Sereme Maphaka, CEO of Methano Group
Full Name: Joel Sereme Maphaka Malatji
Position: CEO of Methano Group
Main Activity of the Company: Methano Group is an engineering, procurement and construction management company that is active in the mining, water, renewable energy, and industry sectors
Date and Place of Birth: November 21, 1982, Tzaneen, Limpopo province
Schools and Tertiary Education: MBA, Stellenbosch University Business School; digital strategy, Vlerick Business School, Belgium; global leadership programme, HIVE, US; BTech (Mechanical Engineering), Cape Peninsula University of Technology; Government Certificate of Competence (Mines and Works); postgraduate qualification (Advanced Manufacturing and CAD/CAM), Indo German Tooling Institute
First Job: Junior engineer at Denel Swartklip
Career History Prior to Current Position: Junior engineer at Denel, project manager at the Department of Science and Technology/Technology Innovation Agency, project manager at the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation, section engineer at Anglo American Platinum, senior engineering manager: production at African Rainbow Minerals, engineering manager at PPC, and business development executive at Methano Group
Size of First Pay Packet: R1 980.50 a month
First Job with Present Group: Business development executive
Value of Assets under Your Control: R482-million
Number of People under Your Leadership: 92
Management Style: Authentic leadership
Personal Best Achievement: Founding Methano Group
Professional Best Achievement: Growing Methano Group’s revenue from R1-million to more than R400-million in five years
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My mother
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Maboe Maphaka
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Elon Musk
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Sandile Zungu
Philosophy of Life: Hard work yields results
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Being awarded a scholarship to study advanced manufacturing and CAD/CAM at the Indo German Tooling Institute by the Department of Science and Technology
Biggest Ever Disappointment: South Africa’s high unemployment rate
Hope for the Future: South Africa will become a better place if we embrace our diversity to grow our economy
Favourite Reading: Good to Great, by Jim Collins
Favourite TV Programme: None
Favourite Food/Drink: Cappuccino coffee
Favourite Music: Gospel
Favourite Sport: Table tennis
Favourite Website: LinkedIn
Hobbies: Running marathons
Car: Mercedes-Benz
Pets: None
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Incompetence; however, coaching is essential
Favourite Foreign Company: SpaceX
Married: To Noneka Ngcai, since May 2002
Children: Lethabo, Thato, Ditebogo, Tumisho, Tshwarelo, Thapelo
Clubs: Woodhill Golf Club