Full Name: Bertina Symonds
Position and Company Name: GM of Bushveld Vametco Alloys since April 2019
Main Activity of the Company: Vametco Alloys is an integrated vanadium mining and processing operation located 8 km north-east of Brits, in the North West
Date and Place of Birth: October 5, 1966, Boons, North West
Education: BSc (Hons); MBL
First Job: Scientist-in-training
Size of First Pay Packet: R2 400 a month
Value of Assets under Your Control: Bushveld Vametco is a subsidiary of AIM-listed Bushveld Minerals, which has a market capitalisation of about £400-million; Vametco’s sales revenue and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation for the 2018 financial year were $192.2-million and $107.5-million respectively
Number of People under Your Leadership: 492
Management Style: Consultative, with clear decisions made in the best interest of the business
Personal Best Achievement: My appointment as GM
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My mother
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Patrice Motsepe
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Melinda Gates
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Warren Buffett
Philosophy of Life: A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing grows there; find strength and hope in difficult situations; celebrate successes and learn from failures
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Being part of Bushveld Minerals and its exciting growth
Biggest Ever Disappointment: All my disappointments have been short lived – I live with gratitude
Hope for the Future: That South Africans unite and work together to create a country that, through good governance and efficiency, creates growth opportunities for all its people
Favourite Reading: The CEO Next Door, by Elena Botelho and Kim Powell
Favourite TV Programme: Bloomberg leadership profiles, such as Bloomberg Big Decisions
Favourite Food/Drink: Italian food/red wine
Favourite Music: Heavy metal
Favourite Sport: Rugby
Hobbies: Travelling, collecting antiques, restoring heritage buildings, collecting cycads and rare plants
Car: Lexus SUV
Pets: Two rescued dogs and four rescued cats
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Arrogance and dishonesty
Married: To Jimmy Symonds
Children: Christopher, 21
Clubs: Association of Mine Managers South Africa