Full Name: Kathleen Barbara Marais
Position: Owner and FD of Blue Chip Lubricants
Main Activity of the Company: Manufacturer of industrial lubricants
Date and Place of Birth: March 10, 1973, Rustenburg
Education: Higher certificate in practical accounting
First Job: Receptionist
Career History Prior to Current Position: I joined Blue Chip Lubricants as a receptionist in 1991 and worked in almost every position, ending up as the FD. I bought the company in 2001
Size of First Pay Packet: R1 500 a month
First Job with Present Group: Receptionist
Value of Assets under Your Control: R75-million
Number of People under Your Leadership: 50
Management Style: I lead from the front – I cannot expect someone to handle a position if I do not know what the position entails
Personal Best Achievement: Raising two boys, while holding down a full-time job and dealing with Type 1 diabetes
Professional Best Achievement: Entering into a strategic partnership with Kuwait Petroleum Corporation to manufacture its Q8 Oils brand locally
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My Husband, Gary Marais.
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Ernie Campos, the previous owner of Blue Chip Lubricants and my late boss – he taught me how to become an irreplaceable asset for a business
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: American horse trainer Monty Roberts
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Phil Knight, of Nike – because, businesswide, his path to success is very similar to the path I have followed in the past 18 years
Philosophy of Life: Family comes first
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Buying Blue Chip Lubricants when I was only 28 years old and eight months pregnant
Biggest Ever Disappointment: Every disappointment I have ever had resulted in my taking a different direction, which, ultimately, was a more positive route to take
Hope for the Future: That my boys are happy in their chosen paths and that Blue Chip Lubricants continues to go from strength to strength
Favourite Reading: Stieg Larsson – but I do not have much time to read these days
Favourite TV Programme: Ozark, Younger, Bodyguard, Queen of the South
Favourite Food/Drink: Fish and seafood/red wine and coffee
Favourite Music: Adult contemporary to soft rock
Favourite Sport: Participating: horse riding; watching: hockey
Favourite Website: Takealot.com.
Hobbies: Horse riding
Car: Mercedes-Benz A220 D
Pets: A cocker spaniel, a springer spaniel, a Boerbull mix, a Siamese cat, two thoroughbred horses and a Welsh pony
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Coriander – the devils weed; and when people lie to me
Favourite Other South African Company: Woolworths
Favourite Foreign Company: Desigualg
Married: To Gary Marais, since September 10, 1994
Children: Keegan, 20; Cameron, 18
Clubs: Do a dinner club and a book club count?