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