Full Name: Ria Pelser

Position: Owner/director of Interpast

Main Activity of the Company: The manufacturing and development of quality control equipment for companies such as South African Breweries and SABMiller (ABInbev), Distell, Coca-Cola, Heineken and Pioneer Foods

Date and Place of Birth: June 14, 1968, Pretoria

Education: Diploma in counselling; diploma in beauty therapy

First Job: Administration clerk at the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA)

Career History Prior to Current Position: I spent three years at the DEA, seven years at Old Mutual, two years in the hotel and health industry in the UK, two years as a personal assistant at a software company in South Africa, three years on various cruise ships, three years in Italy in the beauty industry, three years as a sales representative at a courier company in South Africa and two years as GM of my current company, which I acquired nine years ago and have been running since

Size of First Pay Packet: R650 a month

First Job with Present Group: GM

Value of Assets under Your Control: About R3-millio

Number of People under Your Leadership: 3

Management Style: Authoritative

Personal Best Achievement: Mastering the electronics trade, of which I had no knowledge or previous experience

Professional Best Achievement: Working for Interpast as a manager for two years before acquiring it and running it on my own for the past nine years

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: God – He influences me everyday

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Peet Pelser, former owner of Interpast

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Richard Branson

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Richard Branson

Philosophy of Life: Everything happens for a reason

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Acquring Interpast

Biggest Ever Disappointment: None

Hope for the Future: That South Africa’s economy grows and that more entrepreneurs get a chance to do business here and abroad and get the necessary support from our country, irrespective of race or gender

Favourite Reading: The Goal, by Eliyahu Goldratt

Favourite TV Programme: NCIS, The Mentalist

Favourite Food/Drink: Mostly Italian and Greek

Favourite Music: Leonard Cohen, Nana Mouskouri, Andrea Bocelli and most, not all, Afrikaans music

Favourite Sport: Anything with fast cars

Favourite Website: Google

Hobbies: Reading, painting, poetry, psychology, scuba diving

Car: Kia Sportage

Pets: A miniature pinscher called Bello

Miscellaneous Dislikes: People who are late for meetings

Favourite Other South African Company: RS Components

Favourite Foreign Company: Emirates Airlines

Married: N/A

Children: None

Clubs: South African Council for Business Women; Look Good, Feel Better