Full Name: Tommy Strydom
Position: CEO of Inyatsi Group Holdings
Main Activity of the Company: Construction of roads, bridges, buildings, water works, and so on
Date and Place of Birth: April 2, 1973, Johannesburg
Education: BEng (civil engineering), Rand Afrikaans University (now the University of Johannesburg), 1998
First Job: Site engineer at WBHO
Career History Prior to Current Position: I worked mostly for construction companies from my penultimate year at university, in 1997, when I started working as site engineer at WBHO before progressing to contracts manager at Lonerock Construction in 2007. I joined Inyatsi in 2009 as a contracts manager, later becoming GM for South Africa and Namibia and then MD of Inyatsi’s Mozambique subsidiary, NCC Mozambique. During this time, I also became director of Inyatsi Botswana before becoming CEO of Inyatsi Group
Size of First Pay Packet: R2 500 a month
First Job with Present Group: Contracts manager
Value of Assets under Your Control: About R1.3-billion
Number of People under Your Leadership: About 2 500
Management Style: Communication is key
Personal Best Achievement: Marrying my wife, Naomi, and my two children
Professional Best Achievement: Becoming CEO of Inyatsi Group
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My father
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Previous chairperson of Inyatsi Frans Pienaar and financial expert Robert Kiyosaki
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Warren Buffett, for business, and John McEnroe, for sport
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Robert Kiyosaki and Warren Buffett
Philosophy of Life: Build relationships and always stay humble
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Becoming CEO of Inyatsi Group
Biggest Ever Disappointment: Having to give up some sports in order to further my career
Hope for the Future: That leaders start leading by example and, through this, start gaining the trust of those they lead
Favourite Reading: Business and investment-type books
Favourite TV Programme: Sons of Anarchy
Favourite Food/Drink: Hamburger and chips with a Coke
Favourite Music: Rock
Favourite Sport: Rugby and cricket
Hobbies: Reading
Car: Mercedes-Benz GLA
Pets: Eight dogs and ten cats
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Arrogant people
Favourite Other South African Company: Bidvest Group
Favourite Foreign Company: Berkshire Hathaway
Married: To Naomi, since May 31, 2003
Children: Two sons – Ivan, 18; Liam, 10
Clubs: Not stated