Full Name: Bertina Symonds

Position and Company Name: GM of Bushveld Vametco Alloys since April 2019

Main Activity of the Company: Vametco Alloys is an integrated vanadium mining and processing operation located 8 km north-east of Brits, in the North West

Date and Place of Birth: October 5, 1966, Boons, North West

Education: BSc (Hons); MBL

First Job: Scientist-in-training

Size of First Pay Packet: R2 400 a month

Value of Assets under Your Control: Bushveld Vametco is a subsidiary of AIM-listed Bushveld Minerals, which has a market capitalisation of about £400-million; Vametco’s sales revenue and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation for the 2018 financial year were $192.2-million and $107.5-million respectively

Number of People under Your Leadership: 492

Management Style: Consultative, with clear decisions made in the best interest of the business

Personal Best Achievement: My appointment as GM

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My mother

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Patrice Motsepe

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Melinda Gates

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Warren Buffett

Philosophy of Life: A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing grows there; find strength and hope in difficult situations; celebrate successes and learn from failures

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Being part of Bushveld Minerals and its exciting growth

Biggest Ever Disappointment: All my disappointments have been short lived – I live with gratitude

Hope for the Future: That South Africans unite and work together to create a country that, through good governance and efficiency, creates growth opportunities for all its people

Favourite Reading: The CEO Next Door, by Elena Botelho and Kim Powell

Favourite TV Programme: Bloomberg leadership profiles, such as Bloomberg Big Decisions

Favourite Food/Drink: Italian food/red wine

Favourite Music: Heavy metal

Favourite Sport: Rugby

Hobbies: Travelling, collecting antiques, restoring heritage buildings, collecting cycads and rare plants

Car: Lexus SUV

Pets: Two rescued dogs and four rescued cats

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Arrogance and dishonesty

Married: To Jimmy Symonds

Children: Christopher, 21

Clubs: Association of Mine Managers South Africa