"Kolosa has a gift for inclusive decision-making. It allows her to drive diversity of thinking and experience resulting in well-conceptualised ideas and better decisions with buy-in from her team members. This skill, combined with her strategic disposition, makes her the ideal candidate to take Pragma to new heights," says Adriaan Scheeres, Pragma's CEO.

As MD, Madikizela will be responsible for the execution of the organisation's strategic plan with a team of 200 employees and to ensure that Pragma's culture of diversity and inclusiveness remains intact.

"I'm excited about my new role and am proud to be part of the Pragma family. As MD, I'll have the opportunity to bring world-class asset management solutions to more clients in Africa, one of the continents which stands to win the most from investment in strategic enterprise asset management solutions," says Madikizela.

"I hope to use my new position as a source of inspiration for young people of colour in our country. As a team at Pragma, we actively drive the transformation of the existing engineering fraternity. I strive to maintain and build our current initiatives in support of this goal."

Madikizela has extensive experience in facilities management and maintenance strategies. While she started her career at Total Facilities Management, she has also shown her mettle as a general manager for the Aveng Group at Aveng Water, as CEO at Nexus Facilities Management, and at Shell SA as facilities Management Contracts (FMC) manager.

Madikizela holds a master of technology degree in construction management from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. As an activist for women's rights, her research topic for her degree was centred on the career progression of females in historically male-dominant industries such as property and construction. The research paper, Influences on Women's Choices of Careers in Construction: A South African Study, was published in the Australasian Journal of Construction Economics and Building in 2010. The Australasian Journal of Construction Economics & Building is recognised internationally as a leading source in the business of building.

She balances work and her private life by going to the gym, hiking, teaching, and reading. Her hobbies include cooking, space planning, interior decorating, and writing. "I love uplifting others around me and knowing that someone has had a very positive encounter with me, in whatever form. I like to live some goodness wherever I go," she says. 

For more information, visit www.pragmaworld.net. Alternatively, connect with them on Facebook, Twitter or on LinkedIn.