Full Name: Lulu Gwagwa
Position: Chairperson of the board of directors of Aurecon South Africa
Main Activity of the Company: Aurecon provides engineering, management and specialist technical services for the private and public sectors
Date and Place of Birth: Kromhoek Village, Umzimkulu, KwaZulu-Natal
Education: BA, Fort Hare; MTRP, University of KwaZulu-Natal; MSc (cum laude), London; PhD, London
First Job: Town planner, Department of Local Government, Transkei
Size of First Pay Packet: R312.48 a month
Career History Prior to Current Position: Town planner, Transkei government; town planner, Rosmarin, Kriek & Partners, 1982; town planner, Built Environment Support Group, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 1985; senior lecturer, Department of Town and Regional Planning, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 1991; deputy director-general, National Department of Public Works, 1995; CEO, Independent Development Trust, 1998; COO, Lereko Investment, 2005; CEO, Lereko Investment, 2010
Management Style: I manage through a strong results-orientated team
Personal Best Achievement: Receiving the Titmus Award for the best MSc student in the Social Policy and Planning Programme at the London School of Economics and Political Science (the first student from the developing world to have won the award)
Professional Best Achievement: Transforming the Independent Development Trust from a grant-making to a development management entity
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My sister, Thembeka Gwagwa
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Caroline Moser, for convincing me that ‘I can’
Person You Would Most Like To Meet: The late Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Mark Lamberti and Wendy Luhabe
Philosophy of Life: Choice, not chance, determines one’s destiny
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Studying at the London School of Economics and Political Science
Biggest Ever Disappointment: That my father died too early to see his five girls as adults
Hope for the Future: That access to good-quality education in South Africa does not depend on where and to whom you are born
Favourite Reading: Fiction by African women authors
Favourite TV Programme: Say Yes to the Dress
Favourite Food/Drink: Seafood/green tea
Favourite Music: South African contemporary soul music
Favourite Sport: Tennis
Hobbies: Photography and writing
Car: Not stated
Pets: Cooking for dogs was the biggest schlep when I was growing up. I promised myself that I would never keep a pet. I have kept my promise
Miscellaneous Dislikes: People who do not want to take accountability for their lives
Favourite Other South African Company: FirstRand
Favourite Foreign Company: Apple
Married: To Ayanda Ntsaluba
Children: Bulelani, 22; Nokukhanya, 21
Clubs: Africa Leadership Initiative