Allan says hard work with a goal in mind was necessary. Retail requires listening to customers and keeping them happy; he believes his success is due to serving others. He says, "I realised my purpose in life is to serve."

During my articles I became very interested in maritime law – it is obviously very commercial, with a lot of foreign clients, and the international flavour became part of the passion for this area of the law.

For Mills, one day is never the same as the next which he says is fantastic. "The wonderful thing about Boxer is that there's always a buzz and it's fast paced." He explained that he is the first to come in, in the morning and the last to leave and he travels a lot both locally and internationally

Ashok Sewnarain is the owner of South
Africa’s first privately owned safe deposit
vaults, IBV International Bank Vaults
which is located in Durban’s Gateway
Mall and in Sandton, Johannesburg.

Bongi holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and a postgraduate diploma in investment management and banking, both bestowed upon him by the University of KwaZulu-Natal

"I believe that I am innovative and not deterred from experimentation with new or unconventional ideas." He added that his success has also been driven,  by the good fortune to have inspirational role models as leaders in most cases."

CHRIS TYSON's interest in the property industry started from an early age as his family comes from a property background

"The airport is more than just the physical buildings, we don't take stakeholder engagements for granted and we keep on working on them. ACSA's been around for 26 years, and we wouldn't have been one of the most successful state-owned enterprises if we didn't invest in our stakeholder partnerships. The political, economic and financial climate changes constantly and we have had to adapt."

 "My own experience as a competitor has always given me the drive and insight to create events from an athlete's perspective. It guides my decisions on the right events to stage, and the various avenues to pursue in my business."

David says, "I dedicate my time to ensuring that I clearly articulate the purpose and desired outcomes the business wishes to achieve, sharing how the business works and the important measurements of enterprise performance, especially customer and shareholder expectations; helping my team to better understand themselves, and their passions and goals. My desire is to help people understand their zone of influence in the business, how they contribute, so that they too can become thinkers and leaders in the business."

He says that during his 18 years as a professional engineer he has been fortunate to have strong mentors. Collett said, "They guided and assisted me during difficult career decisions and also kept emphasizing the importance of getting involved with voluntary organisations that enhance society."

He believes that as the pioneer in banking the unbanked and insuring the uninsured, Ithala SOC Limited has the right ingredients and is all set on the trajectory to become a state bank

Colle has spent the last eleven years with Belgotex and was appointed as CEO of Belgotex in August 2018. He has a passion for the industry which motivates him daily and is committed to building the company's brand. Sustainability in all aspects of the business is central to the way Belgotex does business. Colle brings a unique perspective to the business

Frikkie Brooks has a long history, as well as much experience in strategic and spatial planning as well as development facilitation in the public sector

Being part of the MSC journey has provided him with many opportunities to continue to learn as, "No day is ever the same". Since the company has grown, new divisions have been added, which have included: ships agency, container depots, ship tracking and repair.

HENK VAN BEMMELEN, CEO of Blue Security says, "I fell in love with the security business from an early age - it is in my blood. I can't remember ever waking up and not wanting to go to work. If you have a passion for your business, then you can't go wrong."

In his current role as Provincial Head of the KwaZulu-Natal province, Imraan is at the helm of the vibrant retail and business banking operations and is leading a dynamic and energetic team of executives and senior managers.

Dr Sooliman explained that he was inspired to assist others by the teaching of the Prophet Mohamed who said that God will not answer your prayers if you neglect fellow beings

James explains that it is essential to build a good team. He requires adherence to the operating principles of integrity, accountability, commitment, and taking responsibility for all one's actions. Employees' welfare and safety are important. He believes passionate, responsible, and innovative employees are the building blocks of the company's future

The hotelier first joined Tsogo Sun in 1997 when he worked at the Holiday Inn Nairobi. He was later transferred to other properties in the Tsogo Sun group, taking up management positions

JONATHAN NAIDOO is an economics graduate with post-graduate specialisation in research methods, political and economic geography. He was previously COO of Trade and Investment KZN and holds certificates in imports and exports, project financing for public-private partnerships, conflict management, program management, financial modelling. he also holds an estate agents' diploma and an education degree specialising in mathematics

LINDIWE RAKHAREBE has been the chief executive officer of the Durban ICC since 1st April 2015. Her passion and dedication in growing the KwaZulu-Natal economy as well as her strong background in corporate management has helped to continue to propel the forward momentum of the organisation. Rakharebe said, "I am driven to achieve excellence in every way in my duty and delegation."

MANHAR PARSHOTAM is the founder, a shareholder and a director of Dragon Protection Services

MARK TAYLOR believes that his career has been characterised by 'thinking big' and having the perseverance to ensure that his plans, which are often innovative, reach fruition

"We pride ourselves in continually striving for excellence and in ensuring that our food is interesting, local and relevant, but most importantly, being steadfastly mindful of our footprint on the environment by adhering to strict QMS and ISO practices.

Michael says he got involved in Afro's Chicken Shop by default. "Afro's was a tenant of mine in one of the buildings that I owned. I loved the brand and enjoyed what it stood for - simple food that was fresh, tasty, healthy and affordable." He added that he had always had an interest in food and ran a restaurant for three years in the 1980s.

His early career, he says, was based on a lot of hard work and some luck. In addition, Jackson said that he was fortunate to work with some good people.

MIKE SAUNDERS’ love of technology and a heart for people have been the fuel behind his entrepreneurial journey

Mpho Mothoa's career began as a metallurgist for Mintek and for the last 20 years he has worked his way up the corporate ladder through various operations and executive management roles.

MUSA MAKHUNGA's passion for people and society has been driven by the need to "pay it forward". He believes that he would not have achieved as much as he has done in his life if he was not assisted by the generosity of other people

Reflecting on his education, Mzi commented, “I have gathered many other qualifications along the way, but I speak fondly of my time at the University of KwaZulu-Natal because that is where my beginning is.” Mzi also holds an MBA degree from UNISA among his other postgraduate qualifications

Asvat believes that his career is successful because of three things: integrity, passion and stepping out of his comfort zone. “To me, integrity is a mark of a man; without it one’s character is left undefined. In light of the changes in the profession, I am going to have to say that integrity holds true for me, as it should for every other profession, and is the most important aspect that I have learned.

Niresh Bechan, Lenmed Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre's hospital manager, says "Even with the most careful planning, the road of life is unpredictable. The upside of unpredictability is that you may surpass any goals you set yourself."

"I am inspired by making a difference. When you finance businesses and can see the growth in these entities, it gives a great sense of accomplishment

From a corporate perspective, Peter's vision is to provide a sustainable environment for young professionals to build a career. He points out that most of the industry is made up of small businesses, while GeoAfrika is a large practice, with a footprint across South Africa and throughout the continent.

Maharaj reflected, "Going back to our African roots, it is perhaps opportune that we begin to explore the concept and possibilities of the collaborative economy or sometimes called the sharing economy. We cannot continue to condone an environment where we have islands of prosperity in a sea of poverty, unemployment and inequality."

In order to handle change and deal with expectations, Martins regards constant personal development, as a must. This is particularly relevant to keep up with the latest trends in her field of speciality in order to achieve success.

Prof Singh has served on several national and international committees related to his areas of interest in education. He has presented at many conferences and his research has been published in journals both locally and internationally

Rasheed Amod is a serial entrepreneur who has accomplished much success in his very varied business journey. His business interests have ranged from running a traditional convenience store, to building brands and to large scale construction projects Amod explains that he was driven to achieve by his father who was his role model in life and who had died while he was still at school.

Rob believes part of the reason they keep customers is that he and Bruce are determined and detailed individuals. "It was easy, almost instinctive, to deliver outstanding service, and that led to the development of a trusted reputation." This trust enabled them to quickly pass their competitors.

Morar says of his career, “As an emerging black entrepreneur, there were many doors that remained closed. I remained focused and determined to change this. Taking calculated risks, hard work and being determined to achieve success, has driven my career.

CEO at Coastlands Hotel & Resorts

A SERIAL BUSINESSMAN

Shabir stepped into the BMW scene in 2007, buying a small share of 8,5% in the then Supertech Durban Dealership. With a vision of growth, and corporate culture, Shabir purchased 100% in 2012 and since then, has grown the group from one dealership, to six in the space of three years. The Group now has a staff complement of over 350 people, with dealerships in Durban, Pinetown, Pietermaritzburg, Newcastle, Shelly Beach and East London. Supertech has developed into a formidable brand and has become a household name.

Mazibuko describes himself as a crazy person who likes challenges. “My life has been long and interesting – and I have been encouraged by a number of people to write a book about it,” he says.

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Moodley has an inclusive leadership style and enjoys adding value to clients and 'bringing people to the table'. He added that he is nurturing of his team and encourages them to focus on the areas that they are good at, to provide opportunities to succeed.