Full Name: Lindani Dhlamini
Position: CEO of SekelaXabiso
Main Activity of the Company: SekelaXabiso is a professional services firm that provides internal audit, information technology audit, forensic audit and business consulting services
Date and Place of Birth: Umlazi
Education: BSc (computer science), BCom, CA (SA)
First Job: Systems developer, Southern Life
Career History Prior to Current Position: After leaving Southern Life, I studied to become a chartered accountant before joining Deloitte and then starting Xabiso Chartered Accountants
Size of First Pay Packet: R2 500 a month
First Job with Present Group: I started the firm 11 years ago
Value of Assets under Your Control: Our biggest asset is our people and I cannot quantify their value
Number of People under Your Leadership: About 300
Management Style: I am task-orientated and try to motivate our people to achieve results. I am also passionate about empowerment and the skills development of young people
Personal Best Achievement: My children
Professional Best Achievement: They include starting this company and growing it into one of the leading black-owned firms in the country, winning the Black Business Quarterly magazine’s New Entrepreneur Award in 2006, being a finalist in 2008 in the finance category of the Passing the Torch Awards, presented by the Gauteng Department of Economic Development to honour women who contribute to the growth and development of the province’s economy, and serving on various company boards
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My parents
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: There have been a number of influencers at the different stages of my career and life
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: I find any black woman in a position of leadership or power inspirational
Philosophy of Life: Persevere and be resilient
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Attending Adams College and the University of Cape Town, working for one of the biggest insurance firms and starting SekelaXabiso
Biggest Ever Disappointment: I do not see challenges as disappointments
Hope for the Future: The ‘normalisation’ of the black experience
Favourite Reading: The 10 000 Hour Rule, repeatedly mentioned by Malcolm Gladwell in Outliers: The Success Story, captures the essence of my belief in life – to achieve excellence, you need to work at it, and work at it, and work at it
Favourite TV Programme: Suits
Favourite Music: In the morning, I need to be pumped up for work, so I listen to house music, and at the end of the day, I listen to the likes of Andreas Vollenweider
Favourite Sport: Going to the gym, running and tennis
Favourite Website: My company website
Car: Porshe 911 Carrera
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Tardiness and lack of attention to detail
Favourite Other South African Company: I really appreciate black excellence throughout South Africa, even if it is my competition
Children: Two