Full Name: Marian van der Walt
Position: Executive: corporate and investor relations, Harmony Gold
Main Activity of the Company: Harmony Gold is a world-class gold mining and exploration company with operations and assets in South Africa and Papua New Guinea (PNG). Harmony’s assets include an opencast mine and several exploration tenements in PNG, as well as nine underground mines and an opencast mine and several surface operations in South Africa. In addition, it owns 50% of the Golpu project in a joint venture in PNG
Date and Place of Birth: December 27, 1972, Alberton
Education: BCom (Law), LLB, higher diploma in tax, diplomas in corporate governance and insolvency law, certificates in business leadership, and international certificate in investor relations (UK). I am also an admitted lawyer and conveyancer
First Job: Articled clerk, Kilbourns Attorneys, 1995
Size of First Pay Packet: R1 000 a month as an articled clerk
Value of Assets under Your Control: Harmony’s current market capitalisation is about R15-billion
Number of People under Your Leadership: Harmony employs close to 30 000 people, and I am one of 11 executive managers
Management Style: Strong, ethical leadership; being proactive; engaging; chasing results; keeping people informed; and doing things differently
Personal Best Achievement: Having a better understanding of shutting up and listening
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My husband
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Every single miner who works an underground shift every day
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Thuli Madonsela
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Many people have had an impact on how I approach business, including Patrice Motsepe, Peter Steenkamp, Fikile de Buck, Bernard Swanepoel, Frank Abbott, Charmane Russell and Cathie Markus – the list goes on!
Philosophy of Life: Do it afraid; trust
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Peter Steenkamp, our CEO – who now ranks as my career hero – offered me an opportunity to study overseas
Biggest Ever Disappointment: Mass psychology (people simply accepting the status quo from leaders rather than challenging it)
Hope for the Future: Harmony allows me to travel internationally. Each time I return to South Africa, I embrace the people, the culture and the weather. We should stop listening to the noise and intentionally seek the good. We should be part of creating the ‘good’ – educating people and helping them to help themselves
Favourite Reading: The Bible and any Nicholas Sparks book
Favourite TV Programme: House Hunters International
Favourite Food/Drink: Chips; champagne
Favourite Music: Everything, except country music – I am a big fan of JD McPherson (download his music!)
Favourite Sport: Spinning, walking
Hobbies: Writing, travelling, reading, mingling
Car: Lexus RX350
Pets: Two very naughty but adorable Labradors – Gus and Ruby
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Own agendas, people not speaking their minds, tripe
Married: To Eben, for 17 years, but we have been together for 21 years
Children: Many – just not our own
Organisation Memberships: Nonexecutive director of Rand Refinery, Gereformeerde Kerk Linden member, Chamber of Mines Communications Executive Committee