Full Name: Mpho Ronald Tlala
Position: CEO of MRT Mining & Consulting
Main Activity of the Company: Mining consulting and project management
Date and Place of Birth: November 5, 1976, Hammanskraal
Education: BSc Eng Mining, University of the Witwatersrand (Wits); MEng Mining, Wits; MBL, University of South Africa; MPhil Workplace Ethics, University of Pretoria
First Job: Anglo Coal’s Bank colliery
Size of First Pay Packet: R7 000 a month
Value of Assets under Your Control: R5-million
Number of People under Your Leadership: Four
Management Style: Participative
Personal Best Achievement: The 2009 Old Mutual MBL Award for the Most Progressive Student
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My mother
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Dr Jopie Coetzee
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Barack Obama
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Bill Gates
Philosophy of Life: Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies – Mother Teresa
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Receiving a bursary from Gold Fields for my undergraduate studies
Biggest Ever Disappointment: The passing on of my grandmother
Hope for the Future: Ethical leaders to reduce inequalities in our society
Favourite Reading: Academic leadership journals
Favourite TV Programme: News channels
Favourite Food/Drink: Pap and chicken
Favourite Music: African Jazz, R&B
Favourite Sport: Soccer and tennis
Hobbies: Chess and soccer
Car: Range Rover
Pets: None
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Corruption
Married: To Kate
Children: Karabo and Thabiso (twins), 6; Katlego, 4
Clubs: Professional Associations, namely the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, the South African Colliery Managers’ Association and the Black Management Forum