Lili Nupen, director and founder of NSDV, a mining, environmental and construction law and professional advisory company
Full Name: Lili Nupen
Position and Company: Director and founder of NSDV
Main Activity of the Company: NSDV is a mining, environmental and construction law and professional advisory company
Date and Place of Birth: December 7, Johannesburg
Education: BSocSci (Politics, Philosophy and Economics), LLB, dual MBA (cum laude)
First Job: Attorney
Size of First Pay Packet: R10 000 a month
Career Path to Date: After serving my articles at Bowmans, I completed my dual MBA at Wits Business School and HEC Paris. Thereafter, I joined law firm Malan Scholes and later left to found NSDV
Number of People under Your Leadership: 26
Management Style: Firm but fair; “We hire adults and treat them as such”
Personal Best Achievement: Achieving a cum laude pass for my MBA
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My mother
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Ezra Davids and Hulme Scholes
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Maya Angelou (if she were still alive)
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Mpumi Zikalala, of Kumba Iron Ore
Philosophy of Life: Don’t be boring
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Starting NSDV
Biggest Ever Disappointment: Realising that there are very few women in the mining industry
Hope for the Future: Grace and Adam (my children)
Favourite Reading: Old books about South African mines, such as The Gold Miners, by AP Cartwright
Favourite TV Programme: The Crown and The Queen’s Gambit
Favourite Food/Drink: Bubbly
Favourite Music: Ed Sheeran
Favourite Sport: Ballet
Hobbies: Socialising
Car: Prado
Pets: Two standard French poodles – Zoe and Leo
Miscellaneous Dislikes: People who use and abuse
Married: To Cameron Staude
Children: Grace, 6; Adam, 4
Clubs: None