Full Name: Lerato Hillary Molebatsi

Position: Executive VP of Lonmin since September 2013

Main Activity of the Company: Platinum mining

Date and Place of Birth: September 23, 1969, Johannesburg

Education: Shomang Junior Primary School, Orlando West, Soweto; Nkholi Higher Primary School, Pimville, Soweto; Thaba-Jabula High School, Soweto, 1982 to 1985; Promat College, Johannesburg, matric, 1986; All Saints Senior College, Bisho, philosophy, politics and economics, 1987; University of Turfloop, Vista University, now University of Johannesburg’s Soweto campus, BA (psychology) 1988 to 1991; rural development diploma, University of the Witwatersrand, 1998; senior management development programme, Stellenbosch University Business School, 2000

First Job: Assistant manager: communications, Alexander Forbes – negotiating with trade union members who were moving from defined benefit funds to defined contribution funds, demanding transparency and board of trustee representation, 1993

Size of First Pay Packet: R4 800 a month

Value of Assets under Your Control: R28-billion (£1.6-billion)

Number of People under Your Leadership: 38 000, made up of 28 000 permanent employees and 10 000 contracting personnel

Management Style: I am a player who expects accountability without the need for any micromanagement whatsoever

Personal Best Achievement: Sanlam’s successful Ubuntu-Botho black economic-empowerment (BEE) transaction with Patrice Motsepe, into which BEE shareholders were able to add direct value to Sanlam

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My grandmother, who turned 100 in February

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Sanlam CEO Johan van Zyl

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Fidel Castro

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Raymond Ackerman

Philosophy of Life: Never stop learning

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Working for Lonmin

Biggest Ever Disappointment: I have had no disappointments. I look for new opportunities in setbacks and move forward

Hope for the Future: That the mining sector takes its rightful place so that South Africa can maximise its enormous mineral potential

Favourite Reading: Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, is my favourite book of all time

Favourite TV Programme: News

Favourite Food/Drink: Fish and a chilled Sauvignon Blanc

Favourite Music: Eclectic – old R&B, Motown, jazz, local gospel, choral

Favourite Sport: No favourite

Hobbies: Reading, listening to music, photography

Car: Audi Q5

Pets: None

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Conversations beginning with ‘I’

Married: Separated

Children: Tshimologo, 17; Leatile, 12

Clubs: None