For Phoenix residents Melanie Pillay and Yvonne Stephen, 2016 marked the beginning of what would become a decade-long journey with Super Tyres. Ten years later, both women have grown within the company, built lasting relationships with colleagues and become valued members of the Super Tyres team.
While their roles and career paths have been different, their stories share a common thread: a willingness to learn, a positive outlook and a commitment to doing their best.
Melanie, 46, joined Super Tyres on 1 September 2016 as a receptionist. Her first role taught her valuable lessons in communication, organisation, customer service and teamwork, while the support of management and colleagues gave her the confidence and opportunity to develop further.
Today, she is an administrator at the Super Tyres Support Centre, having been promoted from within the company.
“For me, this promotion was a great moment because it showed me that hard work, dedication and a willingness to learn can open doors to new opportunities,” says Melanie.
She enjoys the variety that comes with her role and being part of a team where every day brings something different. Whether helping colleagues, solving problems or simply ensuring that things run smoothly, she takes pride in knowing that her contribution plays a part in the wider business.
Her outlook extends beyond the workplace. Melanie enjoys taking part in community sporting events, including the East Coast Radio Big Walk and the SPAR Women’s Challenge, and says being outdoors helps her relax, socialise and encourage others to be their best.
Her advice for success is simple: “Be positive about yourself and love yourself. Don’t say ‘I can’t’, say ‘I can’.”
That positive approach is also evident in the way Melanie views life. She believes happiness is not about everything being perfect, but about finding peace, appreciating the little things and being kind to others.
“Be good and kind to others because we may never know what another person is going through in their life,” she says.
For Yvonne, 50, her Super Tyres journey also began in 2016, when she joined the company as a data capturer. Over the past decade, she has progressed to her current position as a creditors clerk at the company’s Head Office in Durban.
Yvonne says one of the things she enjoys most about working at Super Tyres is being part of a diverse and positive environment surrounded by colleagues she describes as lovely.
Outside of work, she enjoys reading, dancing and spending quality time with her family and friends. Married to Stead for 28 years, Yvonne is also a proud mother of two adult children, Terell, 26, and Tyreece, 23.
Her approach to life is summed up in two things she believes have helped her along the way: a positive mindset and a bright smile.
“Always be positive about any situation you face, nurture strong relationships, smile and live your best life like there’s no tomorrow,” she says.
For Super Tyres MD Dean Horn, milestones such as these reflect more than simply length of service. “People are at the heart of any business, and having team members who have grown with Super Tyres over many years is something we value greatly,” says Horn. “Melanie and Yvonne have each contributed to the business in their own way, and their 10-year journeys are a wonderful reflection of their commitment, growth and relationships that they have built.”
Both women are also quick to acknowledge the people who have supported them along the way. Melanie expresses her gratitude to Dean Horn and the executive team for welcoming her into the “Super Tyres family”, as well as to her colleagues for their ongoing support.
Yvonne’s advice is similarly rooted in gratitude, faith and the importance of strong relationships. “Make God and prayer the centre of your life, marriage, family and household, and always be grateful for everything, small or big,” she says.
Looking ahead, Yvonne hopes to retire comfortably and travel the world, while Melanie’s goal is to continue growing both personally and professionally, building on her experience and taking on new responsibilities.