Full Name: Maropeng Bahula

Position and Company Name: GM: Bulk Gases and Supply Chain at Air Products South Africa

Main Activity of the Company: Air Products is an industrial and specialty gases company that supplies the manufacturing, energy and healthcare industries 

Date and Place of Birth: January 21, 1971, Pretoria

Schools and Tertiary Education: Matric, Mamelodi High School; BSc (Chemistry and Chemical Sciences), University of the Witwatersrand (Wits); Master of Business Leadership, University of South Africa; International Executive Development Programme, London Business School and Wits Business School; doctoral business research certificate, Edinburgh Business School, Heriott-Ward University

First Job: Technical officer at AECI Mining

Size of First Pay Packet: R5 500 a month

Number of People under Your Leadership: 140

Management Style: Collaborative

Personal Best Achievement: My first stint as chairperson of a board of directors was at the age of 39. In that position, I oversaw an asset base valued at about R1.6-billion

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My mother, Betty Bahula

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: There are too many to mention. Throughout my career, I have had several bosses who were both mentors and line managers and shaped my professional growth in remarkable ways

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Founder of African Rainbow Minerals and philanthropist Dr Patrice Motsepe

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: There are many. Notable figures include Rob Richardson, former MD of Air Products South Africa; Fani Titi, CEO of Investec; Adrian Gore, founder and CEO of Discovery; Phuthuma Nhleko, former CEO and chairperson of MTN; and Graham Edwards, former CEO of AECI Mining, to mention a few

Philosophy of Life: Don’t stop being curious and never give up

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Appointment as Operations Director in 2007, a role that enabled me to step into executive management 

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Missing out on appointment to a deputy MD role for a JSE-listed conglomerate in 2012 on a technicality, after having made it to the final stage as the preferred candidate

Hope for the Future: Consistent GDP growth in South Africa of 5% or more, which would drive job creation

Favourite Reading: Steve Jobs, by Walter Isaacson

Favourite TV Programme: Skeem Saam, an educational soapie on SABC1

Favourite Food/Drink: Coke Zero

Favourite Music: Amapiano, gospel and R&B

Favourite Sport: Football

Hobbies: Functional strength training, running, reading, swimming and travel

Car: BMW

Pets: None 

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Rudeness

Married: To Idah

Children: Nhlanhla, 28; Neo, 26; Tumi, 22; Theo, 17

Clubs: None