Full Name: Logashri Sewnarain

Position: CEO of SMEC South Africa

Main Activity of the Company: SMEC South Africa is a multidisciplinary consulting engineering and infrastructure solutions company

Date and Place of Birth: Pietermaritzburg

Education: BSc (Civil Engineering) and Fellowship in Arbitration

First Job: Engineer-in-training

Career History Prior to Current Position: After working for the National Department of Transport as a graduate engineer-in-training, I moved to the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral), where I started as a project manager, before being appointed regional manager: Sanral Eastern Region. I then joined SMEC South Africa as functional GM: roads and highways

Size of First Pay Packet: R3 500 a month

First Job with Present Group: Functional GM: roads and highways

Value of Assets under Your Control: Not stated

Number of People under Your Leadership: 548 at SMEC South Africa

Management Style: Collaborative, coaching

Personal Best Achievement: Raising two children and maintaining a happy family

Professional Best Achievement: My new job as CEO of SMEC South Africa

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

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: My many mentors along the way

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Jacinda Arendse

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Imtiaz Sooliman

Philosophy of Life: That there is more compassion and humanity in the world

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Receiving a bursary from the National Department of Transport – it was the foundation on which I built my career

Biggest Ever Disappointment: None

Hope for the Future: That there is more compassion and humanity in the world

Favourite Reading: Brene Brown, Robin Sharma

Favourite TV Programme: Grey’s Anatomy

Favourite Food/Drink: Thai food/wine

Favourite Music: 80s and 90s

Favourite Sport: The Olympics

Favourite Website: Google

Hobbies: Cooking, baking, gardening

Car: Volvo

Pets: A Jack Russel that thinks he is human

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Egotism

Favourite Other South African Company: There are many South African companies that I support and admire

Favourite Foreign Company: Nestlé

Married: To Anesh, since December 12, 1999

Children: Nikhil, 19; Neha, 15

Clubs: None – I’m a full-time mum