Keketso

Earth conservation is a challenging and often-unimaginable task, but for some, making an impact on climate change is a passion.

 For Keketso Motjuwadi, being a sustainability lead and climate resilience engineer at Royal HaskoningDHV is his way of making a difference.

“In university, I did a BSc in Civil Engineering. At the time, there was little to no focus on sustainability. It was still very focused on the traditional water, roads, and bridges. Through conversations with friends, I realised the growing importance of environmental protection and climate change mitigation. It was then that I wanted to gear my career towards sustainability.”

Keketso joined Royal HaskoningDHV fresh out of university in 2013, where he was immediately encouraged to develop as a young professional. Although Royal HaskoningDHV is a large multinational engineering and consultancy firm, he never felt alone like some of his peers elsewhere.

“I heard stories from my fellow graduate engineers at other well-known engineering firms that they felt like a cog in a machine. But when I interviewed for Royal HaskoningDHV, I already got the sense that it wouldn’t be the case for me.”

And it wasn’t. Keketso fit right in and found himself in a space where he could explore and grow. He is also a member of the LGBTQ+ community and a supporter of equality, diversity, and inclusion. Working at a company that supports diversity makes a big difference in Keketso’s ability to continuously strive to reach his full potential.

What do you love about working at the company?

“There is a strong drive to have a growth mindset. I love to learn, and it’s a great space to be in because there’s always a push to learn more and make an impact.”

Midway through his second year at Royal HaskoningDHV, Keketso was taken out of his comfort zone when his manager suggested working with an engineer in Knysna.

“I’d never lived there before, so I was quite nervous about packing up and moving to a small town. But they needed a graduate engineer, and I was keen to learn, so it seemed like a good fit. Although I didn’t feel I had the necessary skills and temperament to complete the projects fully, I had a great mentor and line manager who made me feel at ease while I led one or two projects.”

When did you realise you’re at the right place?

“Last year when I was offered the position of sustainability lead. I had just completed my master’s and had an idea of what I wanted to do. Once my hard work was recognised, I realised I’m in the right place.”

Throughout his eight years at Royal HaskoningDHV, Keketso has always admired the company’s commitment to developing young professionals. Not only does he have the opportunity to push the needle towards a more equitable and sustainable future, but he is also surrounded by colleagues all over the world with whom to do it.

 “I enjoy being able to work in an environment where there is diversity of thought, identity, and experience,” he says. “The biggest change I had to adapt to was finding a balance between holding onto what I enjoy and making space for what’s new.”