Full Name: Marwan Davids
Position and Company Name: Human resources executive at John Thompson
Main Activity of the Company: Boiler engineering, manufacturing and maintenance, as well as air quality services
Date and Place of Birth: November 9, Cape Town
Schools and Tertiary Education: Rylands High School, the University of the Western Cape, Stellenbosch University, the Gordon Institute of Business Science and Henley Business School
First Job: Part-time industrial psychology lecturer
Size of First Pay Packet: R1 500 a month
Career Path to Date: I started off as a lecturer at the University of the Western Cape, before being appointed human resources practitioner and later human resources team leader at MWEB, senior human resources manager: employee relations at MultiChoice South Africa, acting human resources director at M-Net, acting human resources GM at MultiChoice South Africa, head of group employee relations at MultiChoice Group, head of human resources at Hello Group and human resources executive at John Thompson
Number of People under Your Leadership: 14
Management Style: The two leadership styles which best describe me are situational and servant leadership
Personal Best Achievement: Completing my master’s degree in industrial psychology
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My father
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: The human resources GM of MultiChoice Group
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Warren Buffett
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Steve Jobs
Philosophy of Life: Be true to who you are
Biggest Ever Opportunity: To study at Henley Business School
Biggest Ever Disappointment: Repeating a year in primary school
Hope For the Future: That South Africa reaches its true potential
Favourite Reading: Science fiction
Favourite TV Programme: Game of thrones and The Big Bang Theory
Favourite Food/Drink: Burrito and apple juice
Favourite Music: R&B
Favourite Sport: Cricket
Hobbies: Gardening and going to the gym
Car: Hyundai
Pets: Rabbits, fish and a parrot
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Loadshedding, potholes, peak-hour traffic, water-shedding and sewage in the streets as a result of crumbling infrastructure
Married: To Janan Janine Dietrich
Clubs: Scouts