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