Full Name: Mosidi Makgae
Position: COO, Council for Geoscience
Main Activity of the Company: The Council for Geoscience is South Africa’s leading organisation for geological surveying, mapping and geological science
Date and Place of Birth: November, 25, 1974, Rustenburg
Education: PhD (environmental chemistry), Stellenbosch University; Management Advancement Programme, Wits Business School
First Job: Senior scientist, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
Size of First Pay Packet: R260 000 a year
Number of People under Your Leadership: About 250 employees
Management Style: I believe in a situational management style – there is no one-size-fits-all in management because people and circumstances are different
Personal Best Achievement: Career advancement programme
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My mother and Dr Godfred Humphrey, who believed in me when I arrived at university. He was my guardian angel; unfortunately, he has since passed on
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Dr Godfred Humphrey, who, at the time, was the dean of the Faculty of Science, and Dr Thobeka Pete, who encouraged me to pursue a PhD
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Oprah Winfrey, a woman of courage
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Patrice Motsepe – for his humility
Philosophy of Life: Life is what you make of it – we live by the choices we make
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Attending the World Nuclear University, in South Korea, in 2007. What an eye opener – seeing nuclear experts from everywhere in the world under one roof and hearing them share their experiences!
Biggest Ever Disappointment: Realising that the people that I so respected did not deserve the respect I gave them
Hope for the Future: That, one day, all my dreams will come true
Favourite Reading: The Leader Who Had No Title, by Robin Sharma – it took me to another level in life
Favourite TV Programme: Animal Planet and Cartoon Network
Favourite Food/Drink: Alto Rouge
Favourite Music: Soul and reggae
Favourite Sport: Cricket and soccer
Hobbies: Reading
Car: BMW
Pets: A Jack Russell
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Negative people who always see what is wrong without coming up with solutions
Married: Unmarried
Children: Daughter Tshiamo, 16; son Thikho, 5
Clubs/Memberships: Women in Mining, Water Institute of Southern Africa, OneGeology, South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions