Breaking barriers: Gabisile Fakude's inspiring journey as a trailblazing woman in the trucking industry

IOL News

31-07-2025

Fakude says she has made it her priority to build partnerships.
'It's evident that the challenges we face as women in this space have persisted for years, and the only way to change that narrative is to bring more women into the industry. As we increase our representation, the stigma associated with women in these roles will gradually dissipate, making it more common for women to thrive.'
'Rather than expecting others to pave the way for me, I chose to focus on my own progression and my desire to demonstrate that women can achieve success in this industry. Throughout my journey, I've encountered many other women facing similar challenges, which has helped me recognise that my struggles are part of a larger narrative,' she said.
'The stereotypes that are prevalent in this commercial space can be overwhelming. However, I made a conscious choice to adapt, reminding myself continuously that the challenges I faced were part of the environment I had to navigate and are not personal.
'Navigating the commercial vehicle industry is no small feat, especially since I embarked on this journey over 12 years ago. From the outset, I quickly learned to manage the pressures that come with being a woman in a predominantly male field.
We caught up with her and asked her about the challenges she faced and how she and her team managed to walk away with the prestigious honour of being crowned Dealer of the Year 2025, at the UD Trucks Southern Africa Annual Dealer Conference awards (ADC).
That's exactly what Gabisile Fakude, dealer principal at UD Trucks Alrode has done, working her way through the ranks culminating in clinching the ultimate title.
It's not easy navigating your way through the world of being a dealer principal especially in the male dominated world of trucks and if you're a young woman that challenge becomes even bigger.
'Breaking into this sector should not feel like an insurmountable task. It goes beyond simply working alongside colleagues; it's about nurturing genuine relationships with customers. In commercial business, we don't merely sell trucks; we seek to build partnerships.
'Many of our clients have established long-standing relationships with our dealership, so when entering as a newcomer, especially without prior experience, gaining their trust becomes a significant challenge.
'To address this, I recognised the importance of equipping myself with the necessary knowledge and skills to show my competence. By successfully building my confidence through expertise, I could earn the trust of my customers. Once I achieved that, I found that my colleagues naturally began to reciprocate that trust.'
Fakude agrees that the victory is a milestone in her career.
'In reflecting on my achievements, winning the Dealer of the Year award marks a noteworthy milestone in my career.
'My first significant victory came when I successfully united my team after taking on the role of dealer principal. This transition posed major challenges, as adapting to new dynamics in a dealership where many team members had developed alongside me was difficult.
'There's often a palpable sense of 'us versus management,' which complicated relationships.
'Creating unity among my team and across various departments became a priority. It was essential for my management team and me to share a common set of objectives for the dealership.
' I realised that achieving this synergy would make us unstoppable in our pursuit of our targets for the upcoming years. Winning the Dealer of the Year award symbolised our collective efforts; we had worked hard for that acknowledgment, particularly since our dealership hadn't held this title since 2020,' she enthused.
'During that earlier timeframe, I was serving as a sales manager under the late Fernando De Sousa, who had served as dealer principal since the dealership's inception. Taking on this new role required me to fill the shoes of someone with decades of experience — an enormous responsibility. Before focusing on any accolades, my priority was building strong rapport and trust within my team. It was crucial that we worked together effectively, allowing for needed changes in management processes.'
Fakude says that one of the key elements of success is communication.
'We prioritised open communication, allowing everyone to express their feelings during this transition. Once we established a stable foundation and a clear understanding of our goals, our individual emotions became secondary to our overarching goal: keeping our dealership operational and sustainable.
'Earning the Dealer of the Year award felt like the culmination of all our shared efforts. It validated everything we had worked toward as a team. I felt truly rewarded as I witnessed our resilience recognised, especially considering the market challenges we've weathered.
'Our dealership has made remarkable strides in profitability, customer retention, and more. Thus, this award symbolises our dedication and hard work.'
Asked what sets her dealership apart from the others, Fakude said: 'first and foremost, our resilience. I am fortunate to have a remarkably resilient team. Reflecting on 2020, many individuals were understandably frustrated due to job losses and economic downturns affecting various aspects of life. However, despite these obstacles, our team rose to the occasion.
'Even while grappling with the pandemic, we continued to operate as if it didn't exist.
'Although we faced staffing shortages and had to work on rotating schedules, we managed to maintain a profitable business. In fact, that year, we achieved record profits in both sales and aftersales.
'I must emphasise that our true strength comes from our resilience and agility as a team. We constantly ask ourselves, 'What can we do?' Instead of allowing difficulties to overwhelm us, we focus on finding practical solutions.