Lungelo Miya’s Journey as an Electrical Engineering Management Trainee

Lungelo Miya, an RCL FOODS Electrical Engineering Management Trainee at our Komati Sugar Mill, is  already making an impact! We caught up with Lungelo to get an idea of what his experience has been like so far.

The sugar industry operates 24-hours and there is an opportunity to learn something new every day. Lungelo believes that this has played a big part in helping him grow as a professional and develop his skill set.

His typical day involves optimising electrical machinery, fault-finding complex problems, and compiling safe operating procedures. If there were challenges faced overnight, he looks at finding the solution to make sure it is not repeated.  But ultimately, he believes that as an aspiring Electrical Engineer, each day is about finding new innovative ways to “see things differently” to mitigate any business risk.

The biggest challenge for him so far has been identifying his leadership style. Fortunately, his mentor has helped him identify his strengths and weaknesses by using the four pillars of situational leadership (authoritative, coaching, affiliative and pacesetting). This has allowed him to understand how he might react in different situations and how he could use these skills effectively throughout his career.

There is no such thing as a lack of motivation for where he’s going! His mentor is a seasoned professional with vast experience and wisdom about the industry, which Lungelo says helps keep him stay curious, driven and inspired.

One of the most important things he’s learned on his journey is that creating a collaborative environment where everyone feels heard, respected and valued is critical. Having a team that works together establishes a more welcoming, supportive company culture. As a Management Trainee, he believes he can encourage this by demonstrating passion and positivity for his work and continuing to embody the company culture.

He describes the culture at RCL FOODS as flexible and appreciates the encouragement to always see things differently in his day-to-day tasks, which is also one of the biggest reasons he recommends the RCL FOODS Management Trainee program for all graduates. He believes that the exposure you get from the get-go is a huge benefit and for him it’s an honour to be part of one of South Africa’s leading food producers.

He has enjoyed his time as a Management Trainee so far and is thankful for the opportunity. We look forward to watching him stay curious and make MORE impact along the way!