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