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