Joseph Zinyana, CEO at New Age Engineering Solutions
Full Name: Joseph Zinyana
Position: CEO at New Age Engineering Solutions
Main Activity of the Company: New Age Engineering Solutions is a structural, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation and process construction firm
Date and Place of Birth: January 31, Pretoria, South Africa
Schools and Tertiary Education: I am a scientist, metallurgist and welding engineer with BSc and MSc degrees in metallurgy and an MEng in welding from the University of the Witwatersrand. I am also a certified inspector of pressure vessels with several inspection and quality certificates. To enhance my management knowledge, I completed a certificate in business management through the University of South Africa
First Job: Teacher
Size of First Pay Packet: R2 300 a month
First Job with Present Group: I have always been the CEO of New Age Engineering Solutions and was appointed as chairperson of the CGZAH group in 2020
Career Path to Date: I began my career in 1994, in education, teaching mathematics and science at a government high school, before moving to a Catholic high school in Atteridgeville, Gauteng, where I also served as the head of the mathematics and science department, remaining there until 1998. I then transitioned into higher education and research, working as a research assistant at Mintek and a tutor at the University of the Witwatersrand from 1998 to 2000, when I ventured into engineering, starting as a junior engineer at Iscor Newcastle. My journey continued at Sasol Synfuels, where I worked as a quality/welding engineer from 2001 to 2004. I also took on a part-time role as a lecturer at Vaal Technikon from 2001 to 2004. I later joined an inspection company in Mossgas as a part-time IPE. In 2004, I was privileged to head New Age Engineering Solutions, which began its operations as a metallurgical and welding consultancy. Arc Engineering offered me my first nonexecutive directorship role in 2005. In 2006, I served as a board member of the Southern African Institute of Welding and was elected president of the institute in 2020, a position I continue to hold. I am also a proud member of YPO and Abundance a360
Number of People under Your Leadership: 980
Management Style: I enjoy coaching my teams and aligning them with my strategy and with both my vision and the company’s vision. While I embrace a transformative leadership style, I am also firm in my decision-making process. At times, the team perceive me as autocratic, especially when they take long to make decisions
Personal Best Achievement: Creating opportunities for more than 300 graduates and facilitating their entry into the job market
Professional Best Achievement: Growing a business that spread to four geographic regions and leading a group valued at more than R1.4-billion.
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: Steve Jobs, who, before his death, stressed the importance of balancing business and personal life
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: The late Paulo De Gavino Dias, a former Sasol welding and quality engineer
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: British-Nigerian singer and songwriter Helen Folasade Adu, widely known by her stage name, Sade Adu, and Oprah Winfrey
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Raymond Ackerman, for his business model
Philosophy of Life: “Everything is possible”, and it does not matter what the next person says
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Starting a business and dominating the gas and petrochemicals industry
Biggest Ever Disappointment: Not being able to spend quality time with my family
Hope for the Future: That the youth start to take life seriously and to develop the country. I would also like to see the justice system cater for all social groups, and not only the elite
Favourite Reading: The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, by Patrick Lencioni
Favourite TV Programme: None
Favourite Food/Drink: African cuisine and Delheim red wine (Vera Cruz)
Favourite Music: R&B and 90’s soul music
Favourite Sport: Swimming
Hobbies: Cycling and reading
Car: High-performance cars – Mercedes-Benz has always been my favourite
Pets: Cats, but I don’t own any because my children are allergic to them
Miscellaneous Dislikes: A huge credit card bill and debt
Favourite Other South African Company: Ernest and Young (EY)
Favourite Foreign Company: None
Married: To Suzan
Children: Four girls
Clubs: Cubana
