Fiona Reid never set out to run a lighting company, but when she discovered the field, everything clicked.
Today, as managing director of Liquid Lighting SA, she's built a reputation for solving technical problems others can't, earned through hands-on learning and a commitment to mastering every detail from site to specification.
From operations to illumination
Fiona Reid (46), originally from Gauteng, started her career in operational and administrative roles where, as she puts it, there was no hiding in a corner. These positions were close to the engine room of business, teaching her grit, discipline, and the ability to carry responsibility.
Her entry into lighting came without fanfare, but once there, she committed completely. Reid didn't just learn the theory; she attended site meetings, studied installation details, examined fittings and controls, and built relationships with contractors, architects, engineers, and suppliers.
Reid is clear that nothing about her journey was handed to her. She earned credibility by showing up consistently, doing the difficult work, and building trust with clients and partners. Over time, that immersion led her to start her own business and step into a leadership role at Liquid Lighting SA.
This wasn't about reading brochures from behind a desk. It was about building her path one project at a time.
The problem-solver
Reid's proudest professional achievement is her reputation for solution-driven integrity. She's often called when a project hits a technical dead end, when the lighting isn't performing as specified, or when no one else can find the answer.
"Becoming 'the person they call when there's a problem' means I have earned trust through delivery, not promises," Reid explains.
On a personal level, she's equally proud of building a thriving career whilst raising her son as a single mother, never compromising her values, independence, or standard of excellence.
Navigating a male-dominated space
Reid is frank about the challenges of operating in traditionally male spaces such as lighting, construction, and electrical environments. Early in her career, she was frequently questioned and had to prove her technical knowledge, justify her decisions, and fight to be heard.
Her response was strategic: she learned the technical details and became more prepared than anyone else in the room.
"Yes, it's challenging," Reid acknowledges, "and it's made me exceptional at what I do."
Her advice to other women entering the field is direct. Don't wait for permission to take up space. Knowledge is your power, integrity is your protection, and showing up grounded, prepared, and unapologetically capable is non-negotiable.
The invisible power of lighting
"I love what I do," Reid says simply. What drives her passion is lighting's unique position at the intersection of science and emotion, engineering and artistry, logic and intuition.
"Lighting is invisible power," she explains. "When done well, people don't notice the fixture. They notice how the room makes them feel. I get to orchestrate that feeling."
"The transformation never gets old," she adds. "Watching a space come alive when the lighting is finally switched on. That moment where vision becomes reality."
Advice for the next generation
Reid's guidance for young people entering the industry is rooted in her own experience.
"Be curious. Be teachable. Be willing to learn from the ground up," she says. "Don't chase titles, chase knowledge. Spend time on-site. Ask the electricians questions. Touch the product; don't just read the brochure. Lighting is not learned from behind a desk."
Above all, she emphasises that reputation is the industry's greatest asset.
"Protect it with honesty, humility, and consistency," Reid advises. "Credibility is what people remember, not your title."
Looking ahead
Reid's focus now centres on expansion and elevation. She's working to evolve Liquid Lighting into a streamlined, tech-enabled business, integrating platforms to improve client access and service whilst deepening her expertise through ongoing lighting studies and industry research.
Beyond growth, she wants to raise the standard of professionalism in the lighting sector, leading through accountability, clarity, and trust. Her vision of success is both professional and personal: the freedom to build, explore, travel, and be present in her son's life whilst doing work that challenges and fulfils her.
