Full Name: Rose Heathcote
Position: CEO OF Lean Institute Africa (LIA)
Main Activity of the Company: LIA is a not-for-profit organisation advancing lean thinking and practice in Africa
Date and Place of Birth: July 2, 1976, Johannesburg
Education: Industrial engineering
First Job: My father’s ‘apprentice’ at his factory – chief sanitation officer, beverage engineer and general worker
Career History Prior to Current Position: Founder, Thinking People; world-class manufacturing learning and development, South African Breweries; consulting, CCI International; supplier development, Automotive Industry Development Centre; industrial engineer, South African Airways; design engineer, EGO SA
Size of First Pay Packet: R50 a week
First Job with Present Group: LIA business associate – ten years ago
Value of Assets under Your Control: Our assets are our people, and they are invaluable
Number of People under Your Leadership: About ten
Management Style: Warm heart, cool mind
Personal Best Achievement: Surviving motherhood
Professional Best Achievement: Bringing about real, tangible, measurable change in public healthcare
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My daughter – she constantly teaches me to pause and smell the roses
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: LIA chairperson Professor Norman Faull – he taught me that it is okay not to know the answer
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: My future grandchildren
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Elon Musk – he is tough but inspiring
Philosophy of Life: Love what you do
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Serving LIA and taking African Lean to the next level
Biggest Ever Disappointment: Contracting measles the day before a national dance competition 30 years ago
Hope for the Future: A greener future and Africa realising its full potential
Favourite Reading: The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho
Favourite TV Programme: Game of Thrones
Favourite Food/Drink: Sushi/Sauvignon Blanc
Favourite Music: Lounge music
Favourite Sport: Mountain biking
Favourite Website: Amazon
Hobbies: Off-road biking
Car: Land Rover Discovery, but my next car will be all-electric
Pets: A dacshund, a guinea pig (called Rod Stewart because of his hairstyle), a rabbit and chickens
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Traffic, slow Internet
Favourite Other South African Company: Jackson’s Real Food Market
Favourite Foreign Company: Apple
Married: To Sean Heathcote, for nine years and counting
Children: A six-year-old with the best problem solving skills I’ve ever seen
Clubs: Zebula Golf Club