Full Name: Joe Ndala

Position: MD of AECOM South Africa and CFO of AECOM Africa

Main Activity of the Company: A Fortune 500 company, AECOM designs, builds, finances and operates infrastructure assets for governments, businesses and organisations in more than 150 countries

Date and Place of Birth: August 1971, Gajubane, Ogies, Mpumalanga

Education: BCompt, FCCA and MSc (finance and management)

First Job: Office administrator

Career History Prior to Current Position: Office administrator, financial/projects accountant, financial manager/controller/director, associate director, CFO

Size of First Pay Packet: R1 600 a month

First Job with Present Group: Regional finance director for Africa

Value of Assets under Your Control: R1.8-billion

Number of People under Your Leadership: 680

Management Style: Relationship-focused and people-orientated, with the goal of being a visionary leader who inspires and mentors

Personal Best Achievement: Buying my first car ever, a Jetta II

Professional Best Achievement: Becoming MD of a global engineering firm

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

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Anthony Jackson

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Richard Branson

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Sipho Nkosi

Philosophy of Life: Be the reason why others smile

Biggest Ever Opportunity: The opportunity to lead AECOM Africa

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Switching studies from commerce to engineering and then back to commerce

Hope for the Future: That I inspire others to take up leadership roles and realise their true potential

Favourite Reading: Who Moved My Cheese, by Dr Spencer Johnson

Favourite TV Programme: Live soccer games

Favourite Food/Drink: Pizza

Favourite Music: Kwaito and R&B

Favourite Sport: Soccer

Favourite Website: Coca-Cola.com

Hobbies: Walking

Car: Mercedes-Benz

Pets: Two dogs (Topie and Tiger-Jack)

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Laziness and complaining, which are counterproductive and negative

Favourite Other South African Company: Discovery

Favourite Foreign Company: Coca-Cola

Married: To Jeanette

Children: Hlumela, a boy, 15; Xhumile, a girl, 13

Clubs: None