PURPOSE IN ACTION
Michelle Phillips, Group Chief Executive of Transnet SOC, has spent 27 years building her career within one of South Africa’s most strategically important organisations. From her beginnings as a legal adviser in 1999 to leading the country’s freight transport and logistics backbone, her journey reflects a commitment to understanding the business, developing people and contributing to South Africa’s economic future.
Transnet is the custodian of the country’s key rail, port, pipeline and engineering infrastructure. Michelle explains, “We connect customers to domestic and global markets with a mandate to reduce the overall costs of doing business in the country.” Leading such an organisation comes with considerable responsibility, particularly at a time when operational performance, financial sustainability and economic reform remain national priorities.
For Michelle, leadership is about more than meeting business objectives. She says, “My biggest dream is to live out my purpose. To contribute meaningfully to moving people out of poverty. To touch people’s lives positively every day with everything I do.”
Building a Career
Michelle began her career at Transnet as a legal adviser in 1999. However, she says, “I quickly realised that, to advise the business effectively, I needed a thorough understanding of its operations.”
As such, rather than limiting herself to her professional discipline, Michelle requested operational training. Transnet’s commitment to employee development enabled her to gain the foundation she needed, opening opportunities to progress through different roles and development programmes.
This willingness to learn beyond her immediate responsibilities became an important part of her professional development. Understanding the practical realities of the business allowed her to engage with its challenges from different perspectives and develop a reputation as a problem-solver.
Her eventual appointment as Group Chief Executive was not something she initially pursued with certainty. “When the Group Chief Executive position became available, I was initially reluctant to apply. However, encouragement from employees, customers and other stakeholders persuaded me to do so – and here I am.”
Michelle is driven by the desire to live out her purpose. “To contribute meaningfully to moving people out of poverty. To touch peoples’ lives positively everyday with everything I do.” Much of her purpose is inspired by her parents and her love for God. “My parents have instilled in me a love for God and a belief in God that inspires me every day. I have seen what God can do and that is what keeps me going.”
A Challenging Turnaround
Michelle assumed leadership of Transnet during a difficult period. The organisation had experienced a prolonged drop in freight volumes and faced considerable financial pressures. The scale of the challenge has required sustained attention to operational performance, financial management and the implementation of government-approved reforms. She said, “The journey has been extremely challenging. I inherited an organisation in decline, and at one point we were uncertain whether we could pay salaries.”
While the difficulties remain significant, Michelle points to improvements achieved through the collective efforts of Transnet’s employees. The organisation has halted a fiveyear decline in freight volumes and returned 18.5 million tonnes of cargo to rail over the past three years.
These developments represent progress in the turnaround. Michelle commented, “Although performance is improving, we still have a long way to go to achieve financial sustainability. Implementing government-approved reforms require sustained focus. Not everyone agrees with our approach or pace, but we must remain committed to the task.”
Her immediate priority is to turn the organisation around and restore its full financial sustainability. Achieving this will require continued collaboration across the business, as well as the commitment of employees who understand the importance of reliable rail, port, and logistics services to South Africa’s economic prospects. She says, “I hope my leadership continues to inspire Transnet employees to give their best and never give up.”
This emphasis on collective effort is central to her approach. The challenges facing Transnet cannot be addressed by one individual alone. Progress depends on the people who operate, maintain and support its extensive infrastructure, together with customers and stakeholders who rely on its services.
Importance of Kindness
Although her professional responsibilities are considerable, Michelle says, “I do not find it easy to talk about myself, but my greatest achievement is being a mother and wife.” She is immensely proud of raising her children and works hard to ensure they receive the education they need to become meaningful contributors to South Africa. Her commitment to their development reflects her wider belief in creating opportunities for people to improve their circumstances and participate positively in society.
Michelle excelled academically from an early age, receiving several awards at school. During her career at Transnet, she has earned recognition for her work and developed a reputation for solving problems. She was named the 2026 KZN Top Businesswoman and will be inducted into the KZN Shipping Hall of Fame in November 2026.
She is also proud of being regarded as a mother figure by many of her colleagues at Transnet. This personal connection points to another dimension of her leadership, extending beyond formal responsibilities to the relationships she has built within the organisation.
Faith, purpose, and perseverance provide a foundation for her approach to both personal and professional challenges. They also inform the advice she offers young women who are building their own careers. “Stay the course. Never give up. Respect yourself and others. Respect in everything you do. Always be kind.”
Asked how she finds balance between her professional and personal life, Michelle offers an honest response. “There’s no such thing, at least I have not discovered balance. In any event, I love what I do.”
As Michelle continues to lead Transnet through its turnaround, her focus remains on restoring financial sustainability and improving performance. By helping strengthen South Africa’s freight transport and logistics system, she hopes to support an economy that creates opportunities for businesses and people alike. It is a demanding task, but one that aligns with the purpose she has carried throughout her career: making a meaningful contribution and improving lives.
