Full Name: Meta Mhlarhi

Position and Company Name: Cofounder and executive director of Mahlako a Phahla Group, executive director of Mahlako Financial Services, director of Prieska Power Reserve, and cofounder and chairperson of the Black Energy Professionals Association

Main Activity of the Company: Investments, and advisory and financial services

Date and Place of Birth: December 4, 1979, Tzaneen, Limpopo province

Schools and Tertiary Education: BCom, University of the Witwatersrand; BCom (Hons), University of KwaZulu-Natal; Seed, Stanford University Graduate School of Business; CA(SA)

First Job: Trainee accountant at Deloitte

Size of First Pay Packet: R3 700 a month

Career Path to Date: I am a chartered accountant with over 19 years’ professional experience – ranging from energy to infrastructure investment, asset management and advisory services. I started off as a trainee accountant at Deloitte, after which I joined Investec. I then started my entrepreneurial journey in a business venture with my cousin. In 2008, I started Mahlako a Phahla Investments with my sister, moving from developers to social infrastructure investors

Value of Assets under Your Control: Market capitalisation of R5-billion

Number of People under Your Leadership: 32 employees

Management Style: Transformational leadership

Personal Best Achievement: Taking a chance with my sister to create Mahlako is the best investment I have made – not only for my future, but also for other young black women. It encourages them to take on leadership roles in their lives. I believe I have contributed to opening doors for women in South Africa. Other major achievements include the establishment an organisation that represents black people in the South African energy sector, raising the-first-of-its-kind energy fund in South Africa, receiving the Entrepreneur of the Year Award from African Women Chartered Accountants and being selected as a Woman of Fortitude to continue the legacy of Mama Albertina Sisulu

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My mother, Mahlako Maponya, after whom our company was named to pay homage to her pioneering and entrepreneurial spirit in building a successful family business at a time when it was difficult for many black people to do so

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: My late parents, Matome and Mahlako Maponya, who were pillars of influence and strength for us – they taught us entrepreneurial skills and activism, and to always believe in ourselves and be courageous

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Blackstone Group CEO Stephen Schwarzman

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Steve Jobs – for his philosophy on business and charity

Philosophy of Life: My personal philosophy is that, in everything we do, we must try to impact on the next person positively. Hence, in our business and especially in what we do, we aim to have a sustainable socioeconomic impact. Although we are driven by the profit motive, we ensure that our stakeholders also benefit

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Starting Mahlako a Phahla and tapping into the energy sector

Biggest Ever Disappointment: The fact that the country has not been developing at the pace it should be so many years after democracy

Hope For the Future: That there is inclusive economic growth and transformation in South Africa. Personally, I hope to play an instrumental role in the transformation of the energy sector

Favourite Reading: Inspirational stories of successful businesspeople

Favourite TV Programme: When I am not catching up on current affairs on BusinessDayTV, I enjoy watching Ozarks

Favourite Food/Drink: South African cuisine – mogodu, pap and braai

Favourite Music: 90s music and 2000 RnB

Favourite Sport: Running (participating) and F1 (watching)

Hobbies: Travelling and cooking

Car: I am not fussy about cars – a German car that is functional

Pets: None

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Laziness and talk without action

Married: To Sydney Mhlarhi

Children: Tiyani, 20; Lebone, 18; Lungi, 15; Masana, 7

Clubs/Memberships: The Black Energy Professionals Association, the Association of Black Investment Professionals, African Women Chartered Accountants, and the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants