Full Name: Liz Gorbunov
Position: GM and chief marketing manager: light commercial vehicles and sports utility vehicles at Nissan Africa
Main Activity of the Company: Nissan is a vehicle manufacturer
Date and Place of Birth: December 18, 1982, Nelspruit
Education: BCom (business management, investment finance and marketing), University of the Witwatersrand; MBA, Gordon Institute of Business Science
First Job: Graduate trainee at Volkswagen South Africa (VWSA)
Career History Prior to Current Position: VWSA – sales and marketing graduate trainee; Lexus South Africa – assistant sales manager; Toyota South Africa – key accounts manager; Jaguar Land Rover – national sales manager for sub-Saharan Africa; Al Futtaim Motors, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) – senior sales support and senior passenger product manager; Nissan Africa – GM: sales and aftersales operations for sub-Saharan Africa
Size of First Pay Packet: R16 000
First Job with Present Group: GM: sales and aftersales operations for sub-Saharan Africa
Number of People under Your Leadership: Six
Management Style: This has evolved along with my upward movement, but I would say it is still largely a coaching leadership style
Personal Best Achievement: Graduating with an MBA
Professional Best Achievement: Working at Al Futtaim Motors UAE and being able to share South African and Middle Eastern best practice with my colleagues
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My 12-year-old daughter and various other people, including my brother, James, who is also in the motor industry and was my sounding board in the early years of my career
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: General Motors global CEO Mary Barra, who is the first female CEO of a global automotive company
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Oprah Winfrey
Philosophy of Life: Believe in the power of you
Biggest Ever Opportunity: The opportunity to work abroad
Biggest Ever Disappointment: Being passed up for a promotion
Hope for the Future: The continued success of females in the automotive industry
Favourite Reading: Tuesdays with Morrie, by Mitch Albom
Favourite TV Programme: The Homeland series
Favourite Food/Drink: Anything with salmon/red wine
Favourite Music: My taste is cyclical – at the moment, it is classical music in the mornings and evenings
Favourite Sport: I am an Orlando Pirates Football Club fan. Manchester United is my favourite overseas football team. I also love rugby
Favourite Website: Luxury shopping websites
Hobbies: Travel and working out in the gym
Car: Nissan Navara
Pets: None currently, but contemplating a dog
Miscellaneous Dislikes: People with malicious intent
Favourite Other South African Company: MTN
Favourite Foreign Company: The company that has my attention is Massmart (Walmart)
Married: To Maxim
Children: Zamangwane, aged 12
Clubs: I have been putting off reinstating my World of Golf membership since my return from the UAE in 2016; however, I am back at Virgin Active