Full Name: Sandile Lawrence Siyaya

Position: Executive VP: Mining at Sasol

Main Activity of the Company: Sasol is a South African global energy and chemicals company with a significant coal-mining business that supplies its integrated fuels, energy and chemicals operations

Date and Place of Birth: March 28, 1982, in Nongoma, KwaZulu-Natal

Education: Bachelor of Science (Engineering) in Mining, University of the Witwatersrand

First Job: Temporary employment as a business analyst, in 2006

Size of First Pay Packet: About R6 000 a month

Value of Assets under Your Control: More than R30-billion

Number of People under Your Leadership: About 15 000

Management Style: I don’t necessarily subscribe to a set or fixed management style. I believe that, as a leader, you need to have a dynamic leadership style, anchored in core values that guide and calibrate your actions. However, if I had to describe my leadership style, I would say it is dynamic, visionary, results-driven and people-centric

Personal Best Achievement: I fell into mining by virtue of being awarded a bursary. Twenty-five years later, I have grown in the industry and contributed to the improvements, as well as seen the people who played an instrumental role in shaping the mining story. This has been the highlight of my career

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: It’s difficult to choose one; I allow myself to draw learnings and positive energy from every person I meet. If I have to choose one, it would be my late grandfather, who shaped the beliefs and values I live by to this day

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Tsatsi Molomo, a continuous-miner operator in one of our mines at Sasol. As a young junior manager, Tsatsi saw potential in me. He spent time coaching me on how I could get the best out of the teams I was leading. I am grateful to him for sharing his years of experience, time and insight, particularly given his experience working with different leaders across the mines. This was an unexpected gift, but also one of the greatest leadership lessons I learnt: that influence comes from listening with an ear and following through with actions, rather than trying to influence through words that are not accompanied by meaningful action

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Sandile Zungu’s journey had a profound influence on my decision to study engineering. He doesn’t know it yet, but his journey has had a lasting impact on my own

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Dr Mike Nkuna

Philosophy of Life: You get out of life what you are willing to work for

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Being awarded a Sasol bursary – it provided a gateway to where I am today

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Not fully making the most of the opportunities I was afforded

Hope for the Future: That every person gets an opportunity to realise their full potential

Favourite Reading: The Power of Habit, by Charles Duhigg

Favourite TV Programme: Aircrash Investigations

Favourite Drink: Rooibos tea

Favourite Food: Phuthu (crumbly maize meal) and beans – it’s my comfort food, filled with many great memories

Favourite Music: Accapela and jazz

Favourite Sport: Soccer – I am a loyal Kaizer Chiefs supporter

Hobbies: Reading

Car: My favourite car brand is Volvo

Pets: Currently none, but I love dogs, particularly German shepherds

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Disrespect – every person deserves to be treated with respect, irrespective of their social class

Married: Yes

Children: I am a proud father of two girls and two boys

Clubs: I’m a member of the South African Colliery Managers’ Association, the South African Mine Managers’ Association and the Wits University Mining Engineers Association