Get to know – Moshe Petja
Solutions Consultant
Moshe Petja possesses 23 years of extensive experience in diverse industries and sectors as a Continuous Business Process Improvement specialist and expert. Over the course of 15 years, he has established a proven track record in Continuous Business Process Improvement and Change Management. With a focus on impactful curriculum development, he is a skilled trainer in Lean Six Sigma, Business Process Management, and Business Process Re-engineering.
His training abilities have enabled him to coach executives on Lean Six Sigma Awareness, as well as guide organisational teams in achieving White, Yellow, Green, and Black Belt certifications. Under his leadership, numerous individuals have successfully obtained these certifications.
Beyond training, his expertise encompasses various areas including High Performance Organisation Strategy Development and Execution, Team Building and Management, Project Management, Coaching, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Lean Six Sigma, Business Process Management, and Business Process Re-engineering. He excels in embedding techniques such as Gap Analysis, Root Cause Analysis, Improvement, Internal Controls, and Process Adherence Audits to ensure sustainable gains from improvement initiatives.
Overall, his extensive experience, training proficiency, and diverse skill set makes him a valuable asset for organisations seeking to drive continuous improvement and implement successful change management practices.
1. Tell us about the first job you’ve ever held.
As a Lab Analyst at Lonmin Platinum and later Sibanye, I joined the company fresh from TUT with great excitement and a commitment to working hard to change not only my life but also the lives of my entire family. I am truly humbled and grateful to the Lord almighty that these aspirations have come to fruition.
From the beginning, I possessed a strong willingness to learn and go the extra mile, which opened up numerous opportunities for me. In just three years, I held various positions within the Laboratory Analytical Services and Management structures. These roles included Research and Development, Applications, Operations, and Plant Chemist, each providing unique learning experiences.
One of the greatest highlights of my career was introducing Robotics to the laboratory. I led the implementation of the Aztec 3 Platinum analyser, initially used in the Gold sector, and later adopted for the platinum industry as well. This achievement led to my selection as a Lean Six Sigma Blackbelt, which further enhanced my expertise in Continuous Business Process Improvement and change management. Today, this aspect forms a significant part of my professional life.
I am grateful for the opportunities and experiences I have had in my career so far, and I look forward to continuing my journey of growth and making a positive impact in the field of laboratory analysis. I am grateful for the opportunities I have been given and look forward to continuing my journey of growth and success in the field of Business Process Improvement and change management.
2. If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
I would choose the ability to fly. Flying would provide me with a unique perspective and the opportunity to see things and the world from a whole new vantage point. This newfound perspective would enhance my innovation capabilities and allow me to gain insights that could contribute to streamlining processes and improving efficiency.
3. What’s a common piece of advice you don’t agree with and why?
I don’t agree with the common advice of “follow your passion” because in the ever-changing work and economic environment, it may not always be realistic. However, I believe that nurturing our passion as a hobby can potentially make our dreams come true while also considering the practicalities of life.
4. Tell us a fact that most people don’t know about you.
I am a family-oriented person who believes that a good society begins at the family level. Additionally, I strongly believe that it is perfectly acceptable to be different, while also discouraging any form of dislike or judgment based on those differences.
5. List three items on your bucket list
- To build and operate a High-Performance Centre where the mission I have long invested in, alongside other institutions and mentors, will finally come to fruition. I eagerly anticipate the day when this mission will be launched and ready to serve and positively impact the world.
- Finish my classical Memoir.
- Travel destinations in the world.
6. Tell us about a milestone you’ve achieved in your line of work that you’re most proud of.
One of the milestones that I am most proud of in my line of work is leading the in-house implementation of Lean Six Sigma, which has had a significant impact on the lives of people within the organisation. I took charge of various aspects, including curriculum development, training the trainers, and completing actual improvement projects. Additionally, I certified candidates at different levels of Lean Six Sigma, such as Yellow, Green, and Black belts. This endeavours aimed to internalise the capability within the organisation and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
Being a team member and playing a pivotal leading role in turning around challenged organisation by improving efficiencies, streamlining processes, improving profitability and above all impacting people with interesting and new set of business process improvement and change management skills to mention few out of the many.
It’s not the strongest nor the most intelligent people who survive, but the most courageous, and responsive to change that often yields sustainable growth.
Moshe Petja, Process Engineer
7. Which historical figure would you most like to meet?
The Late Dr John Tibane, I’m inspired by his latest teachings including book series of “Master your thoughts and Transform your Life”. He was a Captain of Industry and a Robber Baron with great a positive mindset with paradigm shift and basically love his self-warm-up talks alongside Ed Foreman and Brian Tracy respectively.
8. If you could be reincarnated as any animal, which one would you choose, and why?
By default, our Petja clan is represented by the Lion and it just sort of over-emphasises that element of being fearless, a go getter, making things happen for yourself and surroundings like Lions hunting for themselves including little cubs that are not yet independent nor ready to hunt. They lead and protect their own without fail.
9. What is your default strategy for dealing with upset clients?
I often utilise the L.A.S.T Technique/ Approach.
First (L)listen to the key issue or non-conformance they are raising without outsourcing accountability and implicating other people, agree on the course of (A)action for reaching the (S) Solution within agreed (T)Timelines.
10. The zombie apocalypse is coming. Who are the three colleagues do you want on your team, and why?
I want to explore new things out of my comfort zone, tap and leverage into the new expertise and I would like to choose 3 colleagues I have never collaborated with before to learn new things and at the same time contribute different perspective to the team.
11. What do you admire most about your younger self?
A go-getter with a vision written down at the age of 12, I consider it my masterpiece, defying all odds. From living in a hut or muddy house, I have risen to become a high-performance directorate member and an Exco member. I used to have positive self-warm-up talks, knowing that once I accomplished my goals, I would surpass my current position. This mindset drove my actions and instilled discipline in me, ensuring that I completed tasks with determination.
12. If you could summarise your experience with ISB Optimus in one sentence, what would it be?
Its been a roller coaster with some great memories and experiences of resolving Client’s biggest problems acknowledged by some former Executives with unforgettable “Verbatim”.
We hope you enjoyed getting to know Moshe as much as our team did. Be on the lookout for the next article!