Balan Govender

Full Name: Balan (Sadhasivan) Govender

Position: MD of Bosch Ulwazi

Main Activity of the Company: Skills development and mentoring, including the development of emerging enterprises and entrepreneurs, the development of graduates so that they attain professional registration and the provision of specialised technical programmes tailored to meet clients’ needs

Date and Place of Birth: December 24, 1963

Education: Diploma in textiles; I am also a qualified education, training and development practitioner

First Job: Engineering draughtsperson

Career History Prior to Current Position: Junior training instructor, technical training officer, senior training officer, training manager, regional training manager

Size of First Pay Packet: R60 a week (when I was an apprentice)

First Job with Present Group: Business manager

Value of Assets under Your Control: Not stated

Number of People under Your Leadership: Eight permanent employees and numerous consultants and training facilitators

Management Style: Participative (democratic)

Personal Best Achievement: An award for lifetime contribution to the sport of volleyball from the eThekwini Volleyball Association; the Premier's Award for contributing to volleyball development in KwaZulu-Natal

Professional Best Achievement: Recognition from the eThekwini deputy mayor for contributing to the development of emerging enterprises in KwaZulu-Natal; witnessing the organisations we develop become sustainable business entities

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My uncle, Moon Govender, and my wife, Molly Govender

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Dianne Olivier, my mentor at Frame Textiles

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Tanmay Bakshi, the 13-year-old who has developed his own apps, written books on computer apps and is currently employed by Google

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Mark Shuttleworth

Philosophy of Life: Trust first and distrust later

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Getting to know Jesus

Biggest Ever Disappointment: How people destroyed the largest textiles organisation in the southern hemisphere by not sticking to the principles of its cofounder

Hope for the Future: We have the best country in the world; if we root out corruption, we will be one of the most successful economies

Favourite Reading: The Bible

Favourite TV Programme: Sports channels and Shark Tank

Favourite Food/Drink: Breyani and nonalcoholic drinks

Favourite Music: Classics

Favourite Sport: Volleyball and, time permitting, golf

Favourite Website: None

Hobbies: Classic cars – I dream of owning a VW split-window Kombi

Car: Mercedes-Benz GLA 200 CDI

Pets: Birds (I bred them for a while)

Miscellaneous Dislikes: None

Favourite Other South African Company: BMW Manufacturing Plant’s Training and Development Sector

Favourite Foreign Company: Not stated

Married: To Molly, since September 1, 1985

Children: Mergan, 31; Yugen, 29; Brandon, 21

Clubs: Soccer, Manchester United; rugby, Sharks; volleyball, Sporting Club Meadow (Masters Team); cricket, Dolfins