Full Name: Thabo Gumbi

Position: TEBA financial services manager (appointed head of new business, effective July 1, 2014)

Main Activity of the Company: Unlocking human potential and serving mines, mineworkers and the community

Date and Place of Birth: May 10, 1981, Soweto, Johannesburg

Education: Elsie Ngidi Primary School, Chiawelo, Soweto; Siyamukela High School, Madadeni, Newcastle; marketing degree, University of Johannesburg, 2006; MBA, Gordon Institute of Business Science (Gibbs), 2012; key accounts management certificate, Gibbs, 2011; business school finance for nonfinancial managers, University of the Witwatersrand, 2010; executive development programme, Stellenbosch University, 2008

First Job: Part-time bank teller for Standard Bank, Rosebank, 2003

Size of First Pay Packet: R250 a week

Career Path: Absa Bank (marketing consultant); Hollard (microinsurance); Standard Bank (inclusive banking, unsecured lending acquisitions); TEBA, September 2012

Value of Assets under Your Control: The company turns over about R200-million a year

Number of People under Your Leadership: The company employs 600 people

Management Style: Collaborative, enabling leadership

Personal Best Achievement: Current appointment

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My grandfather, Michael Gumbi, a former Pick n Pay employee, who taught me humility and perseverance

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Jeremy Leach, my manager at Hollard, who convinced me to go through the pain of studying towards an MBA

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Aristotle, if he were alive

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Hollard CEO Nic Kohler

Philosophy of Life: One should always guard against arrogance

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Improving life and living for less fortunate individuals

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Not having my father in my life

Hope for the Future: The prevalence of young, deprived children disturbs me and my hope is that they are given a better chance in life

Favourite Reading: Harvard Business Review, bedtime stories to my daughters

Favourite TV Programme: Air Crash Investigation, 48 Hours

Favourite Food/Drink: My wife’s cooking and a good old pap and steak with tomato gravy, with a Castle Lite

Favourite Music: uMaskandi, especially Imbizo by Phuzekhemisi

Favourite Sport: Soccer

Hobbies: Gardening and family playtime

Car: Audi

Pets: My daughter is nagging me to get dogs

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Disloyalty and arrogance

Married: To Bontle (née Maupa), for eight years

Children: Two daughters, Keorapetse, 6; Amahle, 2

Clubs: None