This month SmartProcurement profiles Melita Ntsane from CBRE Excellerate
| Full name | Melita Ntsane |
| Position | Head of Procurement, CBRE Excellerate (CBRE Excellerate merges CBRE’s operations in Africa and the Middle East with several of Excellerate’s businesses – including advisory & transaction services, facilities management, valuation and project & development management services as well as property management services outside South Africa. |
| Who does P & SM report to | The CEO |
| Private sector or public sector | Private sector |
| Core business activity of the enterprise | Commercial Real Estate Services and Investments |
| Number of people in your P & SM organisation | 4 direct reports and the rest are decentralised as part of the operations teams |
| Personal motto | Be the best version of you. |
| Professional bodies membership | Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) |
| What is your vision for P & SM | To be the leading procurement function in the commercial real estate industry. As well as providing real estate services, we also offer acumen, industry knowledge and passion about our region of operations and excellence in service delivery. I have been privileged enough to work with a team that performs with amazing energy and dedication in helping the business deliver quality to our clients. |
| Personal best achievement | Qualifying for a full bursary to ensure my parents did not have to worry about my tertiary fees. It also came with the perk of independence. |
| Most important commodities | Everything that concerns a building’s Repairs and Maintenance, Cleaning and Security. |
| The person that has had the biggest influence on your life | My parents. My mother was a force of determination and absolute love. My father sacrificed a lot for his family. I learnt a lot from them. |
| The person that has had the biggest influence on your career | I have quite a few, but one that stands out is my first manager. His belief and trust in me set the tone for how I navigated the many paths of my career. |
| Person you would most like to meet | Warren Buffet and Rihanna. They seem like such intelligent, yet fun, people. |
| What do you like most about your job | Every day is a new and exciting challenge. Working for a company with a footprint in the Middle East – Africa region and global affiliations is a constant journey of discovery. By working with different stakeholders and having to understand the region, I often “travel” to multiple countries during an 8-hour day. |
| Is there anything you dislike about your job | The job has its stresses and challenges like any role, but I cannot think of anything I dislike. |
| Businessperson who has impressed you the most | Warren Buffet and Rihanna, but one whom I have met in person and been blessed enough to be briefly mentored by, is Mark Lamberti, Founder of Massmart Holdings Ltd. |
| Favourite quote | “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” – Les Brown |
| Your favourite South African organisation | Apart from CBRE Excellerate, it would have to be Sasol because they granted me a bursary for my tertiary studies and gave me a great start to my career. It was an amazing place to gain business exposure and learning. |
| Your favourite global organisation | Coca-Cola |
| Your philosophy about life | Kindness is magic. Love the life you never planned. And in any type of relationship “you must find the courage to leave the table where respect is no longer being served.” Give yourself the peace you need. |
| Favourite reading | Magda – My Journey, by Magda Wierzycka |
| Favourite music | I listen to all types of music from Classical, Hip-hop, House, Country, right through to Amapiano. My mother loved music in all its forms and I took it on. |
| Favourite sport | I don’t watch it as much as I used to, but football excites me. Arsenal continues to break my heart year in and year out in the EPL. |
| Favourite website | Google and YouTube. |
| Hobbies | Food tasting. I try a new restaurant once a month. |
| Car | My favourite car has always been a Bugatti Veyron. I hope to test drive it one day. |
| Married | Yes |
| Children | None |
