Full Name: Shepherd Shonhiwa

Position: MD of Egoli Gas

Main Activity of the Company: Reticulation, sales and marketing of natural gas in the greater Johannesburg area

Date and Place of Birth: 1953, Marondera, Zimbabwe

Education: MBA, honours degree in industrial psychology, BAdm

First Job: Industrial relations officer, Huletts Sugar Estate, Zimbabwe

Size of First Pay Packet: Z$350 a month

First Job with Present Group: MD

Value of Assets under Your Control: R750-million

Number of People under Your Leadership: 120

Management Style: Goal orientated, proactive and consultative

Personal Best Achievement: Building a church for a rural community

Professional Best Achievement: Establishing McDonald’s South Africa

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

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: My first boss, in 1977

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Barack Obama

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Sir Richard Branson

Philosophy of Life: Live a wholesome life – so that you are remembered by the marks you leave behind

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Establishing a green field investment

Biggest Ever Disappointment: A business venture that failed owing to an untrustworthy distributor

Hope for the Future: Stability and economic buoyancy in Southern Africa

Favourite Reading: African sociopolitical economic literature

Favourite TV Programme: National Geographic

Favourite Food/Drink: Asian dishes/single-malt whisky and fine wine

Favourite Music: Afro jazz and Western country music

Favourite Sport: Golf

Favourite Website: None

Hobbies: Golfing, travelling and boat cruising on the Zambezi river

Car: Mercedes-Benz

Pets: None at my urban home but big dogs on the farm

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Dishonest and selfish politicians

Favourite Other South African Company: Multichoice

Favourite Foreign Company: Coca-Cola

Married: To Francie

Children: Farai and Fungai

Clubs: Kyalami, Zimbali and Royal Swazi Golf clubs