Full Name: Pearl P Mashabane

Position and Company Name: Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) leader for Cummins Africa Middle East

Main Activity of the Company: Manufacturing, distribution and maintenance of diesel engines and power systems

Date and Place of Birth: June 2, Limpopo province

Schools and Tertiary Education: Postgraduate degree in psychology, University of Pretoria; MBA candidate, University of Johannesburg

First Job: Senior counsellor for voluntary counselling and testing (VCT)/HIV programmes at the Society for Family Health

Career Path to Date: Senior counsellor: VCT/HIV programmes at the Society for Family Health/Population Services International; assistant director for employee health and wellness and gender focal point at the national Department of Public Service Administration (DPSA), employee wellness and diversity manager at the DPSA, diversity and inclusion consultant and facilitator at Inclusion South Africa, and diversity and inclusion manager: Financial Services Industry and DEI leader at Cummins Africa Middle East

Management Style: Servant and consultative leadership: building harmonious relationships, recognising people’s agency and soliciting ideas for inclusive decision-making

Personal Best Achievement: Staying hopeful, humorous and resilient amid life challenges

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My mother – she was a prime example of an African feminist before the phrase became part of my lexicon. As a single parent, she made big sacrifices for our education, challenged sexist cultural norms and raised us with firm principles

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: It takes a village to raise a child and mould leaders. Many people have contributed to my career development at various stages. However, Professor Richard Levin, a former director-general of the DPSA, is a prime example of an excellent, humble and inspirational leader who influenced and encouraged me at the start of my career in national government

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Martin Luther King Jr – for his courageous leadership and unwavering commitment to justice, equality and using the intersections of faith and activism to inspire through words and actions

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Dr Reuel Khoza and Oprah Winfrey – these leaders are both a testament that greatness can come from humble beginnings, that success has no race or gender, and that it is both possible and necessary for leaders to use their platforms for positive impact

Philosophy of Life: I seek to fulfill my purpose, love humanity and continuously grow through knowledge, service and adventure

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Living in New York City. The city allowed me to reimagine my life, expand the borders of my mind and heart and become comfortable as a global citizen in ways that would not have been possible had I not had the opportunity to live there for five years with my family

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Nothing. As I reflect, everything has worked for my good in terms of character development and career growth

Hope For the Future: A future where love, kindness and equality prevail over hatred, divisions and injustice, a future where positive leadership, technology and education are accessible and leveraged for innovation and the betterment of humanity

Favourite Reading: Creative nonfiction, self-help and African literature

Favourite TV Programme: Documentaries

Favourite Food/Drink: Seafood, sweet potatoes and ice cream

Favourite Music: Gospel, jazz, Afro pop

Favourite Sport: I don’t play any sport, but I enjoy watching marathons

Hobbies: Reading, gardening, collecting antiques, travelling and hiking

Pets: Rabbits and chickens

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Social inequality and all forms of violence

Married: I have been married for 19 years

Children: Two teenagers – a daughter aged 17 and a son aged 15