Nthabiseng Kubheka

Full Name: Nthabiseng Kubheka

Position: Executive project director at General Electric (GE) Power – responsible for the Kusile 6 x 800 MW turbine island and wet flue gas desulphurisation (WFGD) projects

Main Activity of the Company: GE Power provides technology solutions and services across the entire energy value chain

Date and Place of Birth: January 21, 1977, Soweto, Gauteng

Education: Analytical chemistry; leadership course, Eskom; engineering management, University of Pretoria; BTech (quality management), University of Johannesburg; MBL, Unisa

First Job: Chemical laboratory technician

Career History Prior to Current Position: After completing Eskom’s development programme for technical leaders, I worked in various capacities and rose to GM for power station refurbishment and retrofit projects

Size of First Pay Packet: R3 800 a month

First Job with Present Group: Project director, Kusile WFGD project

Value of Assets under Your Control: Not stated

Number of People under Your Leadership: About 3 000 people

Management Style: Integrity, fairness and holding people accountable

Personal Best Achievement: Employing inexperienced professionals and developing them into leadership roles; influencing the implementation of social development projects in communities where we operate

Professional Best Achievement: Leading the first-ever WFGD project in Africa

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My late father and my mother

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Neels Roodt, my former boss at Eskom

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: A few, including former President Thabo Mbeki

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Matthias Schweinfest, GE senior executive, and Ipeleng Mkhari, founder of Motseng Investment Holdings

Philosophy of Life: I refuse to accept mediocrity

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Leading the refurbishment and retrofits projects portfolio at Eskom

Biggest Ever Disappointment: A top musician who was supposed to talk about safety to 3 000 employees and contractors at Komati power station pulling out five minutes before the event was due to start

Hope for the Future: That there will be more women in leadership positions in the construction/technical environment

Favourite Reading: Seven Things that Steal Your Joy, by Joyce Meyer

Favourite TV Programme: I do not watch much television

Favourite Food/Drink: I love meat

Favourite Music: Rhythm and soul

Favourite Sport: Rugby – I am raising a future rugby star

Favourite Website: Not stated

Hobbies: Watching my son play rugby, reading, interior decoration

Car: Mercedes-Benz C300 Coupe

Pets: None

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Not dressing up for the occasion

Favourite Other South African Company: Eskom

Favourite Foreign Company: GE

Married: I was widowed when I was expecting my son, in 1999

Children: I have one son, Mpho, 17, and am also a mother to my deceased aunt’s children – Simphiwe, 19, and Thando, 12