Full Name: Danai Magugumela
Position: MD of Bosch Projects
Main Activity of the Company: Consulting engineering for infrastructure and industry
Date and Place of Birth: 1967, Mutare, Zimbabwe
Education: BSc (civil engineering), Prairie View A&M University, US; MSc (civil engineering), Texas A&M University, US
First Job: Engineering assistant in geometric design, Texas Department of Highways and Public Transportation
Career History Prior to Current Position: MD, Aecom Africa; CEO, BKS Group; project manager and CE, Municipal Infrastructure Investment Unit; roads engineer, Ninham Shand and GMKS
Size of First Pay Packet: R4 500 a month
First Job with Present Group: MD, Bosch Stemele
Value of Assets under Your Control: Not stated
Number of People under Your Leadership: 250
Management Style: Inclusive. I love leading individuals who are smarter than I am; in this way, I am most influential when leading from the middle
Personal Best Achievement: Receiving a scholarship to read for the International Baccalaureate in Italy in 1984
Professional Best Achievement: Being promoted from project manager to CE
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My late parents
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: My first mentor, Llewellyn Pike
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Oprah Winfrey
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Not stated
Philosophy of Life: The only person responsible for your happiness is yourself
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Being the project engineer on the iconic Nelson Mandela bridge project, in Johannesburg
Biggest Ever Disappointment: Not having read for a PhD as I had initially planned to do
Hope for the Future: That civil engineering tenders prioritise skill, technical expertise and quality over the lowest price, so that skills development and mentoring are not compromised
Favourite Reading: Business reference, research and biographical material
Favourite TV Programme: Good documentaries and comedies for a good laugh
Favourite Food/Drink: Sparkling water with lemon
Favourite Music: Gospel
Favourite Sport: Personal training
Favourite Website: Google Earth
Hobbies: Gardening, learning new languages and bargain hunting
Car: Mercedes-Benz
Pets: None
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Laziness and lack of passion
Favourite Other South African Company: Tiger Brands
Favourite Foreign Company: Samsung
Married: To Maurice, since 1995
Children: Tshedza,19; Thendo, 15
Clubs: None