This August, South Africa celebrates Women’s Month under the theme, “Empowered Women Empower The Nation”. It is not only a reminder of what collective voice can achieve when it refuses to be ignored, but also an opportunity to consider what empowerment means today.
In 1956, more than 20,000 brave women marched to the Union Buildings to protest the extension of Pass Laws and the Urban Areas Act. Their actions became a lasting symbol of collective courage and a refusal to accept structural limitations. It was a defining moment in our nation’s history and the fight for equality and justice.
True empowerment is not only about increasing representation or building individual success. It is about opening doors, sharing knowledge and creating the space for others to grow. Progress is measured not only by the milestones we achieve ourselves, but by the opportunities we create for those who follow. Empowerment happens when perspectives are heard, considered and allowed to shape the outcome.
For decades, quantity surveying has been a predominantly male profession. Today, its future looks markedly different. A 2023 University of Pretoria study, conducted with the South African Association of Quantity Surveyors, found that women accounted for 26.6% of all quantity surveyors in South Africa – rising to 36.6% among those under 43, compared to just 14% over 42. At the University of Pretoria itself, women made up 35.9% of first-year quantity surveying students between 2010 and 2015, growing to 42.3% by 2016–2021.
The trend is hard to miss: more women than ever are entering the profession among the younger generations. That doesn’t mean the industry has nothing left to improve on. The same research points to family responsibility and employers’ assumptions about women’s commitment after marriage as reasons careers stall or end early.
At RLB in South Africa, our team is made up of just over 40% women, well ahead of the broader industry. We’re proud of that number, but representation is a starting point, not a destination. Through our diversity and inclusion policies, we continue to foster an environment that supports more of our female colleagues in progressing into leadership positions, while working to close the gender pay gap.
One of RLB’s values is ‘Together’, and true empowerment is never a solo journey. It thrives in an environment where people advocate for one another and create opportunities for those who follow. When men intentionally advocate for their female colleagues, systemic barriers start to break down. And when one woman breaks through, she can leave the door open for the next generation. That’s where personal success becomes broader impact.
To explore what it means to lead with confidence in our built environment, we sat down with Directors Lichelle Neethling and Vuyolwethu Badi, and Partner Dipika Gopal. As quantity surveyors, they bring expertise in measuring value, managing risk and navigating what sits behind successful projects. These conversations speak to what it takes to lead, to influence and to make space for others.
When we create space for more perspectives in the built environment, the impact extends beyond individual careers. Different experiences can challenge assumptions, broaden the way problems are approached, and ultimately lead to better decisions, stronger businesses and a more capable industry.
Read the conversations
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