Full Name: Lili Nupen

Position and Company: Director and founder of NSDV

Main Activity of the Company: NSDV is a mining, environmental and construction law and professional advisory company

Date and Place of Birth: December 7, Johannesburg

Education: BSocSci (Politics, Philosophy and Economics), LLB, dual MBA (cum laude)

First Job: Attorney

Size of First Pay Packet: R10 000 a month

Career Path to Date: After serving my articles at Bowmans, I completed my dual MBA at Wits Business School and HEC Paris. Thereafter, I joined law firm Malan Scholes and later left to found NSDV

Number of People under Your Leadership: 26

Management Style: Firm but fair; “We hire adults and treat them as such”

Personal Best Achievement: Achieving a cum laude pass for my MBA

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

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Ezra Davids and Hulme Scholes

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Maya Angelou (if she were still alive)

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Mpumi Zikalala, of Kumba Iron Ore

Philosophy of Life: Don’t be boring

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Starting NSDV

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Realising that there are very few women in the mining industry

Hope for the Future: Grace and Adam (my children)

Favourite Reading: Old books about South African mines, such as The Gold Miners, by AP Cartwright

Favourite TV Programme: The Crown and The Queen’s Gambit

Favourite Food/Drink: Bubbly

Favourite Music: Ed Sheeran

Favourite Sport: Ballet

Hobbies: Socialising

Car: Prado

Pets: Two standard French poodles – Zoe and Leo

Miscellaneous Dislikes: People who use and abuse

Married: To Cameron Staude

Children: Grace, 6; Adam, 4

Clubs: None