Full Name: Harry Ephraim Mashego, known as Mashego Mashego
Position: Executive director, Harmony Gold Mining Company, responsible for government and other stakeholder relations
Main Activity of the Company: Gold mining and exploration
Date and Place of Birth: June 15, 1964, Witbank, Mpumalanga
Education: Matric, Sozama High School, Middelburg; degree in education, University of the North; honours degree, University of Johannesburg; global executive development programme, Gordon Institute of Business Science
First Job: School teacher, Sozama High School, 1987 to 1989
Career Path: Adult basic development instructor, human resources (HR) manager, Kriel power station; corporate group HR, JCI, 1997; Industrial Development Corporation, 1998, deployed to Atlantis Diesel Engines as senior GM HR, Indian Ocean Fertiliser, Foskor, rising to VP HR. In 2003, my wife and I ventured into the petroleum business, which my wife managed. On July 1, 2005, I joined Harmony as group HR development manager for three months, before being appointed GM of the Evander gold mine. I was promoted to executive: HR in August 2007. In February 2010, I was appointed to the Harmony board of directors and present position
Size of First Pay Packet: R350 a month
Value of Assets under Your Control: Market capitalisation of $4-billion
Number of People under Your Leadership: Harmony employs 31 114 people, including contractors (as at end-June 2015)
Management Style: Very inclusive and participative
Personal Best Achievement: Becoming a voice of reason and a role model in the community
Professional Best Achievement: Being part of a team that pulled the company through difficult times – returning it to profitability
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: There are a number of people, but I would like to single out the late Piet Greyling, who allowed me room to experiment and learn the trade of being an executive
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: I have had the good fortune of meeting lots of people that I look up to
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Ntate Richard Maponya
Philosophy of Life: Life is what you make of it
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Appointment to Harmony’s board. It allowed me to influence things beyond company boundaries. My current position allows me the opportunity and exposure to interact and influence the thinking of ‘the powers that be’ in South Africa, as well as the labour-sending areas and even Papua New Guinea
Biggest Ever Disappointment: Being a victim of crime in my own backyard
Hope for the Future: That, as South Africans, we work together in addressing all the challenges facing the country for our benefit and that of future generations
Favourite Reading: Leadership books, the works of Stephen Covey, Christian literature and Joseph Prince
Favourite TV Programme: I watch whatever is on the screen at that time
Favourite Food/Drink: Crisp vegetables and lamb/oxtail
Favourite Music: Gospel
Favourite Sport: None
Hobbies: Reading, public speaking, community involvement
Car: Mercedes-Benz
Pets: None
Dislikes: Arrogant people who are full of themselves
Married: To Lauretta, for 27 years
Children: Letukile and Reratilwe
Clubs: None