The third quarter edition of Energy Magazine highlights the determined rise of Nkosi Sandy, whose path from banksman to Shore Base Supervisor at Guyana Shore Base Inc. (GYSBI) shows how opportunity and perseverance can transform a life.
The 33-year-old mother of two entered the sector looking for a new direction. “I always wanted to be a mechanic, but that didn’t play out,” she said. “When I heard about the oil and gas industry, I said let me go and take a try and see how this is going to play out for me.”
Her journey began at TOTALTEC Guyana, where she trained as a banksman directing crane operations and managing lifting tasks. The work required precision and endurance, but she faced early doubts from others about her ability to handle the physical demands. “When I first started, it was like, ‘Oh, you’re a female, we’re not going to allow you to do this. This is too much physical work. It’s going to be more for the guys,’” she recalled. “So I told them, I am going to be tough.”
Sandy excelled and moved into more advanced roles. After gaining the respect of her teams and the confidence of her supervisors, she advanced to foreman and later to Shore Base Supervisor. “When I come in, I need you guys to treat me just as every other guy,” she said. Her approach earned admiration from colleagues who saw her commitment firsthand.
Her current role demands careful planning, multitasking and oversight of multiple crews and operations. She manages stevedores and forklift operators, coordinates permits and ensures simultaneous jobs run smoothly. “You may have simultaneous operations going on, and then you would have to plan how you’re going to go about doing it. Which one is going to be a priority over the other.”
A major turning point came when her managers encouraged her to consider the base manager role. “This is word-for-word what I had in my mind for that position. I don’t think anyone else is capable of handling that,” she said. The support pushed her confidence higher. “That was it for me, because a lot of people used to be saying, ‘Sandy, you could do this,’ and I always used to keep boosting myself.” She added, “The more you move up, the easier it gets, with more responsibility.”
Her leadership style centers on recognizing individual differences and adapting her approach to each person. “You have to remember that everybody is an individual and the way that I may approach you and interact with you, I cannot approach someone else and interact with that person the same way.” That supportive style has made her a trusted figure. Many even call her ‘mommy’. “I am proud to know that these are the individuals that look up to me under me.”
Balancing her professional life with motherhood remains a daily effort. Sandy raises two daughters, ages ten and two, with help from her sister. “My daughters have a clear understanding that when I’m working, if I say I have to go to work, they’re going to go like – ‘Mommy, bye-bye.’ But if I’m going out, it’s a different thing.” Even at home, her daughters share in her workload. “They’ll help me with paperwork, like staple this, write that and sit and watch a movie with me because I’m always tired.”
Sandy hopes her accomplishments open doors for others, especially women. “Maybe in the next few years, I see myself as the base manager – first female base manager.” Her advice to women entering the industry is clear. “Come with a positive mindset. Don’t let anybody tell you that you cannot do this, you cannot do that. You know your limits and always ask questions.”
Her path reflects the growing opportunities created through Guyana’s maturing oil and gas operations. TOTALTEC provides training in key areas, including forklift, crane, stacker, and truck operations, while GYSBI encourages internal advancement.
Sandy’s story shows what these pathways can produce. “I want to show my kids… that a woman can do just what a man can do, and sometimes she could even do it better,” she said. “I reached that goal. I’ve opened doors for countless others to follow the same path from the ground up.”
