Full Name: Cheryl Ann Carolus
Position: Nonexecutive chairperson of JSE- and NYSE-listed Gold Fields since February 2013
Main Activity of Company: Gold mining
Date and Place of Birth: May 27, 1958, Silvertown, Cape Flats
Education: University of the Western Cape, BA Law, 1979, and BA Education, 1983
First Job: Teacher, Bridgetown High School, Cape Flats, 1979
Size of First Pay Packet: R89 a month
Value of Assets under Your Control: Gold Fields’ current market capitalisation is R50-billion
Number of People under Your Leadership: 9 600
Other Directorships: Executive chairperson of Peotona Holdings
Nongovernmental Organisations: South African and international boards of the World Wildlife Fund; International Crisis Group; the Soul City Institute for Health; and the Constitution Hill Education Trust
Career Highlights: Serving in the leadership of the African National Congress with Nelson Mandela from 1991 to 1997, being South African High Commissioner to the UK from 1998 to 2001 and serving as South African Airways chairperson from 2009 to 2013
Management Style: Leading from the front
Personal Best Achievement: Summiting Kilimanjaro with a group of women on August 9, 2006, and running the Soweto Marathon as part of my fiftieth birthday celebrations in 2008
Professional Best Achievement: Starting Peotona nine years ago
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My parents and my school teachers
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Cyril Ramaphosa, who is like a big brother to me
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Women astronauts, particularly Eileen Collins, the first woman shuttle pilot and shuttle commander
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Warren Buffett
Philosophy of Life: Make your own future
Biggest Ever Opportunity: My battle scars from helping to defeat the apartheid beast and now still being young enough to help build a very different future for my country. Mine is a lucky generation
Biggest Ever Disappointment: The point-blank refusal of business to participate in the Truth and Reconciliation process
Hope for the Future: That children grow up believing that the only thing that stands between them and greatness is themselves
Favourite Reading: I am an avid reader of books and newspapers. All-time favourites are Njabulo Ndebele, Zakes Mda and Ivan Vladislavic
Favourite TV Programme: I am a radio and print junkie – I do not watch much television
Favourite Food/Drink: Watermelon in summer and thick, hearty soups in winter. It is alleged that I drink too much coffee, eat too much chocolate and like a good wine. I don’t eat deep-fried canapés at receptions
Favourite Music: Jazz and classical
Favourite Sport: I jog and I am afraid I become a bit of a hooligan in my irrational support of any of our national teams
Hobbies: Gardening
Car: Mercedes-Benz
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Crass consumerism
Married: To Graeme Bloch
Clubs: Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, in Soho, London