Full Name: Logashri Sewnarain
Position: CEO of SMEC South Africa
Main Activity of the Company: SMEC South Africa is a multidisciplinary consulting engineering and infrastructure solutions company
Date and Place of Birth: Pietermaritzburg
Education: BSc (Civil Engineering) and Fellowship in Arbitration
First Job: Engineer-in-training
Career History Prior to Current Position: After working for the National Department of Transport as a graduate engineer-in-training, I moved to the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral), where I started as a project manager, before being appointed regional manager: Sanral Eastern Region. I then joined SMEC South Africa as functional GM: roads and highways
Size of First Pay Packet: R3 500 a month
First Job with Present Group: Functional GM: roads and highways
Value of Assets under Your Control: Not stated
Number of People under Your Leadership: 548 at SMEC South Africa
Management Style: Collaborative, coaching
Personal Best Achievement: Raising two children and maintaining a happy family
Professional Best Achievement: My new job as CEO of SMEC South Africa
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My parents
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: My many mentors along the way
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Jacinda Arendse
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Imtiaz Sooliman
Philosophy of Life: That there is more compassion and humanity in the world
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Receiving a bursary from the National Department of Transport – it was the foundation on which I built my career
Biggest Ever Disappointment: None
Hope for the Future: That there is more compassion and humanity in the world
Favourite Reading: Brene Brown, Robin Sharma
Favourite TV Programme: Grey’s Anatomy
Favourite Food/Drink: Thai food/wine
Favourite Music: 80s and 90s
Favourite Sport: The Olympics
Favourite Website: Google
Hobbies: Cooking, baking, gardening
Car: Volvo
Pets: A Jack Russel that thinks he is human
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Egotism
Favourite Other South African Company: There are many South African companies that I support and admire
Favourite Foreign Company: Nestlé
Married: To Anesh, since December 12, 1999
Children: Nikhil, 19; Neha, 15
Clubs: None – I’m a full-time mum