When Nkosi Sandy first heard about opportunities in oil and gas from a friend, she saw it as a chance to try something new. What she found was a career that would challenge every assumption about what women could achieve in one of the world’s most demanding industries.
“I always wanted to be a mechanic, but that didn’t play out,” recalls the 33-year-old mother of two from Diamond, East Bank Demerara. “When I heard about the oil and gas industry, I said, ‘Let me go and take a try and see how this is going to play out for me.’”
That decision, made several years ago, has transformed not only Nkosi’s life but has placed her in a critical role at the Guyana Shore Base Inc.
Starting from the Bottom
Nkosi’s journey began at TotalTEC Guyana, where she completed training before joining GYSBI as a banksman – the skilled professional who directs crane operations and ensures safe lifting procedures. It was physically demanding work in an overwhelmingly male environment, but Sandy came prepared with a clear strategy. “When I first started, it was like, ‘Oh, you’re a female, we’re not going to allow you to do this. This is too much physical work. It’s going to be more for the guys,” she recalls. “So, I told them, ‘I am going to forget that I was a female when I reach the gate. When I come in, I need you guys to treat me just as every other guy.’”
The approach worked. Sandy earned the respect of her colleagues as she proved her competence while knowing her limits.
“I know my limit, and once I reach my limit, I’m going to say ‘guys, I cannot do this’ or ‘I would need help’. But most of the time, I try to do it on my own.”
Climbing the Ladder
After two years as a banksman, Sandy was promoted to foreman – a role that brought new challenges. Leading a team as a woman in the industry required navigation of different dynamics.
“Some of the guys were like, ‘A female shouldn’t be our boss,’ but there were some of them that were very, very supportive,” she explains.
From foreman, Sandy moved into logistics, and most recently, in February, she was promoted to Shore Base Supervisor. In her current role, she oversees a team of 90-100 personnel across three crews comprising largely men. She manages multiple simultaneous operations involving four vessels, coordinates pipe yard activities, handles numerous permits, and interfaces directly with clients.
The Pivotal Moment
The turning point in Nkosi’s career came when a base manager approached her about a logistics position. “His words were, ‘Sandy, there is a position opening in logistics, and I only have you in mind for that position. I don’t think anyone else is capable of handling that,’” she recalls. “That was it for me, because a lot of people used to be saying, ‘Sandy, you could do this,’ and I always used to keep doubting myself.”
That moment of recognition helped Nkosi realize something counterintuitive about career progression: “The more you move up, the easier it gets, even with more responsibility. The reason why I say that is because I already had built a foundation with most of these guys, and I get support from everyone.”
Leadership Through Understanding
Nkosi’s management philosophy centers on recognizing individual differences and adapting her approach accordingly. “You have to remember that everybody is an individual, and the way that I may approach you and interact with you, I cannot approach someone else and interact with that person the same way,” she explains.
This personalized leadership style has earned her an endearing nickname among her team. “Most of the guys at GYSBI would call me ‘mommy’ because when they started, I would always try to encourage them. It makes me proud to know that these are individuals who came up under me, and when I look at them today, they’re either a forklift operator, truck driver, foreman, or crane operator. They’ll say, ‘Hey, Mom, look what I’m going to do. Look at your son.’ That feeling is priceless.”
Managing Multiple Priorities
In her current role, Nkosi’s typical day involves managing complex, simultaneous operations. Sometimes there are four vessels at the berth requiring arrangements and attention simultaneously. Alongside this is signifcant yard activity. Coordination and communication are key as permits have to be organized and third-party personnel dealt with.
Prioritization becomes critical when operations could conflict. “If we have pipes coming from the yard and pipes coming from the vessel, sometimes we may decide that we’re going to offload Cargo Carrying Units from one vessel and pipes from another. Instead of letting both operations clash together, one can finish before the other.”
The role requires both multitasking and attention to detail. “You may have simultaneous operations going on, and then you would have to plan how you’re going to go about doing it. Which one is going to be a priority over the other?”
Balancing Work and Family
Sandy’s professional demands are balanced against her responsibilities as a mother to two daughters, ages 10 and 2. Working two weeks on and one week off, she credits her sister for providing crucial support and her daughters for their understanding.
“My daughters have a clear understanding that when I’m working, if I say I have to go to work, they’re going to be okay – ‘Mommy, bye-bye.’ But if I’m going out, that’s a different thing – ‘Mommy, where are you going?’”
During her week off, Sandy makes her daughters her priority. “I’m all theirs. I spend as much time – play games, take them out, sit and watch a movie, tell stories, try to make up for that time, and they do appreciate it.”
Sandy’s career success has translated into tangible achievements.
But her ambitions extend further. “Maybe in the next few years, I see myself as the base manager – first female base manager.”
For women entering the oil and gas industry, Sandy’s advice is straightforward: “Come with a positive mindset. Don’t let anybody tell you that you cannot do this, you cannot do that. You know your limits and always ask questions.”
She emphasizes the value of constructive criticism and pushing beyond comfort zones. “Have a positive mindset. If someone tells you, ‘I observe that you’re doing this,’ take the criticism – don’t always take it negatively because sometimes we may not see ourselves doing something wrong, but someone from the outside can actually see it.”
Pathways to Entry
Sandy’s route into the industry demonstrates multiple entry points. While she initially trained at TOTALTEC before applying to GYSBI, the company now typically provides training to new hires. “GYSBI normally provides the banksman training. Once you’re hired, they will send you over to TOTALTEC, and they are going to do the training for you.”
TOTALTEC offers various certifications, including forklift training, crane training, stacker training, and truck training.
Nkosi said GYSBI often promotes its employees to new positions rather than looking outside the company. She remarked that internal development is a key pathway for advancement.
Looking Forward
Nkosi’s journey from banksman to Shore Base Supervisor represents more than individual success – it demonstrates the power of determination combined with opportunity. Her story challenges assumptions while providing a practical roadmap for others seeking to build careers in oil and gas.
“I want to show my kids…that a woman can do just what a man can do and sometimes she could even do it better,” Sandy reflects. In reaching that goal, she’s opened doors for countless others to follow the same path from the ground up.
