Full Name: Jamal Sahib
Position: MD and business coach of Africa32 Business Consulting
Main Activity of the Company: Business coaching, business consulting, business strategy and expert business negotiation
Date and Place of Birth: September 1982, South Africa
Education: BEng, University of Pretoria; postgraduate diploma in business administration, Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS); PMD, University of Cape Town; MBA, GIBS; PrEng, Engineering Council of South Africa; global business coach
First Job: Process engineer at BHP Billiton
Career History Prior to Current Position: Before becoming a full-time entrepreneur, I worked for a mining multinational as a development and delivery capital projects manager
Size of First Pay Packet: R220 000 a year
First Job with Present Group: MD and business coach
Value of Assets under Your Control: R750-million
Number of People under Your Leadership: About 700
Management Style: Collaborative
Personal Best Achievement: Creating jobs
Professional Best Achievement: Appointment as mine manager for one of the largest global mining companies in the world before the age of 30
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My current mentor, Yusuf Bux
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Ravi Moodley, my mentor when I was in the corporate world
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Cyril Ramaphosa
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Robbie Brozen – the Nando’s man
Philosophy of Life: Live a 100% life! Make a difference, add value and have fun
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Winning the Zurich Project Firefly Challenge with my team, beating MBA students from all over the world
Biggest Ever Disappointment: A business venture that I started and in which I lost R1-million in a few months, because I did not read the contract carefully
Hope for the Future: That South Africa lives up to its full potential
Favourite Reading: Self-help and motivational books
Favourite TV Programme: I am not big on TV
Favourite Food/Drink: Seafood pasta or a beef burger
Favourite Music: R & B
Favourite Sport: I enjoy the challenge of turning businesses around
Hobbies: Freshwater fishing, boating, hiking and travelling
Car: Porsche
Pets: Candy, our beloved little Daschund
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Poor discipline
Favourite Other South African Company: Nando’s
Favourite Foreign Company: McDonalds – because they are in more than 100 countries
Married: To Sajida Sahib, since April 26, 2008
Children: Two sons – MH, 9; Maanoo, 6