Jenny Van Dam
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Timing is everything, Jenny Van Dam says. But when it comes to investing in your future, the truth is, there’s never a bad time to start. The sooner you start, the greater the rewards.
At just 16, Jenny Van Dam started her career in the Construction Industry by working part time after school at her father’s business. After finishing school Jenny became part of the Delta team full time and started enrolling in Accounting, Safety and HR courses. Soon she took on her first national role in Finances and HR– a position she set her sights on and chased down. “I had strong male and female role models and so I grew up being pretty determined.” Putting herself out there paid off and soon she was working her way up in the organization to become part of the Management Team.
“That period of working on different sites and in different industries gave me pivotal, foundational experience. We took the business, we grew it and grew it quite quickly. That didn’t go well, so then we had to rethink and relook our business plan. Diverse our scope, start afresh and turn it around” says Jenny. “I gained so much experience within the different markets and learnt how to manage the different phases in business and respond to them from a leadership perspective.”
When describing her journey and how they started out Delta Crane and Plant Hire, she says, “I always put my hand up to saying ‘yes’. I created a lot of the pathways and opportunities myself, particularly early on. It was purely out of passion and wanting to show initiative, and so I threw myself in the wind.” My customers always comes first and whatever they might require, I will find a way to adhere to their specific requirements.
Achieving a Director title wasn’t always the goal, but Jenny sought opportunities to “learn, grow and contribute to transformation”, which guided her along the way when deciding the next steps in her career. Finding ways to stretch the boundaries of her comfort zone continues to be paramount for Jenny, seeing it as the ultimate way to gain professional and personal development and growth.
Being part of the corporate world was never in her sights. Jenny being an entrepreneur has been involved in founding of Delta Crane and Plant Hire, a non-profit organization, an exclusive private pre-primary school, an engineering business as well as being the Franchisor for a Modelling Academy. While honing existing know-how, she also gained an entirely new view, adding to her knowledge today. “Being part of such a diverse industry has given me the opportunity to rub shoulders with the best in the industries, learning and listening to what everyone could give”
This year alone, Jenny has received several industry accolades, like winning “The Woman of South African Awards 2024 in the following categories which she has been nominate for.
Business and Entrepreneurship
Education and Training
Community Development and Social Services
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
Leadership and Politics
Construction
When asked how this kind of recognition impacts her leadership, Jenny says, “I didn’t achieve it, but really this was possible with the best ever teams by my side. Without my employees and partners none of this would have been possible.” In the fast-paced world of entrepreneurship, staying updated on trends and innovations is vital. Learning new skills is the only way to broaden your perspective and sense opportunities others can’t.
By prioritizing your personal growth, you’ll be better equipped to navigate the challenges of leading a team and tackling the demands of running a business. Jenny believes that a well-rounded entrepreneur is a successful entrepreneur.
Delta’s Motto
It is not the size of a corporation that determines its greatness, it is the sheer dedication, heart, sweat and loyalty of each one of its employees.
Delta Crane & Plant Hire,
+27 (0) 16 971 1101,
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