Mandy de Oliveira’s recognition as a Top Six Finalist in South Africa’s PA of the Year Award 2026 celebrates more than professional achievement. Her story is also a reminder of the quieter forms of leadership, connection and contribution that help businesses and industries succeed.
For approximately 14 years, Mandy de Oliveira has been part of Stewarts & Lloyds Holdings, where she serves as PA to Group Directors Derek Franks and Graham Thomas.
Her role, however, reaches well beyond the traditional definition of a PA. Mandy is involved in marketing, exhibitions, events and communication, while also playing an important part in the everyday coordination that keeps people, projects and priorities moving.
That contribution recently received national recognition when she was named one of the Top Six Finalists in South Africa’s PA of the Year Award 2026.
Organised by the Professional Association for PAs and Admin Assistants, PAFSA, the PA of the Year Award has been recognising excellence in the profession since 2006. Candidates are nominated by others and progress through a formal selection and judging process, with six finalists ultimately selected to proceed to the final stage.
Being named among those six was therefore an achievement in its own right and, for Mandy, particularly meaningful because of the nature of the work being recognised.
“Reaching the Top Six meant a great deal to me. So much of a PA’s work happens quietly behind the scenes, solving problems, keeping people connected and making sure things happen. It was special to have that work recognised on a national level.
“I may not have won the title, but I certainly won the experience, and it reminded me that work does not need to be highly visible to make a meaningful difference.”
It is an idea that runs strongly through Mandy’s own career.
Over her years at Stewarts & Lloyds, her role has grown alongside the relationships she has built and the trust placed in her.
“I often joke that I manage my executives, but my real role is to anticipate what is needed, connect the right people and make life easier for those around me.”
For Mandy, those connections are not simply part of her job. They are fundamental to how successful businesses work.
“When people trust you, they communicate more openly, ask for help sooner and work together more effectively.
“That trust is built through the smaller things, answering the call, keeping your word, following through and treating everyone with the same respect, whether they are a director, colleague, customer or supplier.”
This understanding of relationships and influence also shaped the message Mandy shared when she spoke at SAISC’s Women in Steel event earlier this year.
Her message focused on leadership behind the scenes and the idea that influence does not always belong to the person with the most senior title or the most visible position.
“We often picture a leader as the person standing at the front of the room, but leadership also happens quietly, through connecting people, solving problems, supporting a team and helping others succeed.
“You don’t need a title to lead or make an impact.”
It is something Mandy believes women can sometimes overlook in themselves.
The everyday acts of bringing people together, identifying a problem before it grows, making someone feel heard or helping a team succeed can easily be dismissed as simply helping or doing the job. Yet these actions can have a significant influence on the people and organisations around them.
“We need to recognise and value that influence in ourselves.”
It is also a message that has relevance across the wider steel industry.
Technical expertise, engineering achievement, major projects and business success deserve recognition, but none happens in isolation. Behind every project, decision, delivery and customer relationship are people performing different roles that collectively make success possible.
Mandy believes there is an opportunity for the industry to recognise those contributions more widely.
“We rightly celebrate technical expertise, major projects and business achievements, but there are many people behind every decision, delivery, customer relationship and successful outcome.
“Their contribution may be less visible, but it is no less important. Recognition should extend across the entire business and value every role that helps keep steel moving.”
For Mandy, this is also closely connected to what excellence means.
It is not necessarily found in one extraordinary moment or achievement. More often, it is built through consistency.
“For me, excellence is found mainly in consistency. It means doing what you said you would do, paying attention to the details and caring about the person on the other end.
“The big moments are wonderful, but they are usually made possible by hundreds of smaller things being done well when nobody is watching.”
After more than a decade in the industry, Mandy would also like to see more opportunities for people in different roles, organisations and stages of their careers to connect and learn from one another.
She believes platforms such as Women in Steel play an important role in creating those conversations, while mentoring and knowledge sharing within organisations can help ensure experience is passed on and younger people feel supported as they build their careers.
Her advice to younger women entering the industry reflects the same philosophy.
“Don’t wait for someone else to call you a leader. Be curious, learn from the people around you and put your hand up for opportunities, even when you feel a little nervous.
“You do not need to know everything on day one. Your perspective has value, and your confidence will grow every time you choose to use your voice.”
For all the significance of being recognised nationally, Mandy says the achievement she values most cannot be captured by an award or a job title.
It is the trust she has built and the impact she has had on the people around her.
“I’m most proud of the trust and relationships I’ve built over the years. Awards and recognition are wonderful, but what matters most to me is knowing that I have helped someone through a difficult day, given a colleague confidence or brought the right people together to make something happen.
“That is the impact I hope people will remember.”
It is perhaps a fitting reflection of the broader idea behind SAISC’s focus on excellence in our people. An industry is not built only through its most visible achievements. It is also built every day by the people who connect, support, solve, lead and quietly make things happen.
In Mandy’s words
“Excellence in our people means showing up with care, taking pride in what we do and helping the people around us succeed, even when nobody is watching.”
Commercial and Retail Category Sponsor
Stewarts & Lloyds
Stewarts & Lloyds has long been recognised as a trusted supplier supporting commercial, industrial and infrastructure development throughout Southern Africa.
Their sponsorship of the Commercial and Retail Category reflects the importance of integrated solutions, technical expertise and collaboration in delivering modern built environments that serve communities and businesses alike.