Full Name: Nitesh Marcel Singh

Position and Company Name: Communications Media and Technology lead for Africa at Accenture

Main Activity of the Company: Accenture is a global professional services company that helps businesses, governments and other organisations build their digital core, optimise their operations, accelerate revenue growth and enhance citizen services – creating tangible value at speed and scale. Accenture is a talent- and innovation-led company with 733 000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries

Date and Place of Birth: July 29, 1976, Durban

Schools and Tertiary Education: Wyebank Secondary School and the University of KwaZulu-Natal, where I obtained my information technology and business information systems degree

First Job: Bank teller

Size of First Pay Packet: R1 500 a month

Career Path to Date: Bank teller, software developer, business owner, consultant and MD

Value of Assets under Your Control: Not stated

Number of People under Your Leadership: 350 employees

Management Style: Inclusive, extreme ownership, and a we-are-all-accountable approach

Personal Best Achievement: My martial arts awards and academic qualifications

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

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Fernando Usera, a Spaniard who taught me about integrity; Giuseppe Janelli, an Italian who taught me about honesty; and Gary Heffernan, a Scotsman who taught me about trust

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: The Pope or the Dalai Lama

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Microsoft Africa’s Lillian Barnard, and Kathleen O Reilly, who is Accenture’s global communications and media lead

Philosophy of Life: Everyone suffers but, if you suffer without purpose, you suffer for nothing

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Regaining my life after an accident

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Leaving a business I founded; however, this allowed me to have a new chapter in my life

Hope For the Future: That every person becomes the best version of themselves, with a high degree of integrity, honesty and trust

Favourite Reading: The Book of Five Rings, a text on kenjutsu and the martial arts in general, written by the Japanese swordsman Miyamoto Musashi

Favourite TV Programme: Ray Donavan and The Sopranos (tied)

Favourite Drink: Johnny Walker Black on the rocks

Favourite Music: Rock and a bit of the 70s, 80s and 90s

Favourite Sport: Mixed martial arts

Hobbies: Brazilian jiu-jitsu and reading inspirational books

Car: BMW 3 Series

Pets: Two German Shepards (Raj and Rani) and a Boston terrier named Roxanne

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Toxic thinking, inefficient processes, and dishonesty

Clubs: Jukutatsu Jiu Jitsu