Nkosi\u2019s journey began at TotalTEC Guyana, where she completed training before joining GYSBI as a banksman \u2013 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. \u201cWhen I first started, it was like, \u2018Oh, you\u2019re a female, we\u2019re not going to allow you to do this. This is too much physical work. It\u2019s going to be more for the guys,\u201d she recalls. \u201cSo, I told them, \u2018I 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.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The approach worked. Sandy earned the respect of her colleagues as she proved her competence while knowing her limits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI know my limit, and once I reach my limit, I\u2019m going to say \u2018guys, I cannot do this\u2019 or \u2018I would need help\u2019. But most of the time, I try to do it on my own.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/energyguyana.gy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Nkosi-2-1.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nClimbing the Ladder<\/strong> \u201cSome of the guys were like, \u2018A female shouldn\u2019t be our boss,\u2019 but there were some of them that were very, very supportive,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Pivotal Moment That moment of recognition helped Nkosi realize something counterintuitive about career progression: \u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Leadership Through Understanding<\/strong> This personalized leadership style has earned her an endearing nickname among her team. \u201cMost of the guys at GYSBI would call me \u2018mommy\u2019 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\u2019re either a forklift operator, truck driver, foreman, or crane operator. They\u2019ll say, \u2018Hey, Mom, look what I\u2019m going to do. Look at your son.\u2019 That feeling is priceless.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Managing Multiple Priorities<\/strong> Prioritization becomes critical when operations could conflict. \u201cIf we have pipes coming from the yard and pipes coming from the vessel, sometimes we may decide that we\u2019re 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The role requires both multitasking and attention to detail. \u201cYou may have simultaneous operations going on, and then you would have to plan how you\u2019re going to go about doing it. Which one is going to be a priority over the other?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n Balancing Work and Family<\/strong> \u201cMy daughters have a clear understanding that when I\u2019m working, if I say I have to go to work, they\u2019re going to be okay \u2013 \u2018Mommy, bye-bye.\u2019 But if I\u2019m going out, that\u2019s a different thing \u2013 \u2018Mommy, where are you going?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n During her week off, Sandy makes her daughters her priority. \u201cI\u2019m all theirs. I spend as much time \u2013 play games, take them out, sit and watch a movie, tell stories, try to make up for that time, and they do appreciate it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sandy\u2019s career success has translated into tangible achievements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But her ambitions extend further. \u201cMaybe in the next few years, I see myself as the base manager \u2013 first female base manager.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n For women entering the oil and gas industry, Sandy\u2019s advice is straightforward: \u201cCome with a positive mindset. Don\u2019t let anybody tell you that you cannot do this, you cannot do that. You know your limits and always ask questions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She emphasizes the value of constructive criticism and pushing beyond comfort zones. \u201cHave a positive mindset. If someone tells you, \u2018I observe that you\u2019re doing this,\u2019 take the criticism \u2013 don\u2019t always take it negatively because sometimes we may not see ourselves doing something wrong, but someone from the outside can actually see it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pathways to Entry<\/strong> TOTALTEC offers various certifications, including forklift training, crane training, stacker training, and truck training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Looking Forward<\/strong> \u201cI want to show my kids…that a woman can do just what a man can do and sometimes she could even do it better,\u201d Sandy reflects. In reaching that goal, she\u2019s opened doors for countless others to follow the same path from the ground up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019s most demanding industries. \u201cI always wanted to be a mechanic, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1399,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":32,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[24],"class_list":{"0":"post-1398","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-women","8":"tag-main-feature"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/energyguyana.gy\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1398","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/energyguyana.gy\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/energyguyana.gy\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/energyguyana.gy\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/energyguyana.gy\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1398"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/energyguyana.gy\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1398\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1507,"href":"https:\/\/energyguyana.gy\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1398\/revisions\/1507"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/energyguyana.gy\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1399"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/energyguyana.gy\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1398"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/energyguyana.gy\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1398"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/energyguyana.gy\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
After two years as a banksman, Sandy was promoted to foreman \u2013 a role that brought new challenges. Leading a team as a woman in the industry required navigation of different dynamics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>The turning point in Nkosi\u2019s career came when a base manager approached her about a logistics position. \u201cHis words were, \u2018Sandy, there is a position opening in logistics, and I only have you in mind for that position. I don\u2019t think anyone else is capable of handling that,\u2019\u201d she recalls. \u201cThat was it for me, because a lot of people used to be saying, \u2018Sandy, you could do this,\u2019 and I always used to keep doubting myself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nkosi\u2019s management philosophy centers on recognizing individual differences and adapting her approach accordingly. \u201cYou 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,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In her current role, Nkosi\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/energyguyana.gy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/NKosi-and-daughters-2.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
Sandy\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sandy\u2019s 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. \u201cGYSBI normally provides the banksman training. Once you\u2019re hired, they will send you over to TOTALTEC, and they are going to do the training for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nkosi\u2019s journey from banksman to Shore Base Supervisor represents more than individual success \u2013 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n