Full Name: Charl du Plessis

Position and Company Name: Director at Good Hope Imports

Main Activity of the Company: Good Hope Imports develops and sources lighting and lithium-related equipment for the mining industry, and is currently developing supply chains in China

Date and Place of Birth: December 31, 1978, Stellenbosch

Schools and Tertiary Education: Stellenbosch High, Stellenbosch University, the University of South Africa and the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants

First Job: Articled clerk

Size of First Pay Packet: R3 314 a month

Career Path to Date: After completing my articles and qualifying as a chartered accountant, I spent five years abroad, including three years in Dubai, focusing on pay-per-click arbitrage. This experience enabled me to return to South Africa and start businesses here. I then dedicated four years to leadership and life skills development for school leavers. During the past 12 years, I have been with Good Hope Imports, where I have been involved in developing lighting and related products for the mining industry

Number of People under Your Leadership: 12

Management Style: Value and outcome based. I set the course and destination for our business, and then focus on enabling the team to achieve that goal

Personal Best Achievement: Being happily married and having good relationships with my children

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My family

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Paul Edwards

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Ivan Glasenburg – I’m impressed by his success in setting up businesses and passion for uplifting athletes in South Africa

Philosophy of Life: Life is not about the destination – it’s about how and with whom you journey

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Being able to study without debt

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Nothing of significance, as every disappointment brings new opportunities

Hope for the Future: That South Africa moves past race-based policies, allowing our different cultures to be acknowledged and celebrated by all

Favourite Reading: Anything by Louis L’Amour

Favourite TV Programme: Life’s too short to watch television

Favourite Food/Drink: Plankie steak and pap – I’m South African!

Favourite Music: US singer-songwriter and musician Jack Johnson, whose notable albums include Brushfire Fairytales (2001), In Between Dreams (2005) and Sleep Through the Static (2008), and South Africa’s Jeremy Loops, whose albums include Trading Change (2014), Critical as Water (2018) and Heard You Got Love (2022)

Favourite Sport: Adventure racing – the multidisciplinary nature and team dynamics make it unlike any other sport. Each race is set in a unique location, pushing your boundaries in new ways

Hobbies: Travelling and kayak fishing

Car: Land Cruiser 200

Pets: Two old Labradors and a young Africanus called Roxy

Miscellaneous Dislikes: None

Married: To Lize du Plessis

Children: Lila, Mia, Charlotte and Franci

Clubs: Fishing, running and poker clubs. I’m also the vice-chairperson of the school governing board at Stellenbosch High, which allows me to give back and contribute insights from the private sector to the education sector