Spotlight on our Dole Academy graduates
Kgahliso Mashamba
KG, as she is affectionately known, started her journey at Dole as a general intern. Today she is permanently employed in the Supply Chain department as a Marine Risk Coordinator. Agriculture has always been her passion, and while her foray into the day-to-day operations is a far cry from her romantic notion of owning her own boutique wine farm with villas and sipping champagne, this Agricultural Economics graduate is grateful for the guidance and mentoring she is receiving during this very steep learning curve. “I am in awe of the scale of Dole’s business – from the number of cartons we export, to the sustainable business practices we apply and the exceptional quality of our fruit. There is always a personal interest in what I do. I appreciate the mentorship and guidance from my colleagues.“
KG is bubbly and generous of spirit, but when at her desk, she is diligent and fully engaged in the processes and task at hand. When asked about her experience at Dole so far, she says: “Wow, I am being ‘marshmallowed’ – I am being treated so well, not once have I felt out of place – this is my family now.”
KG says: “I am in awe of the scale of Dole’s operation.”[
Kruger Holtzhausen
Kruger’s internship at Dole started in March 2019 and it came down to a matter of sink or swim in a flood of information overload.
Fortunately, the Marketing and Project Management graduate learnt the art of staying afloat, overcoming his initial shyness. Describing Dole as his “first real job”, Kruger started in the Grapes department and then joined the Citrus team for a season of further training before being permanently appointed to the Dole team in November 2019. “The two commodities differ, but the principles remain the same. Grapes are fast paced and you need to think quickly. Citrus navigates more volume and here you need to make smart decisions. But both commodities are equally enjoyable.”
Kruger says: “I want to contribute to making Dole the exporter of choice and to boost its name and reputation amongst all stakeholders.”
Juané Gubitz Adriaanse
Juané needed little in the way of introduction into the agricultural field. Farming is in her blood: she comes from a long line of mainly citrus farmers dating back to her grandfather who owned farms in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. Her father and his brothers still farm here. So it was no surprise that her Marketing Honours studies led her to her first real job in branding and strategy for an export company. Her love for the citrus commodity is what led her to Dole as an intern in April 2021.
Appointed permanently at Dole in September 2022, she is experiencing what she does “close to home”. Of course, having grown up in the production side of the business she now enjoys everything that happens post harvest – focusing on commercial markets in particular.
“I was made to feel welcome from the get-go,’” she says. “Even though the office is big, colleagues from all departments took the time to mentor, guide and include me in new projects. The approach was, ‘There is no dumb question.’ Best of all, she says, is how volatile the business can be. “Every day is different, and I am loving it.”
Juané says: “Interns are treated as equals.”
Kganedi Magolo
Kganedi served his internship in the Deciduous and Commercial departments before his permanent appointment to Dole as Marketing Assistant: Deciduous and Berries.
Growing up, the Agricultural Economics and Agri Business Management graduate developed a close bond with his grandparents. They instilled in him their passion for farming. They farmed on a subsistence scale (goats, sheep cattle, maize and beans) on land handed down through the generations in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. This is where he spent his holidays and weekends. As much as a young boy does not enjoy toiling away in the mud, in time he realized the true value of it all.
His career at Dole began at the peak of the 2023 grape season. “It was a whirlwind,” he says. “So much to learn. But the adrenalin kept me going. The team’s warm embrace and support from leadership have helped me to step up and learn so much. I’ve been able to unlock a different side of myself and to really dig deep to be successful. “
Kganedi was stimulated by the variety this internship offered. “I have experienced different facets of the business and met so many interesting stakeholders as we engage with different departments on a daily basis. In university you learn about the supply chain – but being here in this space, you see how it all comes together.”
Kganedi says: “Dole embraces free-thinking people.”