Full Name: Bernadette Mary Oliphant

Position: CEO of Izwe Training & Development

Main Activity of the Company: Training and development

Date and Place of Birth: December 1947, Johannesburg

Education: IPM diploma; management diploma, Henley Business School

First Job: Student nurse at Baragwanath Hospital

Career History Prior to Current Position: I worked for Group Five for 30 years, and my last position there was group employment equity manager

Size of First Pay Packet: R350 a month

First Job with Present Group: CEO

Value of Assets under Your Control: R18-million

Number of People under Your Leadership: 20

Management Style: Collaborative and hands-on

Personal Best Achievement: Surviving major tragedies

Professional Best Achievement: Realigning and refocusing the business

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: The nuns of St Theresa’s Convent

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: The people who believed in me and mentored me over the years

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: The Dalai Lama

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Baroness Lynda Chalker, chairperson of Africa Matters

Philosophy of Life: Move on and don’t blame the past

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Being able to touch people’s lives

Biggest Ever Disappointment: There have been many, but I have moved on

Hope for the Future: That the leaders of our country step up to the plate

Favourite Reading: Fiction, motivational and professional publications

Favourite TV Programme: Silent Witness

Favourite Food/Drink: Indian cuisine/white wine (Chenin Blanc)

Favourite Music: Depending on the mood – rock, classical instrumental and 70s

Favourite Sport: Tennis (couch)

Favourite Website: Google

Hobbies: Reading, hiking, working out in the gym and knitting

Car: Honda Jazz

Pets: I adopted two puppies that turned me into a cat person

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Arrogance and corruption

Favourite Other South African Company: Prime Media – for its Lead SA initiative

Favourite Foreign Company: Microsoft – for redefining our world

Married: Widowed

Children: Collin, 40; Jason, 36

Clubs: None