Fortune Mojapelo

4th April 2014 By: Martin Creamer - Creamer Media Editor

Fortune Mojapelo

Full Name: Fortune Tsepo Mojapelo

Position: CEO of Bushveld Minerals since March 2012

Main Activity of the Company: Mineral exploration and developing iron-ore and tin projects on the Bushveld Igneous Complex of South Africa

Date and Place of Birth: April 6, 1976, Zimbabwe

Education: ‘A’ Levels, Fletcher High School, Zimbabwe; BSc (actuarial science), University of Cape Town

First Job: Business analyst at McKinsey & Company

Size of First Pay Packet: R15 000 a month

Value of the Assets under Your Control: About R750-million

Number of People under Your Leadership: 20

Management Style: Consensus-driven but not at the expense of prerogative, responsibility and accountability for decision-making; commitment to personal development; and meritocracy in recognising and rewarding performance

Personal Best Achievement: My family

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: God (through providence) and my business partners, Professor Richard Viljoen, Professor Morris Viljoen and Anthony Viljoen

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Myles Munro

Person Who Has Impressed You Most in Business: Several, including Sipho Nkosi, Patrice Motsepe and Strive Masiyiwa – people who personify the creed ‘Who dares wins’

Philosophy of Life: We have not inherited the earth from our ancestors, but only borrow it from future generations

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Entering into a partnership with the Viljoens

Biggest Ever Disappointment: The failure of my first entrepreneurial venture when I was a student – in hindsight, the lessons and opportunities have been too good to term that experience a disappointmen

Hope for the Future: That Africa, and more specifically South Africa, fully realises the potential of its natural resources

Favourite Reading: The Bible, philosophy and biographies

Favourite TV Programme: News channels, Supersport Blitz and the History channel

Favourite Food/Drink: None, really/a good red wine

Favourite Music: All sorts – there are gems in every genre

Favourite Sport: Soccer, golf and tennis

Hobbies: Golf, cooking and reading

Car: Mercedes-Benz

Pets: Dogs

Dislikes: Presumptuousness

Married: To Sazini Mojapelo

Children: Modise, Mosa and Destiny

Clubs: Country Club Johannesburg