Award winning winemaker and Stellenbosch University (SU) alumnus, Natasha Williams-Boks, took the stage at the final Career Café engagement of 2019. Williams-Boks, who was born and raised in Cloetesville, started studying at Stellenbosch University in 2002, where she was one of two students of colour who had been accepted into the Agriculture faculty’s course of Viticulture and Oenology; the science and study of wine and winemaking.
SU Alumnus, Natasha Boks-Williams, sharing the knowledge she gained as a woman in the male dominated wine industry with students attending the Career Cafe on 24 October 2019. PHOTO: Henk Oets
Career Café is a monthly initiative hosted by Stellenbosch University’s Alumni Relations Office in collaboration with the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, in the form of a Ted-Talk. Career Café engagement, “offers opportunities for alumni to return to the University and give back to their alma mater in a way which enhances the lives of the current students,” states Marvin Koopman, SU Alumni Coordinator.
The Alumni Offices of Stellenbosch University hosts a Career Café engagement each month ,where alumni inspires current students. PHOTO: Ingrid Kluckow
Natasha Williams-Boks was a first year student in 2002. She successfully graduated in 2007, and started her journey in the wine industry. She was the award winning white wine winemaker at Nederburg Wines. She describes her studies as “a roller coaster ride” in which she learnt more about herself than ever before.
Williams-Boks sharing the knowledge she had gained from working for leading wine brands in South Africa. PHOTO: Henk Oets
By deciding to study viticulture Williams Boks took “the road less traveled by.” Not only was she the first in her family to attend university, but she also had a family member who was diagnosed with alcoholism. “My mom was so upset with me, she didn’t want to talk to me for a few days after I changed my degree from B.Sc. Cellular and Molecular Sciences to B.Sc. Viticulture and Oenology”.
Here are the 5 tips winemaker and wise woman, Natasha Williams-Boks shared with the students who attended the Career Café on Thursday 24 October. Graphic: Ingrid Kluckow
She only applied for a job twice in her life as she has since a young age been headhunted by the leading businesses in the wine industry. After spending a total of 5 years at Zonnbloem Wines as assistant winemaker, she was recruited by Nederburg Wines where she became the specialist in white-white winemaking for 4 years.
At each Career Cafe’ there are two students who get the chance to have dinner with the alumni presenting that day. Geology student, Dimpo Mathibe (20), and Social Work student, Amy Goliath (24), were the winners of a dinner with Williams-Boks. After enjoying dinner at Hussar Grill in Stellenbosch, Goliath states that, “it was nice to have her share her perspective regarding several topics with us, even though she is an expert in the wine industry, her knowledge permeates other subject areas as well”. Mathibe, who aspires to pursue a career in mine geology, says that learning more from Williams-Boks’ journey in a male dominated corporate environment such as Distell, to starting her own business, was “very insightful and nice”.
Natasha Williams-Boks(36) spent an evening with the winners of the “Dinner with the Alumnus” Dimpo Mathibe (20) and Amy Goliath (24). Marvin Koopman (right) congratulated the winners. PHOTO: Henk Oets
Williams-Boks advised that if one wants to cultivate a relationship with a mentor, one must “choose an individual with whom you already share a good bond with.” She admits that she has declined mentorship requests because she believes it is important to mentor someone who you “already know and who you are invested in already.”