Sticking to
the plan
P
R
O
F
I
L
E
Tenacity, a good way with people and a sense of humour are all
|
characteristics that have made property developer Takis Christodoulou get
b
ahead. He spoke to Siza Mtimkulu about his leadership style and his hopes
u
for the future
s
i
I
t hasn’t been an easy road University of Pretoria, Christodoulou he also credits his easygoing nature for
n
for property developer Takis entered the property world about 28 being able to perform the task. “You
e
Christodoulou, but he has worked years ago as a director at construction are constantly dealing with people and
very hard – and all this hard work has group Ovcon. He was also one of therefore should remain level headed
ss
finally paid off. He is the chairman of the consultants involved in the first at all times and also have a sense of
a family business called Christodoulou conceptualisation stages of the Gautrain. humour,” he says.
Holdings, and the company’s greatest
property-development achievement to
When I ask him about leadership style, Christodoulou
date is a world-class shopping mall in
the upscale suburb of Moreleta Park says one should be guided by what South Africans call
in Tshwane. Called Parkview, the vast
complex is well positioned and has a
ubuntu, a Zulu equivalent of humility
stunning view that allows visitors to
feel like they’re out in the country. Work according to a vision His sense of humour – and the fact
Amongst the 130 upmarket stores in When we sit down to have a that he believes one should always
the complex are branches of the highly conversation, I acknowledge the fact treat people with respect – has made
successful international F-TV café, that it’s been a long and winding road him a good listener, which he says is
Woolworths and Loads of Living as well to come to this stage of successfully key for any successful manager.
as some exciting new restaurants. running a family business. I ask him He is quick to tell me that good
Parkview opened its doors in how he managed to make it work, and management depends on more than
July 2009, following 17 months of he tells me that he’s been working just one person – that you need to
construction. Christodoulou owns a according to a vision for a long while. “surround yourself with a proactive
smaller shopping centre not too far “You’ve got to stick to the plan if you team that you can rely on as support”.
from Parkview, in Faerie Glen. want to succeed in achieving your Needless to say, relationships in the
After he obtained his bachelor’s goals,” he advises. His tenacity has Christodoulou family are very tightly
degree in building science from the definitely enabled him to succeed, but knit and of huge importance.
83
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132  |  Page 133  |  Page 134  |  Page 135  |  Page 136  |  Page 137  |  Page 138  |  Page 139  |  Page 140  |  Page 141  |  Page 142  |  Page 143  |  Page 144  |  Page 145  |  Page 146  |  Page 147  |  Page 148  |  Page 149  |  Page 150  |  Page 151  |  Page 152  |  Page 153  |  Page 154  |  Page 155  |  Page 156  |  Page 157  |  Page 158  |  Page 159  |  Page 160  |  Page 161  |  Page 162  |  Page 163  |  Page 164