Full Name: Martin Nare Masitise

Position and Company Name: Founder and CEO of Mohlalefi Engineering

Main Activity of the Company: Manufacturing of mining roof support products, mining safety consulting and hydrogen energy research

Date and Place of Birth: December 20, 1986, Soweto, Gauteng

Schools and Tertiary Education: Madume Primary School and Raphela Secondary School, both in Orange Farm, Gauteng; BSc (Mechanical Engineering), University of the Witwatersrand (Wits); MSc (Mechanical Engineering), Wits; Postgraduate Diploma (Manufacturing Focus), Gordon Institute of Business Science; final-year LLB candidate, University of South Africa

First Job: Providing garden services on a part-time basis while I was at high school

Size of First Pay Packet: R30 a day

Career Path to Date: I am a registered professional engineer with the Engineering Council of South Africa and have worked in the nuclear energy, mining and manufacturing sectors, specialising in product development and commercialisation. The exposure received in my previous employment roles led to me identifying a gap in the mining safety products market, which resulted in my founding of Mohlalefi Engineering in 2017

Value of Assets under Your Control: Not stated

Number of People under Your Leadership: 57

Management Style: Results- or outcome-based, with constant communication and feedback to allow for iterations; continuous improvement and innovation; and fast-paced response to customer needs

Personal Best Achievement: Matriculating with distinction and being ranked the fourth-best student from more than 400 township high schools in Gauteng, and receiving an Excellence Award from the province’s then MEC for Education, Angie Motshekga. I also received the inaugural Presidential Black Industrialist Excellence Award from President Cyril Ramaphosa earlier this year

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

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

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Mohlalefi, my great-great-grandfather, who is the originator of my family clan name and after whom my company is named, as well as Elon Musk – I admire his innovation and perspective of the universe

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Discovery founder and CEO Adrian Gore, and Ntate Mabe, who owned a liquor distribution company in Orange Farm when I was growing up

Philosophy of Life: There is no limit to what we can achieve – God created the universe, and Planet Earth is only the beginning

Biggest Ever Opportunity: As someone from a previously disadvantaged background, the opportunity to study at Wits

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Deepening inequality, which has led to increasing economic divides in the world

Hope for the Future: A prosperous African continent that beneficiates its minerals and an end to world hunger, in line with Sustainable Development Goal Number 2

Favourite Reading: Start with Why, by Simon Sinek

Favourite TV Programme: SuperSport – motorsport

Favourite Food/Drink: Traditional Sunday Kos (7 colours)

Favourite Music: House and Amapiano

Favourite Sport: F1, soccer and cricket

Hobbies: Playing pool, watching sports and participating in community-upliftment projects

Car: BMW

Pets: Two dogs – Shelly and Spike

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Crime and lawlessness

Married: No

Children: None

Clubs: Mshengu 11 Football Club