Startup Story
Arlene Singh is the founder of Nala Environmental (Pty) Ltd based in Johannesburg, South Africa. After years in the corporate sector, she took the big leap into starting her own Environmental Consulting firm. Arlene’s business is focused on providing environmental consulting services to Developers in the renewable energy sector in Africa. The business was founded in 2019 after 10 years in the sector. She is registered as a Professional Natural Scientist in the field of Environmental Science with the South African Council of Scientific Professionals and a Registered Environmental Assessment Practitioner with the Environmental Assessment Practitioners Association of South Africa.
LoA spoke to Arlene Singh to learn more about this impact driven business and its work to help developers in the renewable energy sector to achieve their goals.
What does your company do?
Nala Environmental provides various environmental consulting and advisory services to renewable energy developers and projects in South Africa. Services include obtaining Environmental Authorizations, Permits and Licenses for projects such as large scale Solar Photo-Voltaic facilities, Wind Energy Facilities, CSP Facilities and grid connection solutions. Further to this Nala Environmental seeks to assist independent power producers and developers in South Africa reach their financial close obligations and meet their environmental compliance requirements as per the applicable South African legislation.
“Nala Environmental seeks to assist independent power producers and developers in South Africa reach their financial close obligations and meet their environmental compliance requirements as per the applicable South African legislation.”
What inspired you to start your company?
Following 10 years of gaining experience in private environmental consulting firms and experience as a sustainability consultant in the corporate sector, Arlene was exposed to the renewable energy sector in South Africa. The renewable energy sector is recognised as a niche industry in South Africa and although many companies provide environmental consulting services to this niche industry, there was a lack of female owned consulting companies with the expertise in renewable energy sector. The creation of Nala Environmental aims to provide a foothold for young people seeking to make their way into the renewable energy sector. Nala Environmental was created not only to service this niche industry but also the construction and infrastructure development sectors, as environmental consulting allows the for expansion of services into various private and public sectors.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
Following years of experience and client building relations with multiple companies and project developers in the sector the managing director of Nala Environmental understands the tight timelines and specific requirements associated with renewable energy projects. Nala Environmental prides itself on open and on-going communication with the client and aims to ensure only the highest quality of services to each client. Nala Environmental goes the extra mile to meet the targets as required by Developers.
Tell us a little about your team
The Nala Environmental team consist of Arlene Singh, the Director and Lead Project Manager on projects. Arlene is involved in all projects and engages with clients directly ensuring that all needs and timelines are met. Arlene herself undertakes report writing, site visits, public participation and engagement with competent authorities. Nala Environmental has also recently employed a young Junior Environmental Consultant whom is also accredited as a Professional Natural Scientist in the field of Environmental Science with the South African Council of Scientific Professionals. In the Junior Environmental Consulting role, the consultant is being exposed to report writing, site visits, client engagement and technical details associated with the renewable energy industry. Nala Environmental has been fortunate enough to have the support of numerous renewable energy companies that is allowing for our growth and expansion. We therefore are currently seeking to give experience to recent graduates qualified in the field on environmental science or management.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
Realizing that once I graduated from University with a Degree, like thousands in the same field as me, I would need to set myself apart from others. In my final year of University, I looked up multiple environmental consulting companies in my area and took a few days from my studies to approach each one face-to- face with my CV in hand. I had been turned down several times on multiple occasions until one company decided to take a chance on me. This company happened to be wholly woman owned. I did not earn a salary but rather decided to gain the experience that would set me apart from all the graduates. I made way up the ladder from undertaking vacation work at the company and being promoted to an intern full time and then to Junior Environmental Consultant.
I then made the leap into sustainability consulting related to mining and climate change with one of the big 4 consulting firms on the basis on expanding my skill sets. Realizing that I missed environmental consulting and that it was a passion, I was approached by a previous employer to start up their Johannesburg branch of the consulting firm. It was a huge honour, although I did not have any experience in running a business or business development in any way. Taking on this role taught me how to build relationships, build trust, develop business plans and how to set targets and how to achieve them.
Although I did not come from an entrepreneurial background, I had to learn the ropes along the way. I strongly believe that as difficult as it was trying to build a business for someone else at the time, the skills that were transferred across to my own business are priceless.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
Since the birth of Nala Environmental in late December of 2019, we are grateful and fortunate to have the support of international and nationally renowned renewable energy firms. We understand the competition in the environmental consulting industry and we appreciate the trust that has been placed in our hands and the expectations that have placed on our shoulders. Nala Environmental will continue providing quality services to our clients and aims to become the leading service provider in the sector. At Nala Environmental we aspire to be the leading black woman owned environmental consulting firm specializing in renewable energy in Southern Africa. We aim to grow and expand our reach by employing consultants across the country in each province. Nala Environmental through opportunities presented by our sister companies also aims to support women wanting pursue STEM careers and new graduates.
Nala Environmental has been fortunate enough to have the support of numerous renewable energy companies that is allowing for our growth and expansion.
The nature of the business being in renewable energy also allows me to sleep better at night knowing we are part bringing clean, sustainable energy to South Africa.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
Having been a relatively new entrepreneur, I have gained satisfaction in the fact that I was able to provide an employment opportunity to a Junior Consultant and provide him with the knowledge and skills to build his career. I have also been proud each time a project has been completed and a client has come back for another service or the same service request. This cycle ensures growth in the business and that I will be able to provide more opportunities for other individuals in the field. The nature of the business being in renewable energy also allows me to sleep better at night knowing we are part bringing clean, sustainable energy to South Africa.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Nobody is going to tell you that you are good enough to start your own business, but you are good enough. The chances are that you are actually so good that employers will likely want to keep you in your current position forever rather than have you become a competitor. It takes a lot to believe in yourself and you should believe in your capabilities.
I would recommend the following if you are planning on starting up:
1) Make the decision and do NOT look back, it will be hard and at times you will wonder if you made the right decision. You need to continue on, as only you can make this work, for you.
2) Try surrounding yourself with like-minded people, they will be able to share their experiences, challenges and successes.
3) Never be afraid to ask for help or question things, we are students of life and the learning will never end.
4) Be the manager/boss you would have wanted as an intern or junior.
5) Understand that you must go into this whole-heartedly, there will be times where you might need to stay late, through the night, you might not get to eat lunch or go to the bathroom to finish a submission. It will be worth it when it’s done and it will better than sitting idle and having no income at all.
6) Support your fellow women entrepreneurs, they need your support as much as you need theirs. We must promote each other without being asked.
Contact or follow Nala Environmental
WEBSITE | EMAIL arlene@veersgroup.com
Why LoA loves it…
The need to help South Africa find solutions to renewable energy sources and clean sustainable energy in the country has never been greater, and it requires the skills, knowledge and expertise of many players to find those solutions. Arlene Singh is playing her part in this important task by bringing her knowledge and expertise to the challenge, and her business is growing together with her reputation in this important field. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa