Full Name: Kathleen Barbara Marais

Position: Owner and FD of Blue Chip Lubricants

Main Activity of the Company: Manufacturer of industrial lubricants

Date and Place of Birth: March 10, 1973, Rustenburg

Education: Higher certificate in practical accounting

First Job: Receptionist

Career History Prior to Current Position: I joined Blue Chip Lubricants as a receptionist in 1991 and worked in almost every position, ending up as the FD. I bought the company in 2001

Size of First Pay Packet: R1 500 a month

First Job with Present Group: Receptionist

Value of Assets under Your Control: R75-million

Number of People under Your Leadership: 50

Management Style: I lead from the front – I cannot expect someone to handle a position if I do not know what the position entails

Personal Best Achievement: Raising two boys, while holding down a full-time job and dealing with Type 1 diabetes

Professional Best Achievement: Entering into a strategic partnership with Kuwait Petroleum Corporation to manufacture its Q8 Oils brand locally

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My Husband, Gary Marais.

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Ernie Campos, the previous owner of Blue Chip Lubricants and my late boss – he taught me how to become an irreplaceable asset for a business

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: American horse trainer Monty Roberts

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Phil Knight, of Nike – because, businesswide, his path to success is very similar to the path I have followed in the past 18 years

Philosophy of Life: Family comes first

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Buying Blue Chip Lubricants when I was only 28 years old and eight months pregnant

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Every disappointment I have ever had resulted in my taking a different direction, which, ultimately, was a more positive route to take

Hope for the Future: That my boys are happy in their chosen paths and that Blue Chip Lubricants continues to go from strength to strength

Favourite Reading: Stieg Larsson – but I do not have much time to read these days

Favourite TV Programme: Ozark, Younger, Bodyguard, Queen of the South

Favourite Food/Drink: Fish and seafood/red wine and coffee

Favourite Music: Adult contemporary to soft rock

Favourite Sport: Participating: horse riding; watching: hockey

Favourite Website: Takealot.com.

Hobbies: Horse riding

Car: Mercedes-Benz A220 D

Pets: A cocker spaniel, a springer spaniel, a Boerbull mix, a Siamese cat, two thoroughbred horses and a Welsh pony

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Coriander – the devils weed; and when people lie to me

Favourite Other South African Company: Woolworths

Favourite Foreign Company: Desigualg

Married: To Gary Marais, since September 10, 1994

Children: Keegan, 20; Cameron, 18

Clubs: Do a dinner club and a book club count?