our worldview tremendously – and adrenalin-based activities. I’ll basically do anything that involves heights and free falling. I also like to visit galleries and museums, nature reserves and dabble in new languages.”

Her job is her passion

However, Senyolo’s job is also a passion and big part of who she is. “I love the fact that quantity surveying is a multi-faceted profession that allows me to learn something new every day. It requires a lot of teamwork and having to deal with a diverse group of people – key in the development of leadership skills.”

Her biggest career highlight was when she entered an operational mall constructed in her township. “I was involved during the early stages of the development. Seeing the convenience and accessibility afforded to the locals, positive impact on the informal traders and the improved surrounding infrastructure continues to make this career path worthwhile.”