Full Name: Eugene John Els

Position and Company Name: MD of Afromix and AFX Holdings Group

Main Activity of the Company: Afromix designs and manufactures agitators and peristaltic pumps

Date and Place of Birth: November 17, 1979, Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha)

Education: I graduated with a national diploma in mechanical engineering from Port Elizabeth Technikon (which merged with the University of Port Elizabeth and the Port Elizabeth campus of Vista University in 2005 to form Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University) in 2001

First Job: I once delivered newspapers for the EP Herald, but my first professional role was as a student engineer at B&E International

Career History Prior to Current Position: Applications engineer at Lightnin Africa

Size of First Pay Packet: R13.50 a week

First Job with Present Group: Technical director

Number of People under Your Leadership: About 110

Management Style: My management style is built on putting my people first. When my team feels supported, valued and empowered, they perform at their best, and leadership becomes far more effective

Personal Best Achievement: My family

Professional Best Achievement: I am still working towards the milestone I would consider my defining professional achievement

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My wife and parents

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: It would be unfair to name a single person, as I have been fortunate enough to have had many incredible people influence my career, each contributing in different ways at different stages

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: I would have wanted to meet Nelson Mandela, the late former President of South Africa. Currently, I would say Michael Jordan, the legendary basketball player widely regarded as the greatest of all time

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: There are many businesspeople who impress and motivate me – for different reasons. So, it would be difficult to single out just one. I draw inspiration from a variety of individuals, each offering strengths and perspectives I admire

Philosophy of Life: Respect people, no matter who they are

Biggest Ever Opportunity: The biggest opportunity in my career was starting Afromix

Biggest Ever Disappointment: That my father did not have the opportunity to meet my children, as he would have been an amazing grandfather

Hope for the Future: A South Africa that unites all citizens and reaches its true potential

Favourite Reading: Anything related to history or sport

Favourite TV Programme: Any sports documentary

Favourite Food/Drink: Nothing beats a good steak and a cold beer

Favourite Music: I genuinely enjoy all types of music, and my least favourite would probably be folk music

Favourite Sport: Rugby and soccer – but I am a sports fanatic

Favourite Website: I don’t have a single one

Hobbies: Working out in the gym and hunting

Car: A 1965 Chevy C10

Pets: Two small dogs

Miscellaneous Dislikes: People smoking around me

Favourite Other South African Company: My favourite South African company is always the next startup that is just getting off the ground. I have great respect for risk taking and the hard work that goes into building something new from scratch

Favourite Foreign Company: Apple

Married: To Verna

Children: I have three children

Clubs: Manchester United Football Club