Full Name: Niels von Hase

Position: MD of Solsquare

Main Activity of the Company: Solsquare is a solar systems integrator

Date and Place of Birth: July 17, 1978, Windhoek, Namibia

Education: BBusSci Hons (finance), University of Cape Town (UCT); BCom Hons (accounting), UCT; MCom, UCT; and CA (SA)

First Job: Newspaper boy in neighbourhood

Career History Prior to Current Position: Partner at greenTEK ventures SA and finance director (concurrent); manager, regional audit, KPMG

Size of First Pay Packet: R8 an hour

First Job with Present Group: Finance director

Value of Assets under Your Control: R75-million

Number of People under Your Leadership: 44

Management Style: Consultative but directive, authoritative

Personal Best Achievement: My marriage

Professional Best Achievement: The signing of a distribution agreement with Solartech and subsequently securing a 50% investment to further strengthen the relationship

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My mother

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: David Friedland, a very demanding partner I worked with/for at KPMG

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Richard Branson – unbelievably good at believing in something until it works (fake it till you make it)

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Too many to tell

Philosophy of Life: Fate will be good to those who work hard

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Being admitted to UCT in five minutes

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Learning that trust has no place in young business relationships

Hope for the Future: That the sun will start to power our lives again

Favourite Reading: Soaring Society quarterly magazine

Favourite TV Programme: None

Favourite Food/Drink: Lamb roast made with lamb from my father’s farm in Namibia

Favourite Music: Keeps on changing too often

Favourite Sport: Wind surfing and flying gliders

Favourite Website: None

Hobbies: Collecting wine

Car: Volvo V50

Pets: A Yorkie

Miscellaneous Dislikes: People who lack pride in what they do drive me crazy

Favourite Other South African Company: SAB Miller

Favourite Foreign Company: Bugatti – it makes great shoes

Married: To Hanne von Hase since March 28, 2009

Children: None

Clubs: Magalies Gliding Club and Aero Club SA