Full Name: Paul Alan Edwards

Position: MD of Redis Construction

Main Activity of the Company: Structural, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation and piping (SMEIP) construction contracting across Africa

Date and Place of Birth: April, 12, 1968, Durban

Education: National higher diploma (mechanical engineering), Natal Technikon, 1991; advanced project management, University of South Africa School of Business Leadership, 1999

First Job: Trainee engineer

Career History Prior to Current Position: Construction manager, operations director and commercial director

Size of First Pay Packet: R750 a month

First Job with Present Group: Commercial director

Value of Assets under Your Control: R500-million

Number of People under Your Leadership: About 3 000

Management Style: Leadership that is reliant on position or title for effect will seldom deliver an optimal result. I give crystal clear direction, agree boundaries within which the team is expected to operate and then work tirelessly on relationships. When people trust and respect, they will invariably perform at their best

Personal Best Achievement: My relationship with my teenage daughter, Nastassja

Professional Best Achievement: Being part of the team that conceptualised, founded and created Redis Construction Afrika, and continuing to be part of the team that is rapidly building Redis into a leading SMEIP construction contractor in Africa

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

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: I have been blessed with many friendships and relationships with a wide variety of remarkable and inspirational people

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Ivan Glasenberg

Philosophy of Life: There is no substitute for a positive disposition; work twice as hard, for twice as long, as everyone else around you

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Taking Redis Construction Afrika to a London listing in 2016

Biggest Ever Disappointment: No single event

Hope for the Future: That Africa uses its infinite talent and resources in a productive manner, leading the world in the areas of politics, economics, poverty elimination and social reform, besides others

Favourite Reading: Nonfiction and history

Favourite TV Programme: Apocalypse: World at War

Favourite Food/Drink: Butter chicken, Mumbai style/I am not fussy, but no alcohol

Favourite Music: R&B and hip-hop

Favourite Sport: I am not a huge sports fan, but perhaps Moto GP

Favourite Website: Wikipedia

Hobbies: Anything with an internal-combustion engine

Car: BMW M5

Pets: None

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Afropessimism

Favourite Other South African Company: WBHO

Favourite Foreign Company: Ferrari (the last word in successful branding)

Married: To Mariette Smith since April 11, 2009

Children: Nastassja, 15

Clubs: None – my limited free time is spent entirely with my family and friends