Full Name: Zandile Nothando Mdanda
Position and Company Name: CEO of Black Royalty Minerals Koornfontein
Main Activity of the Company: Mining and beneficiation of coal for domestic and export customers
Date and Place of Birth: December 13, 1983, Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal
Education: BSc (Hons) (Geology), University of the Witwatersrand (Wits); Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration, Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS); MBA, Wits Business School; MPhil (International Business) – current, GIBS
First Job: Graduate trainee geologist
Size of First Pay Packet: About R7 000 a month, in 2006
Career Path to Date: Trainee geologist to senior geologist at Anglo Coal, chief geologist at Xstrata Coal (now Glencore), chief geologist to GM: projects at African Exploration Mining & Finance Corporation, and then CEO of Milele Group
Value of Assets under Your Control: In excess of R500-million
Number of People under Your Leadership: About 500 employees when the mine is fully operational
Management Style: I am a servant leader who leads with the team; there are no hierarchies in my world. I allow my team to direct, take control and provide innovative ideas while I get my hands dirty with them. I empower my employees to realise their full potential, while collectively completing the tasks with them
Personal Best Achievement: Completing my MBA
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My mother
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Ranganai Chinamatira – he has been my mentor since I was a trainee at Anglo over 13 years ago and always pushes me to be better and reminds me all the time that every new role I take on will require a different version of me
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Jack Ma and Michelle Obama
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Dr Judy Dlamini – her leadership style and business acumen are impeccable
Philosophy of Life: Every event has a purpose and every setback its lesson
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Appointment as CEO of Koornfontein mine
Biggest Ever Disappointment: None – I take setbacks as a launch to something even better
Hope for the Future: To build a legacy that generations to come will be able to pay forward
Favourite Reading: The Art of War, by Sun Tzu, and Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell
Favourite TV Programme: I don’t watch TV
Favourite Food/Drink: Seafood/tea
Favourite Music: Old-school R&B and gospel
Favourite Sport: I’m not that much into sport, but would have to say netball, as I played it while growing up
Hobbies: Cooking and travelling
Car: Maserati Levante
Pets: Goldfish
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Washing dishes
Married: Not Married
Children: Phakade Buthelezi, 6
Clubs: Bryanston Country Club