Biography

Max's Story

Max Mabuti is the Founder and Managing Director of Flat-Foot Engineering. He worked extensively with The Value Builder System and his Certified Value Builder to identify some major gaps in his business and turn the business (which was technically insolvent in 2013) around with impressive success.

Following 15 years of Flat-Foot’s existence under his leadership we saw the company expanding tremendously with 4 new divisions namely; Medical gas, Boiler & Steam, Kitchens, Laundry & Autoclaves. This tremendous diversification transformed the business into a comprehensive mechanical service provider servicing the entire Eastern Cape Government’s medical space and other public and private sectors.

Max employs the particularly unique philosophy where he has adopted the analogy of ”Business as a Boxing Match” where he compares business with a boxing match and all its survival tactics. He believes that like in boxing, a business owner needs a corner man from whom to solicit advise during every round of the match. A business owner, like a boxer needing a trainer or corner man, also needs a mentor for advice and guidance.

Personal Life

Max Mabuti began his career as a professional boxer, but quickly a business leader emerged from the street of Mthatha in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Armed with a wheelbarrow and a dream, Max set out to found an organization that he could one day see operate without him being present. This dream would come to be realized in the form of a Mechanical Engineering company which he called Flat-Foot Engineering, where is currently the Managing Director.

Max graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree (Honours), from Rhodes University majoring in Development Studies, after which he immediately joined an engineering firm in East London, Mthatha and, Bloemfontein. He acquired a Certificate in Business Leadership through Rhodes University, supplementing this with a Sales and Marketing Management qualification from Damelin College, which would later come in handy in his business career. Max supplemented his qualification through short courses in HVAC (heating Ventilation and Air-conditioning through Samsung in South Korea. He also did short courses in Refrigeration, High temperature steam sterilizing equipment (Autoclaves) and industrial laundry and became a qualified service and installation Technician.

By the year 2019 between 29th of October 2019 until 22nd of November, Max participated in the Manager Training Programme of the GIZ GmbH, financed by the BMWi (Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy). The Training took place in Germany, Cologne and was hosted by TÜV Rheinland Academy.

As an entrepreneur, he led a number of engineering businesses around South Africa and Namibia. Having begun his involvement in leadership as an office manager at FST Consulting Engineers in Mthatha. He continued to hold occupied positions as a Director at Thusabatho Consulting Engineers and later as an Operations Director at ADISA Engineering Consultants.