Full Name: Henning Rasmuss
Position: International business director at Paragon Architects
Main Activity of the Company: Architecture and interior architecture
Date and Place of Birth: September 12, 1967
Education: Bachelor of Architecture (cum laude), University of the Witwatersrand, 1994
First Job: Selling electronic keyboards during school holidays at Beares Furnishers, in Eloff street, Johannesburg
Career History Prior to Current Position: I worked in Berlin from 1991 to 1992; in Johannesburg, at Stauch Vorster Architects, from 1995 to 1996; and at Wong Tong & Partners, in Hong Kong, in 1997
Size of First Pay Packet: R3 400 a month, at Stauch Vorster Architects
First Job with Present Group: I founded Paragon Architects in 1997 with Anthony Orelowitz and my first job was director of the firm
Value of Assets under Your Control: Not stated
Number of People under Your Leadership: Together with other leaders – 115
Management Style: I am an inspirational storyteller and invest high levels of trust in those I lead – I am not a micromanager
Personal Best Achievement: Being a debt-free South African at the age of about 40
Professional Best Achievement: I guess working on the Cape Town stadium for the 2010 soccer World Cup is a highlight, and remaining in business for 20 years, during which South Africa experienced three recessions, is probably my best achievement
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: The writer, Italo Calvino, followed closely by my history teacher at school, Myrtle Dittberner
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Dhiroo Kalian – architect and director at ADA
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: I do not have those kinds of fantasies
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Henry Ford
Philosophy of Life: I went into the woods/ Because I wanted to live deliberately/ I wanted to live deeply/ And suck out the marrow of life/ And not to discover/ When I came to die/ That I had not lived
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Living in Africa in the twenty-first century
Biggest Ever Disappointment: Failing to maintain our business in Brazil, which we opened in 2009 and closed in 2014
Hope for the Future: Better leadership across the board
Favourite Reading: Short stories
Favourite TV Programme: I do not watch TV
Favourite Food/Drink: Moqueca/Lagavulin
Favourite Music: Buraka Som Sistema
Favourite Sport: None
Favourite Website: Anything that books flights
Hobbies: I love photography – probably the closest to a hobby for me
Car: Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG
Pets: One dog, one budgie (catatonic), two bunnies (which belong to the children)
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Dishonesty, vanity
Favourite Other South African Company: The Conservation Corporation
Favourite Foreign Company: Virgin Galactic, which wants to fly people into space
Married: To Philippa Rodseth, since March 1998
Children: Natascha, 12; Alexander, 9
Clubs: Various theme camps at AfrikaBurn every year. This year, it was the Birthday Suits