Full Name: Joel Sereme Maphaka Malatji

Position: CEO of Methano Group

Main Activity of the Company: Methano Group is an engineering, procurement and construction management company that is active in the mining, water, renewable energy, and industry sectors

Date and Place of Birth: November 21, 1982, Tzaneen, Limpopo province

Schools and Tertiary Education: MBA, Stellenbosch University Business School; digital strategy, Vlerick Business School, Belgium; global leadership programme, HIVE, US; BTech (Mechanical Engineering), Cape Peninsula University of Technology; Government Certificate of Competence (Mines and Works); postgraduate qualification (Advanced Manufacturing and CAD/CAM), Indo German Tooling Institute

First Job: Junior engineer at Denel Swartklip

Career History Prior to Current Position: Junior engineer at Denel, project manager at the Department of Science and Technology/Technology Innovation Agency, project manager at the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation, section engineer at Anglo American Platinum, senior engineering manager: production at African Rainbow Minerals, engineering manager at PPC, and business development executive at Methano Group

Size of First Pay Packet: R1 980.50 a month

First Job with Present Group: Business development executive

Value of Assets under Your Control: R482-million

Number of People under Your Leadership: 92

Management Style: Authentic leadership

Personal Best Achievement: Founding Methano Group

Professional Best Achievement: Growing Methano Group’s revenue from R1-million to more than R400-million in five years

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

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Maboe Maphaka

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Elon Musk

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Sandile Zungu

Philosophy of Life: Hard work yields results

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Being awarded a scholarship to study advanced manufacturing and CAD/CAM at the Indo German Tooling Institute by the Department of Science and Technology

Biggest Ever Disappointment: South Africa’s high unemployment rate

Hope for the Future: South Africa will become a better place if we embrace our diversity to grow our economy

Favourite Reading: Good to Great, by Jim Collins

Favourite TV Programme: None

Favourite Food/Drink: Cappuccino coffee

Favourite Music: Gospel

Favourite Sport: Table tennis

Favourite Website: LinkedIn

Hobbies: Running marathons

Car: Mercedes-Benz

Pets: None

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Incompetence; however, coaching is essential

Favourite Foreign Company: SpaceX

Married: To Noneka Ngcai, since May 2002

Children: Lethabo, Thato, Ditebogo, Tumisho, Tshwarelo, Thapelo

Clubs: Woodhill Golf Club