It’s not often you get the chance to sit down and have a lengthy chat with an owner of a successful company, worth millions and that employs over 30 staff members. Which is why our marketing team jumped at the opportunity to steal a few minutes of Morgan Pillay’s time with a one-on-one interview.
As a man of many talents, Morgan had much to share with us as he spoke about his interests, life before Shadai and his plans for the future. Read on to see what he had to say.
What made you decide to get into the waste management industry?
Morgan: I am plumber by profession. The area that I service is predominately Septic Tanks. I purchased my first truck in 2008 in order to provide my clients with a more comprehensive service. We have a fleet of 22 vehicles today. The rest is history.
What did you do before you got into the waste management industry?
Morgan: I focused my time and energy in the domestic, commercial & industrial plumbing. I headed 5 plumbing teams under the Shadai banner. Today we concentrate only on the civil plumbing for the domestic/commercial & industrial sectors.
What was the transition from plumber to businessman like?
Morgan: I was tired of using products that were repeatedly not effective yet accepted in the marketplace because of the lack of quality and innovation. Although there was a lot to learn initially, I enjoyed making the move from plumber to director of Shadai South Africa. I feel that my background in plumbing and my interest in architecture and design helped me hugely in the transition and it’s what continues to drive me to come up with new and innovative initiatives.
What does a day in the life of Morgan Pillay look like?
Morgan: I plan my day to be constructively busy. Mainly attending to technical innovations and developing new products.
Where do you plan to take Shadai as a business in future?
Morgan: I want to provide my clients with a quality waste system – suitable to handle human waste in all sectors (Domestic/Public facilities/Commercial/Industrial Sectors). Currently our team of engineers and I are working on a waterless and odourless toilet. We are targeting the rural community with the intention of providing them with a quality five-star ablution facility.
Do you have any special hobbies or interests outside of work?
Morgan: I enjoy fitness training and love playing soccer. I am privileged to play on the same team as my seventeen-year-old son. I also enjoy community and outreach work. Currently, I’m in charge of roads and stormwater, under the Ward 19 Ethekweni Region.
