Full Name: Siyabonga Mbanjwa

Position: Regional MD of SENER

Main Activity of the Company: SENER is involved in energy, including renewable energy, power and oil and gas, as well as infrastructure, including high-speed rail, ports, airports, water, tunnels, bridges and roads

Date and Place of Birth: May 21, 1974

Education: BSc (Hons) (construction management), University of Cape Town; MSc (project management), University of Pretoria (UP); MBA), UP; international executive development programme, Wits Business School and London Business School

First Job: Junior site engineer at Murray & Roberts Construction

Career History Prior to Current Position: MD, Crowie Concessions & Crowie Projects; regional manager, Old Mutual Properties; project manager, South African Reserve Bank, site engineer: Murray & Roberts Construction

Size of First Pay Packet: R4 100 a month

First Job with Present Group: Regional MD: Southern Africa

Value of Assets under Your Control: SENER Southern Africa’s share on recent projects totals about R7-billion

Number of People under Your Leadership: 60 indirect reports in operations and maintenance special-purpose vehicles

Management Style: I prefer to let others take responsibility for their own actions and be accountable when things go wrong

Personal Best Achievement: Completing my first master’s degree

Professional Best Achievement: As project manager, crafting the first project I worked on from inception to preparing the brief, leading the design and planning phase and ensuring that funding was in place and that construction was completed within budget

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

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

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Chief Albert Luthuli

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Jack Walsh

Philosophy of Life: If you really want something, don’t give up when doors close on you – keep pushing until the doors open

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Being accepted as one of the first students at the Uthongathi NEST school, which was established in 1987 as South Africa’s first fully multiracial co-ed school

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Losing my grandmother only a couple of years after starting my career

Hope for the Future: To make a meaningful contribution to the development of infrastructure in Southern Africa

Favourite Reading: The Goal, by Eliyahu Goldratt

Favourite TV Programme: ’Sgudi ’Snaysi

Favourite Food/Drink: Rice and beans/Steelworks

Favourite Music: R & B

Favourite Sport: Basketball

Favourite Website: www.southernafrica.sener

Hobbies: Golf, cycling and running

Car: BMW X5

Pets: Until recently, we had two dogs: a Jack Russell and a dachshund

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Arrogance and being disrespectful

Favourite Other South African Company: Naspers

Favourite Foreign Company: Google

Married: To Jazz Mbanjwa, since December 12, 2003

Children: Ziyanda,19; Ande, 12; Mabande, 5

Clubs: Cycle Lab, the World of Golf and Eagle Canyon Golf Club