Full Name: Bayanda Mncwango

Position: Head of smelting operations, Anglo American Platinum

Main Activity of the Company: Production of platinum-group metals (PGMs). The smelter operations process all Anglo American Platinum’s, as well as joint-venture and third-party, PGM-rich concentrates using pyrometallurgical technologies

Date and Place of Birth: November 2, 1978, Mandini, KwaZulu-Natal

Education: MBA, Gordon Institute of Business Science; BSc (Hons) (metallurgy); BSc (Hons) (management of technology); BTech (chemical engineering)

First Job: Metallurgist at the Waterval smelter, Anglo American Platinum, 2001

Size of First Pay Packet: I think it was between R6 000 and R8 000 a month

Value of Assets under Your Control: The operating expenditure budget is around R3-billion a year

Number of People under Your Leadership: Including all contractors, the employment complement varies between 1 500 and 1 800

Management Style: I have grown to be a leader who combines a people-orientated leadership style, based on my values, and leading by example, which, in time, hopefully, influences the teams. I believe the modest success I have had is a result of this approach. I also think it is important to instil a sense of hope in people I work with, but also take great responsibility for what needs to be accomplished. All these are served well through my open-door policy, which allows employees at all levels to share their experiences with me. This is valuable to me as I get to know people as human beings, not just as employees

Personal Best Achievement: Appointment as commissioning manager for an Ausmelt converter in 2005/6 at the Anglo converter plant. Having been part of a very successful owners’ team, the role followed naturally and the project led to my interacting with very senior leaders in the organisation. The project was a resounding success

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: I come from a very close-knit family, so it is no surprise that my mother has had the biggest influence. From an early age, she instilled in me values of humility, hard work and the importance of education

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: My very first mentor, Dr Steven Matthews. I have also been blessed with many leaders and managers at different stages of my career and my life in the past and even now

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Aliko Dangote

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Elon Musk
Philosophy of Life: There are usually no short cuts in life; you have to get down and dirty

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Leading an exceptionally talented senior team, who are amazing leaders and specialists in their own right

Biggest Ever Disappointment: The death of an employee in a safety- related accident at work barely four months into my current job

Hope for the Future: That I will see my daughters become great people; that our glorious country one day fulfils its potential of eradicating poverty and creating employment for the masses

Favourite Reading: I am currently reading an interesting book I received as a gift from its author, Johann Coetzee, titled It’s About Time: The executive who didn’t die.

Favourite TV Programme: Current affairs, sport, music videos, comedies

Favourite Food/Drink: Traditional meals, like sugar beans, phuthu, samp with beans and fruit juices

Favourite Music: Mostly R&B and soul music

Favourite Sport: Soccer

Hobbies: Relaxing and spending time at home with my family, catching up with friends, watching soccer, and, once in a while, I get on the road and jog

Car: Mercedes-Benz C180.

Pets: None – for now and forever, but not if my two girls have their way

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Being stuck in traffic; doing handy work and gardening

Married: To Nozie

Children: Uyanda, 11; Zethembiso, 4

Clubs: Orlando Pirates, Chelsea, Real Madrid