Full Name: Simon Swanepoel
Position and Company Name: CEO of RocketNet
Main Activity of the Company: RocketNet is an Internet service provider providing fibre-to-the-home for end-users and businesses across the country
Date and Place of Birth: September 8, 1983, Johannesburg
Education: I started studying for a diploma in computer science in 2002 and went on to study marketing at Stellenbosch University in 2003
First Job: PABX salesperson
Size of First Pay Packet: I can’t remember
Career Path to Date: I started off as a PABX salesperson and, in 2010, started Directel in the loft of my apartment. After a few years, I turned Directel into RocketNet
Value of Assets under Your Control: I am one of South Africa’s youngest CEOs but I am no Elon Musk (yet!)
Number of People under Your Leadership: A couple of dozen tech nerds, groupies, born-frees, Millennials and old-school engineers
Management Style: I am a consultative leader. I believe in trusting people to do their jobs well and not micromanage them. I find people who will do a job better than I can
Personal Best Achievement: RocketNet
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My father
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Steve Jobs
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Previously, Steve Jobs; now, Simon Sinek
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Bill Gates and Steve Jobs
Philosophy of Life: There is always something you can learn; listen to everything, discard the noise and translate your knowledge to others; share your wisdom and knowledge with as many people as possible; help and care with a full heart
Biggest Ever Opportunity: I believe in creating opportunity through a positive mindset; I don’t have the biggest because I live with a mindset of opportunities
Biggest Ever Disappointment: None. I like to see the glass half full and whenever there is something that does not go my way, I believe I can always learn from it. So, I see disappointments in a positive light
Hope for the Future: That we build Africa into the world’s most powerful continent and that it becomes the world’s number one economy
Favourite Reading: Anything by Simon Sinek
Favourite TV Programme: Squid Games on Netflix
Favourite Food/Drink: I need to give a shout-out here to Bootlegger Coffee for their amazing food and coffee. I have been a regular since they opened here in Johannesburg
Favourite Music: Rubber Duc – RocketNet sponsors them
Favourite Sport: MotorGP – I am a big Brad Binder fan
Hobbies: My business and all things tech
Car: Ford Everest
Pets: Two newly adopted small-breed puppies
Miscellaneous Dislikes: I don’t really focus on my dislikes. I know what I do like, and I focus on positive vibes
Married: I am not married, but am loving life with Maxine, my forever partner
Children: I have a beautiful daughter
Clubs: None