Kashnee Sewnarain Next Previous Kashnee Sewnarain is the chief executive officer, director, and technical specialist at Inspired Financial Management Solutions Kashnee Sewnarain is a committed leader who currently plays the role of chief executive officer, director, and technical specialist at Inspired Financial Management Solutions. The micro-enterprise is dedicated to enhancing financial management skills and processes within the public sector. Additionally, Kashnee chairs the audit committee of a local municipality, which she is proud to say, has received their very first clean audit report. Kashnee also volunteers on the SAICA Public Sector Committee, where she advocates for capacity building within the public sector. Growing up in Pietermaritzburg, Kashnee experienced an early childhood marked by financial challenges. “Through my parents’ hard-working commitment, we were able to progress in life,” she explained, reflecting on the values instilled in her from a young age. Kashnee’s journey into the world of finance was not a straightforward one. In her early years, she was uncertain about what career path to choose and explored various alternatives to accounting. “Eventually, with much persuasion from my parents and my accounting teacher, I pursued a bachelor of commerce degree and thereafter continued studying while working, as I had to repay a student loan,” Kashnee shared. Later in life, she achieved a honours degree and qualified as a chartered accountant. Her first job, however, had little to do with finance. While still in high school, Kashnee worked part- time as a writer for High Five, a teenage newspaper supplement of The Witness. This early experience in journalism gave her a unique perspective on the power of information, skills that would later prove invaluable in her career. PRESSING NEED Kashnee’s exposure to the public sector led her to recognise the pressing need for enhanced skills, systems, and processes within this sector. “There’s definitely a need for dedicated people who are willing to impart knowledge to others in an ethical and responsible manner,” she says. This understanding laid the foundation for Inspired Financial Management Solutions, a company she considers her proudest achievement. The company aims to make a positive contribution towards effective management and decision making of finances to enable enhancement of services for communities. Founding Inspired Financial Management Solutions was a life changing decision for Kashnee, especially given the challenges of leaving a permanent job to venture into the uncertain environment of public sector consultancy. She acknowledges the challenges consultants face in this space, where they are often seen as ineffective and overpaid. “Consulting in the public sector was really a leap of faith, with many tough moments at the very beginning,” she notes. “Looking back, we’ve been able to grow Inspired Financial Management Solutions based solely on our reputation and solid performance in the market, as well as at reason-able rates.” Inspired Financial Management Solutions are now in a place where they have a presence in the market and are known to be responsible in the way they conduct business. CAPACITY-BUILDING Central to Inspired Financial Management Solutions’ approach is a capacity-building and development strategy that enables effective skills transfer to public sector officials. Kashnee emphasises the importance of this sustainable approach, believing it to be crucial for achieving lasting improvements in public sector financial management. Reflecting on the best advice she had ever received, Kashnee commented that a former boss once said to her that if she put in half the effort into her studies that she does into her work, that she would be able to achieve all her goals. “At that point in my life I had paused my studying, I was very focused on work and I used to spend a lot of energy and time at work, she reflected. This advice changed her perspective on life, and gave Kashnee the motivation to know that she could achieve her goals, which enabled her to continue with her qualifications. “It really was the push that I needed to start studying again and it led to me qualifying and now eventually opening my own business.” IMPACTING CHANGE As a leader, Kashnee places great importance on keeping her team motivated amidst the challenges of the market. “It’s important to keep reminding the team why we do what we do,” she explains. “Despite challenges in the market, we have a unique offering in that we have the ability to really impact change in our clients.” Acknowledging and recognising the achievements of her staff and clients remains very critical to stay motivated as a team so that they can continue to strive to achieve great results. While many individuals have inspired Kashnee along her journey, she is deeply inspired by the positive changes she witnesses in her clients. “The ability to see positive change in our clients really motivates me to continue doing what we do,” she says. For her, the ultimate success is when municipalities fully grasp concepts and are able to execute tasks independently, without relying on her team. “That is the greatest statement,” she adds, noting the immense satisfaction that comes from seeing clients recognised for effective financial governance and key audit achievements. “That really is the true inspiration for us,” commented Kashnee. VISION FOR THE FUTURE Looking ahead, Kashnee is hopeful about the future of business in KwaZulu-Natal, particularly within the public sector. She envisions more conscious leader- ship, a stronger motivation among young people to pursue careers in government, and a shift toward more ethical and efficient decision-making processes. “I am hopeful that we will see a shift towards more ethical and efficient decision-making to improve the services to our communities,” she says. Kashnee is currently the project lead on the National Treasury Systems Regulations Project and regards the upcoming systems regulations as an opportunity to improve governance and oversight in local government. Kashnee is optimistic that these changes will drive a broader push for reform and improvement across the public sector. Kashnee’s personal and professional journey is guided by a quote she holds close to her heart: “Try not to become a person of success, but to become a person of value.” This principle underpins her approach to life and business, where she strives to make a significant and meaningful impact in all that she does. Previous Next

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< Back Anele Msweli

Women are so powerful when we stand together; we are invincible together < Back Nozuko Basson Regional Manager for Communities and Corporate Affairs Tronox South Africa Nozuko Basson’s role at Tronox, which is based in northern KZN, entails making sure that the mining company honours its responsibility of creating value for its stakeholders, of which, communities take centre stage. The most significant event in Nozuko’s life is, she says, when she became a mother. “I had my daughter when I was fairly young and from the moment she arrived in this world, I knew that the game had changed. It’s an ambition of mine, that when my daughter is asked who your role model is, she mentions my name.” In ensuring that she is an inspiration to her daughter, Nozuko constantly evaluates how she behaves, how she practices professionalism in the workplace, and how she treats other people. Nozuko believes that she has got to where she is today through hard work, dedication, a lot of praying and the support from many people who have crossed her path. “I’m somebody who is focused on her religion. I’m a Christian and I’ve always believed that everything that I do is enabled by my faith. I started my career as a journalist, but I realised that was not the life that I wanted to live. I’m not a social and out-there type of person, so I moved into public relations. I was fortunate to work for an agency where I had an amazing mentor who helped me in building the capability to understand how media relations works.” From there, Nozuko moved onto one of South Africa’s largest medical insurance organisations, Discovery. Here, Nozuko said, she had mentors who helped guide her through her career. “I’ve been fortunate that I had other people lifting me, guiding me, and making sure that I stayed on the right track. My journey has been difficult; it’s always good to be reminded by those who are ahead of you how to remain positive and confident in what you are doing.” Having courage Nozuko says that her decision to move to KwaZulu-Natal has been an amazing journey that has required her to really stretch herself. This meant going into areas where she thought she would never be able to venture. She added, “Just having the courage to really push myself and push the boundaries for my team members so that we all work towards one single vision. This requires that we stay close to the cause and really live our own personal values, as well as the values of the organisation in which I work right now.” In commenting on the challenges that she has faced, Nozuko says that as a young female professional, the first challenge that she would like to focus on, is the “pull her down syndrome”. “When you, as a female, start rising in your career there are times when other females do everything in their power to pull you down. I have a strong view that if one of us rise, we all rise. It’s hard enough being a young female, let alone being black in the workplace; we need to hold each other up and motivate each other.” The second challenge she has faced is working in the mining industry, which is a male dominated sector. Over that, working within the community, which is also a male led environment that still subscribes to traditional practices has brought a great deal of learning, that has come with its own difficulties. Currently, the third challenge has been dealing with unconventional community issues, that pose a serious risk to Tronox’s public reputation. “This is where the company’s values, procedures and policies need to guide you to deal with the challenges in a manner that does not compromise your role or its reputation,” said Nozuko. “Lastly, I have often found myself feeling not quite welcome around the ‘table’, as if I am a token BEE candidate,” says Nozuko. “I’ve learnt that I shouldn’t wait for somebody to offer me a seat at the table. If there’s no seat for a female in the workplace or in this industry, you bring your own, and that’s something that I have really started being vocal about.” Leaving behind a legacy In the future, Nozuko wants to leave behind a legacy that says, “When Nozuko Basson was in that community or was working in that organisation, she made a positive difference.” In terms of her career, she sees herself growing from strength to strength. Right now, she is focused on her work in South Africa, but soon, she wants to share her knowledge and skills with the rest of the world. Nozuko added that she is fortunate to work for an organisation that has the platform that will allow her to do so when the time is right. On the personal side, Nozuko wants to travel the world. “I want to touch other lives in my own personal space. I want to live my best life and it’s something that I’m making a deliberate effort in doing and I know that I’m on the right track.” In advising others, she says, “It’s important not to be side-tracked by other people’s opinions. It’s important to remain true to yourself. It’s important that when you venture out, you understand that not everybody will be cheering for you, so learn to be your own cheerleader and as you’re cheering yourself, cheer those around you because they may not know the power that they have within themselves.” Nozuko believes one needs to put their heart into everything that they do. “I always say to people, if you’re not going to give it your all, rather don’t start. I believe in dazzling people. One of Tronox’s values speaks to doing the right work, the right way in every aspect of our business and that’s really what I subscribe to. I don’t take short cuts; it’s about doing something right all the time. It’s behaving in an ethical way and ensuring that everything I touch, doesn’t only represent organisational integrity, but also my own personal integrity.”

< Back Next > Kim Woods Co-owner, Tyson Properties Kim Woods, co-owner at Tyson Properties, brings nearly three decades of experience in the real estate industry, managing a territory that spans from the Umbilo River to the Umhlanga River. A significant part of Kim’s early dreams has been to make a success of her real estate business which she has fulfilled. She considers herself blessed to work alongside her two children, expressing immense fulfilment in sharing her professional life with her family. Her son co-owns the business with her, while her daughter oversees the marketing and social media aspects. Her journey to becoming a successful real estate professional was not straightforward as before finding her passion for property, she explored various careers. After leaving school, she started in banking but quickly moved on to different ventures. It wasn’t until she tried her hand at real estate that she found her true calling. Her dedication to the industry has been unwavering, and she continues to love what she does. Immense Fulfilment Kim’s enthusiasm for her work is driven by a passion for people. She relishes the opportunity to meet different individuals and embraces the constant learning that comes with the profession. Even after 28 years, she acknowledges that “every single week there’s something else that’s new and different.” Despite the frequent changes in legislation and business practices, which can be challenging, she finds that they keep her ‘on her toes’ and eager to learn. Her love for interacting with people extends beyond just her clients. Kim is particularly proud of her team, a diverse group with a mix of young, middle-aged, and older individuals, which she believes contributes to the dynamic nature of the business. Her team at Tyson Properties also feels like an extension of her family. She has always aspired to grow a team where seasoned professionals could mentor newcomers, and she has achieved this through an intern programme that began several years ago. Kim commented, “It’s been a really interesting journey to watch the people that have been in the industry for longer terms, embracing the new people, taking them under their wings and helping them to grow.” Of note this culture has strengthened the entire team as they’ve learned to understand each other and the diversity of each of the individuals. In her role as a leader, Kim takes pride in being a “mum” figure to her team, providing support not only in professional matters but also in personal challenges. She sees herself as a good listener and makes herself available to her team 24/7. Her approach is not necessarily to offer advice but to be there when all a person needs is for someone to listen. Kim’s career has been shaped by the mentorship she received early on, for which she is deeply grateful. She credits her original boss as a phenomenal mentor who encouraged her daily. “She’s always been somebody that I’ve aspired to be like,” reflected Kim. She also taught Kim how to acquire the resilience necessary to succeed in the real estate market even during tough times. “She definitely taught me the bounce back ability thing,” Kim recalls, adding that this lesson has been invaluable throughout her career. Additionally, an early partnership with a younger colleague allowed her to learn and grow alongside someone equally enthusiastic about the industry. Even though they now work in different cities, they continue to share ideas and support each other. Greatest Achievements For Kim, one of her greatest achievements has been raising her children to be “decent human beings.” Watching her team members grow and succeed is another source of immense pride, particularly when she sees former interns who knew nothing about real estate now ranking among the top agents at Tyson Properties. “That is just the best,” she says, describing the joy of celebrating their achievements. Managing a large team of 48 agents presents its own challenges, particularly in understanding the needs of each individual. Kim recognises that there are times when some agents require more guidance, while others may not need her support for extended periods. Having her son involved in the business has been advantageous, as it allows them to share the load and ensure that someone is always available to assist those in need. Kim advises young people entering the real estate industry to fully embrace the profession. She believes many newcomers mistakenly think they can balance real estate with other pursuits, but the reality is that it requires complete dedication. Kim emphasises the importance of approaching the field with passion and commitment. While the numerous accreditations and qualifications can seem overwhelming, she encourages new agents to prioritise their work more than anything else. “Decide that you want to do it and decide that you’re going to give it your all,” she advises. With the right mindset, the learning and qualification process becomes manageable, as the love for the job fuels the motivation to succeed. A Positive Attitude One of Kim’s most difficult challenges has been her son’s battle with kidney disease. Once an avid sportsman, his illness took a toll on the entire family. “It was really tough to watch him struggle,” she shares, revealing the emotional journey of searching for a kidney donor. “We’ve just celebrated his fourth year of having a new kidney from this Angel, who is now part of our lives,” Kim says with gratitude. This experience tested the family’s strength and taught them the importance of maintaining a positive attitude. Despite her busy professional life, Kim values her downtime, which she spends with close friends and family. Whether it’s walking on the promenade, enjoying coffee, or having relaxing weekends away, she cherishes the time spent unwinding. As a grandmother to three wonderful children, she also dedicates a significant portion of her time to playing the role of “granny”, which brings her immense joy. As for the future, Kim has no plans to retire. As long as her health and energy remain strong, she intends to continue doing what she loves. < Previous Next >

Tennis Price $250 Duration 4 Weeks Enroll < Back About the Course This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. Want to view and manage all your collections? Click on the Content Manager button in the Add panel on the left. Here, you can make changes to your content, add new fields, create dynamic pages and more. Your collection is already set up for you with fields and content. Add your own content or import it from a CSV file. Add fields for any type of content you want to display, such as rich text, images, and videos. Be sure to click Sync after making changes in a collection, so visitors can see your newest content on your live site. Your Instructor Brad Grecco This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. To manage all your collections, click on the Content Manager button in the Add panel on the left. Previous Next

Up Home Up Khethiwe Zulu KHETHIWE ZULU, in her book South African History Retold, tells the stories of the often-forgotten struggle heroes who gave their lives for the liberation of generations to come. As she points out, “Sadly, many of them are more familiar for the streets and buildings that carry their names, than the contribution they’ve made to our history.” Khethiwe’s first book was a natural progression from her business career. After an Honours Degree in English from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Khethiwe flexed her writing skills in the business world, with a career in marketing in retail shopping centres before founding her own marketing agency, Creative Boss. Business communications was a perfect outlet for her skills, but her passion for reading and writing became a drive to impart these to previously disadvantaged children. And when she realised how many ordinary people were unaware of their rich history, her dream of writing a book became a reality. She turned the book into the first South African history boardgame called “Did you really know?” TURNING A PASSION INTO A BUSINESS Khethiwe explains the challenge of writing South African History Retold was not in the research or the writing. The biggest challenge was doing everything herself. Unlike the corporate environment where there’s a team, she didn’t just take on the research and the writing. She did it all - even the marketing. “I think I’d have found it a whole lot easier to sit quietly and focus on the writing,” she laughs, “but when you have a new project you usually have to do it all and that’s true in starting a business too. After completing her first book, Khethiwe knew that it would be so much easier for children to read her stories in their own language, and determined to reach the widest audience possible, she translated her book into isiZulu. In 2020, Khethiwe wrote her second book: South African History Retold; A Beginner’s Guide to Women in the Liberation Struggle, honouring the many South African women who fought bravely for our freedom. “Women played a major role in our history, and we need to honour them for their contribution.” “My specialities were always writing, editing and content development,” says Khethiwe. So, it’s unsurprising that she developed her books into an interactive format. Spotting another opportunity to reach her market, she created a board game based on her books. Aimed at children, Did you Know turns history into a popular and accessible game, making history memorable in the most relatable way, and building on her dream to make history relevant even to young children. Khethiwe has a six-year-old daughter. “I wanted her to learn that no matter how ordinary you think you are, you can change the world.” She points out that the men and women she writes about didn’t see themselves as extraordinary. “But they had a meaningful goal and that’s why they were able to create a better future for our children.” OVERCOMING CHALLENGES Any major project presents challenges, and writing books is no different. Khethiwe was supported by the people around her; friends, neighbours and ordinary parents of the children she wanted to read her stories. The more she talked about her first book, the more she realised there was a market for it, and that the very people she was writing for were hungry for the stories she wanted to tell. “I know that it’s important to educate people, and especially children, on our history and my commitment to this goal helped me persevere when things got tough.” CONSISTENCY BREEDS ACHIEVEMENT “My advice to anybody, whether in business or working towards a different goal, is that you need to be committed, persistent and consistent. Achievement comes from consistency. Do the mundane, daily, sometimes boring tasks consistently in order to reap the rewards and the excitement that comes with success.” LOOKING TO THE FUTURE Keen to share her knowledge and bring accurate information to a new generation, Khethiwe says “You can’t rely on Twitter Speak for nuanced answers about complex information!” When it comes to topics like history or our constitutional democracy, you need a reliable source of information. The trick to engaging people, and children in particular, is breaking complex material down into small chunks that are easy to understand and digest. And she aims to provide it. Right now, Khethiwe is working on her new book about our constitution and how government and democracy works in South Africa, Khethiwe’s priority is her young daughter, and her passion lies in spending most of her free time writing indigenous fairy tales for her. Her career gives her flexibility to spend a lot of time with her daughter, cooking and going for walks. Khethiwe is also a keen tennis player and, unsurprisingly, an avid reader. PARTING WISDOM You need to know yourself before you can believe in yourself. And to know yourself you have to go back to the beginning, so don’t ignore your history, or the history of our country.

We need to develop our young people to meet the needs of their generation and of the future, to create positive change < Back Nozuko Basson Regional Manager for Communities and Corporate Affairs Tronox South Africa Nozuko Basson’s role at Tronox, which is based in northern KZN, entails making sure that the mining company honours its responsibility of creating value for its stakeholders, of which, communities take centre stage. The most significant event in Nozuko’s life is, she says, when she became a mother. “I had my daughter when I was fairly young and from the moment she arrived in this world, I knew that the game had changed. It’s an ambition of mine, that when my daughter is asked who your role model is, she mentions my name.” In ensuring that she is an inspiration to her daughter, Nozuko constantly evaluates how she behaves, how she practices professionalism in the workplace, and how she treats other people. Nozuko believes that she has got to where she is today through hard work, dedication, a lot of praying and the support from many people who have crossed her path. “I’m somebody who is focused on her religion. I’m a Christian and I’ve always believed that everything that I do is enabled by my faith. I started my career as a journalist, but I realised that was not the life that I wanted to live. I’m not a social and out-there type of person, so I moved into public relations. I was fortunate to work for an agency where I had an amazing mentor who helped me in building the capability to understand how media relations works.” From there, Nozuko moved onto one of South Africa’s largest medical insurance organisations, Discovery. Here, Nozuko said, she had mentors who helped guide her through her career. “I’ve been fortunate that I had other people lifting me, guiding me, and making sure that I stayed on the right track. My journey has been difficult; it’s always good to be reminded by those who are ahead of you how to remain positive and confident in what you are doing.” Having courage Nozuko says that her decision to move to KwaZulu-Natal has been an amazing journey that has required her to really stretch herself. This meant going into areas where she thought she would never be able to venture. She added, “Just having the courage to really push myself and push the boundaries for my team members so that we all work towards one single vision. This requires that we stay close to the cause and really live our own personal values, as well as the values of the organisation in which I work right now.” In commenting on the challenges that she has faced, Nozuko says that as a young female professional, the first challenge that she would like to focus on, is the “pull her down syndrome”. “When you, as a female, start rising in your career there are times when other females do everything in their power to pull you down. I have a strong view that if one of us rise, we all rise. It’s hard enough being a young female, let alone being black in the workplace; we need to hold each other up and motivate each other.” The second challenge she has faced is working in the mining industry, which is a male dominated sector. Over that, working within the community, which is also a male led environment that still subscribes to traditional practices has brought a great deal of learning, that has come with its own difficulties. Currently, the third challenge has been dealing with unconventional community issues, that pose a serious risk to Tronox’s public reputation. “This is where the company’s values, procedures and policies need to guide you to deal with the challenges in a manner that does not compromise your role or its reputation,” said Nozuko. “Lastly, I have often found myself feeling not quite welcome around the ‘table’, as if I am a token BEE candidate,” says Nozuko. “I’ve learnt that I shouldn’t wait for somebody to offer me a seat at the table. If there’s no seat for a female in the workplace or in this industry, you bring your own, and that’s something that I have really started being vocal about.” Leaving behind a legacy In the future, Nozuko wants to leave behind a legacy that says, “When Nozuko Basson was in that community or was working in that organisation, she made a positive difference.” In terms of her career, she sees herself growing from strength to strength. Right now, she is focused on her work in South Africa, but soon, she wants to share her knowledge and skills with the rest of the world. Nozuko added that she is fortunate to work for an organisation that has the platform that will allow her to do so when the time is right. On the personal side, Nozuko wants to travel the world. “I want to touch other lives in my own personal space. I want to live my best life and it’s something that I’m making a deliberate effort in doing and I know that I’m on the right track.” In advising others, she says, “It’s important not to be side-tracked by other people’s opinions. It’s important to remain true to yourself. It’s important that when you venture out, you understand that not everybody will be cheering for you, so learn to be your own cheerleader and as you’re cheering yourself, cheer those around you because they may not know the power that they have within themselves.” Nozuko believes one needs to put their heart into everything that they do. “I always say to people, if you’re not going to give it your all, rather don’t start. I believe in dazzling people. One of Tronox’s values speaks to doing the right work, the right way in every aspect of our business and that’s really what I subscribe to. I don’t take short cuts; it’s about doing something right all the time. It’s behaving in an ethical way and ensuring that everything I touch, doesn’t only represent organisational integrity, but also my own personal integrity.”

Mike Newton Next Previous Michael Newton is the chief executive officer of the uMgungundlovu Economic Development Agency (UMEDA) Michael Newton, the chief executive officer of the uMgungundlovu Economic Development Agency (UMEDA), has spent the majority of his career in local government, climbing through the ranks to hold influential roles. He is a qualified civil engineering technologist, but his career trajectory shifted as he discovered a passion for the economic sector which he found interesting and stimulating. His journey took him from technical positions to leadership roles, including that of municipal manager for iLembe District Municipality on the North Coast. His work has often involved creating and managing development agencies to stimulate growth. One such initiative was the establishment of Enterprise iLembe, which he introduced after discussions with the Auditor General. He explains, “We were painting outside the numbers a little bit, so we introduced a development agency, and we also established the iLembe Chamber of Commerce and Industry.” These projects were part of a broader effort to drive economic development, particularly on the North Coast, and were aimed at simulating long-term growth in the region. A SIGNIFICANT TURN Michael’s career also took a significant turn when he was called to higher office in the province, becoming a special advisor to Premier Senzo Mchunu. “He asked me to help with the National School Nutrition Programme,” Michael explains. The request was based on the success of the iLembe project which involved feeding around 155,000 children every day for 45 weeks, with the food sourced from 54 community gardens. “We started with fresh produce from the market, but as the communities began growing their own vegetables, 80% of the produce came from those gardens,” he recalls. This programme proved not only to be a success in terms of providing for children but also contributed significantly to the local economy. Michael said, “We ended up with around R600,000 divided amongst the communities involved,” he recalls. “When you go from having nothing to suddenly having income coming in, you can put food on the table and buy shoes for kids – it gives people dignity.” Reflecting on the most rewarding aspects of his work, Michael highlights the significance of helping communities. “What I do is a passion. I enjoy helping people who have really had a rough run. At the agency level, you’re at the cold face of things. You can see how you’re making a real difference, and that’s what drives me.” He speaks especially about how rewarding it is to help people get something tangible out of government, particularly when it leads to job creation and positive change in people’s lives. IT’S A BALANCING ACT Michael highlights the influence of a piece of advice he received early in his career from Frank Stevens, his director when he was a chief technologist. “He told me that management is like plucking a goose – you have to get the most feathers with the least hissing.” This advice resonated with Michael throughout his career, particularly in managing complex projects and teams. “It’s not just about keeping your eye on the ball; it’s also about seeing what’s going on around you and looking for opportunities,” he says. “It’s a balancing act, but I’m blessed to have a great team that helps me focus on what’s important.” Michael’s leadership has not been without its challenges. “The biggest challenge is trying to encourage inbound investment into a region where there are infrastructural and social environment challenges. KwaZulu Natal is not the most attractive investment destination based on the history of social unrest, bad weather events along with energy and water security.” However, he has overcome these challenges by upholding a strong sense of integrity in his work. “When people come to us, they know they’ll get an honest deal. We do our best with what we have, and we treat the money as if it’s our own,” he explains. Michael points to large-scale projects, such as the 2.2 billion Rand airport development and the 8 billion Rand Lion Park Airport opportunity, as examples of the magnitude of work involved. “These are big numbers, and you need to treat them with respect,” he says. As for keeping his team motivated, Michael has a rather unique approach: “I have a doughnut day. We get doughnuts from a local shop in Pietermaritzburg, and it’s a small thing, but it makes a difference,” he comments with a smile. He adds that they also have regular team celebrations, such as a braai, to show appreciation for the hard work and dedication of his staff. ETHICAL LEADERSHIP Michael finds inspiration in ethical leadership, looking up to figures such as South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa for his integrity. “I think ethical leadership is something we need to focus on. Our current president is a good example of that, and I also get a lot of direction and inspiration from the District Mayor Mzi Zuma.” Michael added, “He’s someone I can call for advice, and he always gives me direction that I respect.” When discussing his vision for the future of KwaZulu-Natal, Michael focuses on the region’s competitive advantages. “KZN has an amazing coastline but we need to get the basics right including that of the maritime sector. If we focus on growing the agriculture sector, we’ll start exporting more, and that will put us back in the game,” he says. He is confident in the province’s potential, noting that the manufacturing side is already strong. “We’re a net exporter of goods, so we’re on the right track,” he adds. Michael says my motto is: ‘Play as much music as you can’. “I’m in a band, and we play at weddings and venues. It’s a great way to unwind, and we do a lot of charity work with our music. It’s something that keeps me grounded and happy. But more than that, it’s about doing good and leaving behind a legacy so that people will remember you with a smile,” he concludes. Previous Next