Full Name: Vuslat Bayo˘glu
Position: Menar cofounder and MD
Main Activity of the Company: Menar is a hands-on investment holding company with controlling shareholding and management in Canyon Coal, Zululand Anthracite Colliery, Kangra Coal and Sitatunga Resources
Date and Place of Birth: September 8, 1974, Erzurum, Turkey
Education: BSc (Hons) (mechanical engineering), Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara, Turkey
First Job: Teaching assistant at the METU Industrial Engineering Department
Size of First Pay Packet: $1 000 a month
Value of Assets under Your Control: The value of the business is about R7-billion
Number of People under Your Leadership: 3 500 employees
Management Style: I try to promote a teamwork mentality but I am also able to make a quick, unilateral decision when this is required
Personal Best Achievement: Developing successful operating mines in South Africa
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My mother, Suhendan
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: My wife, Zeynep
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Barack Obama
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Steve Jobs
Philosophy of Life: I try to be fair and listen to the people around me
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Entering the South African mining industry
Biggest Ever Disappointment: Having people I trusted lie to me
Hope for the Future: The eradication of poverty globally
Favourite Reading: Business magazines and journals
Favourite TV Programme: News network channels
Favourite Food/Drink: Mediterranean food and fresh juices
Favourite Music: Classical
Favourite Sport: Soccer and basketball
Hobbies: Collecting model cars and aeroplanes
Car: Mercedes-Benz
Pets: None
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Laziness and dishonesty
Married: To Zeynep, since August 2003
Children: Hakan, 14; Reyhan, 12
Clubs: Kaiser Chiefs