If you think it’s challenging for women to thrive in agriculture today, imagine what it was like in the 1980s when Dr Ilse Trautmann began her Bachelor of Science degree at Stellenbosch University.

Raised in a family of farmers and keen gardeners, she developed a love for plants at an early age. This passion led her to specialise in plant physiology, complete her PhD in 1990, and pursue a postdoctoral fellowship to deepen her expertise.

Trautmann’s career took off in 1991 when, while completing her postdoctoral studies, she was headhunted by the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) to work as a table grape researcher. Here, she rose steadily through the ranks, becoming assistant director of disease management in 2007.

“I loved doing research, but my passion and ideal job was always managing research,” she says.

However, by 2003, the ARC was facing organisational and financial strain. Recognising that passion alone couldn’t sustain research without funding and resources, Trautmann sought a new challenge and found it at the Western Cape Department of Agriculture.

Career highlights

Starting as a deputy director, she worked her way up to overseeing agricultural research. Along the way, she spearheaded numerous initiatives, highlighting the following as standouts:

• The initiation of the quarterly AgriProbe magazine, which shares the department’s research and insights with the industry;
• The SmartAgri plan, released in 2016, aimed at helping the sector adapt to climate change;
• Die Kwik Styg radio programme on RSG, emanating from the SmartAgri Initiative, which took climate change topics to a broader South African audience;
• Pioneering research into the Fourth Industrial Revolution to prepare the sector for new technologies; and
• The launch later this year of a new research artificial intelligence model based on departmental technical information.

Trautmann and the department, under her leadership, have received multiple accolades, including service excellence awards from the Western Cape government, recognition in the Premier’s Service Excellence Awards for outstanding public service, and national honours for innovation in agricultural development.

Trautmann was also the first female president of the South African Society for Enology & Viticulture. She currently serves as one of the society’s two honorary presidents.

Despite these accomplishments, Trautmann remain humble.

“The industry didn’t have many women when I started out, but I’ve never experienced any sexism or discrimination in the workplace. I’ve always found agriculture to be a welcoming space where anyone can make a difference if they apply themselves and work hard,” she says.

Lessons learnt

Trautmann credits her success to values she “inherited” from her parents; values rooted in discipline, perseverance, humility, and respect for others. Combined with her own determination to stay relevant, these principles became the foundation of her career.

“Following deregulations and the challenges in the ARC, I realised government departments couldn’t carry on with business as usual. We had to innovate, form strategic partnerships, and keep pace with new trends and developments if we wanted to remain relevant and provide a meaningful service,” she explains.

“If you want to be successful in any job, it pays to know what is happening in the organisation, even beyond your direct responsibilities. That is the only way to move an organisation forward.”

Although she immerses herself in research and industry news, Trautmann admits she has never been drawn to self-help books: “I don’t see much value in reading about personal growth and management principles. I believe it should come naturally from learning through mistakes and real-life experiences.”

One such lesson came from her study supervisor and mentor, Prof Johan Visser.

“During my university years, a fellow student, now Prof Erika Maas, and I broke an expensive glass container in the laboratory. We were scared of our professors and nervous to tell [Visser].

“His response was something I’ve never forgotten: ‘Only machines that work break. Only people who work make mistakes.’ That taught me that mistakes happen, and the real value comes from what we learn and how we improve afterwards,” she says.

She also values action over words: “It doesn’t help to tell your team you care if it is not reflected in the way you manage them.”

In conflict management, she admits to having a short fuse, which means addressing issues head-on. But, she has a strict policy of never shouting or swearing: “If something is wrong, I schedule a meeting with the person concerned to clear the air and find a solution. Trying to understand people has helped me motivate them better and get everyone onto the same page.”

Work-life balance

Trautmann’s love for her job means it has never really felt like work; sometimes to the point of overcommitment. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she recalls starting her days at 4.30am, as she always does, and often working late into the evening.

Still, she recognises the importance of balance in staying sharp. She plays social golf, tends to an immaculate food garden, and keeps a strong social network.

“If you have a demanding job like mine, it helps to schedule time off by making appointments for activities you want to do. This prevents work from spilling into your free time and forces you to switch off.”

Looking ahead

Trautmann has witnessed dramatic changes in the sector over the years, along with increasing competition for skilled workers.

“[The department has] a much higher employee turnover [today] than in the past – not because it’s a poor employer, but because our new recruits are in such demand after two years with us. Government will have to find ways to not only attract talent but also retain it if it wants to remain relevant,” she says.

Her message to the next generation is simple yet powerful: stay curious, seek opportunities, and never stop learning.

“Don’t give up when you struggle to get a job. Keep searching; there are many opportunities. Once employed, apply yourself and stay relevant,” she adds.

Although Trautmann will retire in September, she doesn’t plan to step away from the sector. After a short break, she intends to a launch a small company, using her expertise to offer research expertise, advisory work, and motivational and other talks.