Ashika Dorasamy

Ashika Dorasamy is the manager of Maidstone Service Station in Tongaat. Born and raised in Phoenix, KwaZulu-Natal, her path to success was anything but conventional.

Ashika’s educational journey was marked by a life- changing experience. At 16 years old, she became the first foreign cultural exchange student from her hometown, travelling to a small town in Germany for a month. “This was one of the most amazing experiences of my life,” she recalls. “I learned so much about their culture, way of life, and education system. It was a pivotal moment that shaped who I am today.” After completing her matric in 2006, Ashika pursued a different career path. “In 2007, I earned a Diploma in Advanced Make-up and Aesthetics,” she says. Her talents in this field were soon recognised, as she won the prestigious Professional Beauty Top Make-up Artist award that same year.

However, it wasn’t long before her entrepreneurial spirit led her down a different path. By 2015, she had transitioned into the fuel industry. “That year, I attended the Shell Retailer Training Programme, which was sponsored by the site I now run. It was an intense experience, but it prepared me for what was to come,” she shares. Her business acumen even earned her praise from Shell SA senior management, who praised her business plan as one of the best they had seen.

Dreaming Big
In 2015, Ashika set her sights on a new goal. “I attended my first Business Plan Cascade as a site manager and watched other Shell retailers win awards for their achievements. At that moment, I knew I wanted to be one of them one day.” Her dream came true in 2019 when she was recognised as a top retailer, travelling with international peers to Australia for her accomplishments. “It was an incredible moment of validation for all the hard work I had put in,” she reflects.

Ashika credits her success not just to determination, but to her strong faith. “I give all the glory to God for the opportunities I’ve had. Of course, hard work and dedication are essential, but I believe it’s through divine favour that I’ve come this far,” she states. She also acknowledges the unwavering support of her mentors and family, particularly her father, who has been her biggest inspiration.

“My dad started working at 13 to support his family,” she says proudly. “Through hard work and education, he went from being a mechanic at Sasol to owning his own service station, growing into multiple business ventures along the way. Watching him succeed inspired me to follow in his footsteps.”

Making an Impact
Ashika’s influence extends beyond her own achievements. She is a source of guidance for other retailers, many of whom seek her advice on business management. “In 2017, our station was named the number one Shell service station in South Africa, and in 2018, we were ranked in the top five,” she notes with pride.

One of her contributions has been in the area of HSSE (Health, Safety, Security, and Environment) practices, which are crucial in managing a fuel station. “It’s not just about ticking boxes. I wanted to make HSSE practices a way of life for my team,” she explains. Her efforts earned her recognition from Shell as the HSSE runner-up in South Africa in 2018 and again in 2023.

But Ashika’s dedication extends beyond business success. She is an enthusiastic advocate for social responsibility and community upliftment. “We regularly engage in initiatives such as teaching children about recycling and the importance of preserving the environment.” In addition, Ashika has undertaken sanitary drives for young girls, donating 220 packs, especially as many girls cannot afford sanitary wear. “It’s about giving back to the community that supports us,” she says.

Ashika’s journey has been marked by significant challenges. The July unrest of 2021, which left her service station destroyed, was one of the toughest periods of her career. “All that was left was the building. We had to close the station for months and start from scratch,” she recalls.

As if that weren’t enough, the devastating floods of April 2022 struck the North Coast, severely impacting her business once again. “We lost over 50% of our turnover for about six months,” said Ashika.

When a tornado hit Tongaat in 2024, the service station was miraculously spared, but the surrounding community wasn’t as fortunate and many of their staff lost their homes. “We raised funds to help rebuild and provided meals and water to those in need,” explained Ashika.

She added, “It has been a rough few years, but we have stood stronger together. It’s our staff who are on the frontline, in the forecourt and in the shop. Everything we do is for them — if they are happy, we are happy,” reflecting on the experience of standing together as a family and as a community.

Never Give Up
When asked what advice she would give to young women looking to follow in her footsteps, Ashika responded: “Know every aspect of the business you’re in. It makes you more relatable to your staff and helps you understand how your business operates. Most importantly, never give up. As Rocky Balboa said, ‘It doesn’t matter how many times you get knocked down, but how many times you get back up’.”
She also believes in the importance of staying humble. “On my first day at Maidstone Service Station, my dad told me to write something down: ‘If you take care of the cents, the rands will take care of you.’ Those are words I live by.”

In the future, Ashika’s major goal is to grow her business interests into an entity that could rival her dad’s enterprises at his peak. “I want to build an empire,” she says confidently.

Yet despite her ambitions, Ashika remains grounded in her personal life. “Balance is important. Spending time with my family, especially lazy Sundays with my husband and son, helps me stay centred. It’s what keeps me going in this frenetic world of business,” she concluded.