Full Name: Bhekani Kwazokuhle Nkululeko Mdlalose

Position: Group MD of Grinaker-LTA

Main Activity of the Company: Engineering, construction and concessions

Date and Place of Birth: September 12, 1979, Melmoth, KwaZulu-Natal

Education: Mechanical engineering degree; MBA

First Job: Engineer-in-training at Fibre Wound SA

Career History Prior to Current Position: MD, Aveng Grinaker-LTA Mechanical and Electrical, and Operating Group MD at Aveng Grinaker-LTA

Size of First Pay Packet: R2 050 a month

First Job with Present Group: Group MD

Value of Assets under Your Control: About R560-million

Number of People under Your Leadership: Between 2 000 and 5 000

Management Style: Participative – I have an open-door policy and encourage employee input in decision-making

Personal Best Achievement: Being appointed director of DSE Structural Engineers (a division of Aveng Grinaker-LTA) at 28

Professional Best Achievement: Delivering World Cup stadium roofs on time for Soccer City, Moses Mabhida Stadium and Cape Town Stadium

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My friends, Tony Indiveri and Branko Mdladina, and immediate family, Ntuli and Bhengu Mdlalose

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Quite a few people from Aveng and Murray & Roberts, including Paul Edwards, Kobus Marais, Eric Diack, Adrian Macartney and Sean Flanagan

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Jack Ma

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Kevin Hedderwick

Philosophy of Life: Be genuine to people

Biggest Ever Opportunity: To lead a standalone Grinaker-LTA after the buyout from Aveng

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Having to rightsize the business from R8-billion revenue to R4-billion revenue, owing to market forces; and letting go of loyal, long-serving employees

Hope for the Future: Stability within the political environment, and an integrated South Africa – this country has a lot of potential

Favourite Reading: Any book written by Robin Sharma or Paulo Coelho

Favourite TV Programme: All SuperSport channels

Favourite Food/Drink: Bacalhau a bras and sparkling water

Favourite Music: Gospel music

Favourite Sport: Cycling

Favourite Website: YouTube

Hobbies: Running and cycling

Car: Mercedes-Benz

Pets: None

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Pretentious and selfish people

Favourite Other South African Company: Bidvest

Favourite Foreign Company: Strabag

Married: To Thabile Pearl Mdlalose, since July 6, 2002

Children: Ayanda, 17; Mbali, 15; Gugu, 9; Ucabango, 8

Clubs: Jeppe Quondam Sports Club, Bedfordview Country Club, Mount Edgecombe Country Club