Full Name: Michelle Ruth Baron-Williamson
Position: CEO of Managed Integrity Evaluation (MIE)
Main Activity of the Company: MIE undertakes candidate and commercial background screening and vetting in Southern Africa
Date and Place of Birth: October 23, 1973, Durban
Education: A national diploma in information technology and a postgraduate diploma in business management
First Job: Junior computer programmer
Career History Prior to Current Position: I have worked for Absa, Discovery Health, Ivory Systems, Softline Recruitment and PBT Group
Size of First Pay Packet: R3 000
First Job with Present Group: Executive
Value of Assets under Your Control: Not stated
Number of People under Your Leadership: 105
Management Style: Inspirational, transparent and honest
Personal Best Achievement: Bringing up my daughters as a single mother
Professional Best Achievement: Appointment as CEO of MIE
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My mother
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: I have been fortunate to have had many people play a supportive role in my career over the years
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: I would have loved to have met Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Ghandi
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Asher Bohbot, founder of EOH
Biggest Ever Opportunity: I have been blessed with opportunities throughout my career to coach and offer guidance to colleagues and staff
Biggest Ever Disappointment: Losing my father and my brother in a space of two months
Hope for the Future: A South Africa that is safe, harmonious and prosperous for us all
Favourite Reading: Anything that offers self-development guidance and, for fictional escape, Jodi Picoult novels
Favourite TV Programme: Grey’s Anatomy
Favourite Food/Drink: Pizza/red wine
Favourite Music: Various genres, including rock, R&B, hip hop and alternative
Favourite Sport: Tennis and watching my daughters horse-riding
Favourite Website: Google
Hobbies: Spending time with my family and friends and anything involving my passion for animals
Car: Audi
Pets: Two dogs – Lily and Wallace – and three cats – Coco, Marmite and Forrest
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Fake people and dishonesty
Favourite Other South African Company: Woolworths
Favourite Foreign Company: Apple
Married: Divorced
Children: Two daughters aged 20 and 18