From accounting to leading the charge in supply chain logistics, Talintha-Lee de Kock's inspiring journey showcases the power of resilience and the importance of empowering women in a traditionally male-dominated industry.
Image: Supplied
After more than a decade in supply chain and logistics, Talintha-Lee de Kock is leading warehouse operations, solving stock problems, and encouraging more women to pursue careers in a field where they remain underrepresented.
De Kock completed a BCom Accounting degree, but her career ultimately took a different direction.
Today, she is the Warehouse and Inventory Team Leader at SOILL, where she leads the Raw Materials Warehouse team and works with external warehouse partners to ensure stock is managed and operations run smoothly.
Her route into the industry was not straightforward. During her second year at university, De Kock came close to abandoning her studies. Her father’s response quickly changed her mind.
“I remember my dad telling me, ‘If you do that, you have to pay everything back.’ Those words stuck with me and motivated me to push through and complete my degree,” she said.
Completing the degree did not mean she had to build her career around it.
“I eventually realised that although I had studied accounting, I didn’t necessarily want to spend my career sitting behind a desk,” she said. “I wanted something more hands-on and fast-paced, where I could actually see the impact of my work.”
She entered the supply chain field at Distell’s Nederburg operation, where she helped implement new systems and gained an understanding of how wine moved through production and warehousing before being exported.
“I really enjoyed understanding how everything connects, from the numbers and stock to the warehouse, production, transport, and, ultimately, the customer. Looking back now, my accounting background has actually been a great advantage because I understand both the operational side of the business and the financial impact of the decisions we make.”
A later move from wine into the fruit and vegetable industry brought different logistical demands and a much quicker operating pace.
“There are days when you look at the clock and wonder where the time went,” she said. “I think that’s when I realised I enjoy environments where every day is different and you constantly have to think on your feet.”
De Kock has since worked with different systems and in several operating environments.
Although the technology and procedures may change from one business to another, she said, the objective remains the same: having the right stock in the right place at the right time.
One of the milestones she remembers most clearly was helping to organise what she described as the first container of tomatoes exported to the Middle East.
The project taught her about the planning, documentation, and coordination required to move produce between countries.
Coming from the Eastern Cape, her career also introduced her to industries and opportunities beyond the environment in which she grew up.
“It opened my eyes to how big the world of supply chain really is and how many opportunities are out there,” she said.
Among the operational challenges De Kock has faced are stock discrepancies, where physical inventory, warehouse systems and internal records do not align. Such problems can involve several parties, with each looking for an immediate explanation.
Talintha-Lee de Kock, Warehouse and Inventory Team Leader at SOILL, has built a career spanning more than a decade in supply chain and logistics and is encouraging more women to pursue opportunities in the traditionally male-dominated industry.
Image: Supplied
Her approach is to establish the facts by checking the physical stock, system movements, supporting documents, and processes followed before the discrepancy arose. The aim is to find the cause of the problem rather than simply correct a figure.
“I’ve learned that staying calm in those situations is important,” she said. “You may not have the answer immediately, but you can take ownership of finding it.”
That calm, practical approach has also helped De Kock establish herself in an industry where warehouses and operational teams have traditionally been dominated by men.
She said there had been times when she felt she had to work harder to prove that she belonged.
She responded by developing her knowledge, remaining consistent, and getting involved when operations were under pressure.
“I wanted people to know that I wasn’t afraid to get my hands dirty, ask questions or stand behind a decision. I’ve also learned that you don’t need to change who you are to be respected. You can be firm, knowledgeable and decisive while still being approachable and supportive.”
De Kock brings the same approach to leading her team.
“One of the biggest things I’ve learned is that leadership isn’t about having all the answers. I would describe my leadership style as hands-on, supportive but accountable,” she said.
“I believe in being involved and understanding what is happening on the ground. At the same time, people need to take ownership of their responsibilities.”
When someone makes a mistake, she prefers to understand what happened, learn from it, and prevent it from happening again.
For De Kock, good leadership is about helping people improve.
Supporting other women is particularly important to her because she did not always have someone to explain what to expect when she entered the industry or to reassure her that she could progress into operational leadership.
“Don’t let the fact that an industry is male-dominated convince you that there isn’t a place for you in it. Supply chain and logistics need different perspectives, and women have an important role to play,” she said. “Don’t wait until you feel 100% ready before putting your hand up for an opportunity. Take the opportunity, ask questions and learn as you go.”
Her definition of success has also changed. Titles and career advancement mattered more when she was starting out. She now places greater value on being trusted, doing her job well and helping others develop.
“When someone you’ve supported becomes more confident, takes on more responsibility or achieves something they didn’t think they could, that’s rewarding,” she said.
If she could speak to the young graduate who did not know where her qualification would lead, De Kock would tell her to trust herself and accept that a career does not need to follow a fixed plan.
“Most importantly, don’t feel that you have to become someone else to be successful. Be yourself, know your value and stay open to opportunities because you never know where they might lead.”
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