Nitesh Singh, communications media and technology lead for for Africa at Accenture
Full Name: Nitesh Marcel Singh
Position and Company Name: Communications Media and Technology lead for Africa at Accenture
Main Activity of the Company: Accenture is a global professional services company that helps businesses, governments and other organisations build their digital core, optimise their operations, accelerate revenue growth and enhance citizen services – creating tangible value at speed and scale. Accenture is a talent- and innovation-led company with 733 000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries
Date and Place of Birth: July 29, 1976, Durban
Schools and Tertiary Education: Wyebank Secondary School and the University of KwaZulu-Natal, where I obtained my information technology and business information systems degree
First Job: Bank teller
Size of First Pay Packet: R1 500 a month
Career Path to Date: Bank teller, software developer, business owner, consultant and MD
Value of Assets under Your Control: Not stated
Number of People under Your Leadership: 350 employees
Management Style: Inclusive, extreme ownership, and a we-are-all-accountable approach
Personal Best Achievement: My martial arts awards and academic qualifications
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My grandmother
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Fernando Usera, a Spaniard who taught me about integrity; Giuseppe Janelli, an Italian who taught me about honesty; and Gary Heffernan, a Scotsman who taught me about trust
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: The Pope or the Dalai Lama
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Microsoft Africa’s Lillian Barnard, and Kathleen O Reilly, who is Accenture’s global communications and media lead
Philosophy of Life: Everyone suffers but, if you suffer without purpose, you suffer for nothing
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Regaining my life after an accident
Biggest Ever Disappointment: Leaving a business I founded; however, this allowed me to have a new chapter in my life
Hope For the Future: That every person becomes the best version of themselves, with a high degree of integrity, honesty and trust
Favourite Reading: The Book of Five Rings, a text on kenjutsu and the martial arts in general, written by the Japanese swordsman Miyamoto Musashi
Favourite TV Programme: Ray Donavan and The Sopranos (tied)
Favourite Drink: Johnny Walker Black on the rocks
Favourite Music: Rock and a bit of the 70s, 80s and 90s
Favourite Sport: Mixed martial arts
Hobbies: Brazilian jiu-jitsu and reading inspirational books
Car: BMW 3 Series
Pets: Two German Shepards (Raj and Rani) and a Boston terrier named Roxanne
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Toxic thinking, inefficient processes, and dishonesty
Clubs: Jukutatsu Jiu Jitsu