Full Name: Keletjo Chiloane

Position: Senior associate at Mercer

Main Activity of the Company: Mercer is part of MarshMclennan and specialises in health, wealth and career consulting. The main activities of the career business include talent strategy, talent mobility, human resource and organisational transformation, executive rewards, and workforce rewards

Date and Place of Birth: April 13, 1985, Mashite, Limpopo

Education: Master of Engineering (Industrial); MBA; BSc (Eng) (Metallurgical and Materials)

First Job: Engineering graduate at Mercedes-Benz Germany

Career History Prior to Current Position: PwC’s Strategy&, senior manager, September 2018 to June 2019; KPMG Advisory, senior manager, August 2016 to August 2018, and senior consultant, January 2013 to September 2016; ArcelorMittal South Africa, metallurgical engineer, July 2008 to December 2012; Mercedes-Benz South Africa, process engineering graduate, October 2007 to June 2008; Mercedes-Benz Germany, engineering graduate, March 2007 to September 2007

Size of First Pay Packet: About R6 000 a month

First Job with Present Group: Senior associate, since July 2020

Value of Assets under Your Control: Not stated

Number of People under Your Leadership: No direct reports

Management Style: Democratic and collaborative management

Personal Best Achievement: Completing the 94.7 Cycle Challenge on the first attempt, and completing my MBA, despite challenges

Professional Best Achievement: Introduction of lean production methodologies in the plant, which led to a reduction in lead times and improved production efficiency, as well as being the first female chairperson of the metal-casting technology station advisory board of the University of Johannesburg

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My father – he came from a poor background, but managed to build a business that has created employment for several people

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: My previous performance coach

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: American business executive, billionaire and philanthropist Sheryl Sandberg, and former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Wendy Luhabe and Renchia Droganis

Philosophy of Life: Always learning, always growing

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Being one of six employees selected to represent the views of young (aged under 35 years) employees at a global leadership meeting

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Not obtaining a high enough GMAT score to get me into a Tier 1 global business school

Hope for the Future: A society where we all live freely and safely and have equal opportunities to chart our own paths without any prejudice

Favourite Reading: Business psychology – Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead, by Sheryl Sandberg; biographies – I am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban, by Malala Yousafzai, and Becoming, by Michelle Obama

Favourite TV Programme: I don’t watch much television

Favourite Food/Drink: Medium rare steak with mash potato and roast vegetables

Favourite Music: South African soul: Zonke Dikana

Favourite Sport: Cycling

Favourite Website: None

Hobbies: Hiking/nature walking and travelling

Car: I am not much of a car fan – I’m happy with any comfortable, reliable vehicle

Pets: None

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Clutter

Favourite Other South African Company: None

Favourite Foreign Company: Oxfam

Married: Not married

Clubs: None