Full Name: Sivaraj Charles Naidoo

Position: Engineering business unit leader

Main Activity of the Company: Professional engineering and environmental consulting services

Date and Place of Birth: April 22, 1974, Durban

Education: BSc (civil engineering), University of Durban-Westville, 1998

First Job: Engineer in training with Wates, Meiring & Barnard (WMB)

Career History Prior to Current Position: I worked for WMB before joining Carl Bro in the UK. On returning to South Africa, I joined Zitholele Consulting as the engineering lead before becoming the MD

Size of First Pay Packet: R5 000 a month

First Job with Present Group: Civil engineer with WMB, which became Golder Associates Africa in 2002

Value of Assets under Your Control: The assets under my control are people, who are priceless

Number of People under Your Leadership: 53

Management Style: Inclusive and consultative, which requires having a team that I trust

Personal Best Achievement: My family

Professional Best Achievement: Managing a successful consulting company

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My wife and my parents

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: All my past mentors – Flekkies Pretorius, Dr André van Niekerk and Richard Bennett

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: The Dalai Lama

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Elon Musk, best known for founding SpaceX and cofounding Tesla Motors and PayPal

Philosophy of Life: Never take yourself too seriously; always be open to new experiences and be passionate

Biggest Ever Opportunity: My current position

Biggest Ever Disappointment: I always try to find the positive in setbacks

Hope for the Future: That South Africa becomes an economic powerhouse and sets the example for Africa

Favourite Reading: Harvard Business Review and any novel with a bit of suspense

Favourite TV Programme: Monday Night Football

Favourite Food/Drink: Anything Asian

Favourite Music: Just about anything from the 1980s

Favourite Sport: Soccer

Hobbies: Anything that entertains a four-year-old

Car: Toyota Fortuner

Pets: None

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Dishonesty and negativity

Favourite Other South African Company: SABMiller

Favourite Foreign Company: Apple

Married: To Anusha since 2002

Children: Yatish

Clubs: Not stated