Full Name: Cornelius Erasmus Coetzee

Position and Company Name: Country manager at Verto South Africa

Main Activity of the Company: Verto is a cross-border payments company whose mission is to simplify cross-border payments for companies doing business in Africa through access to its local and global networks

Date and Place of Birth: July 5, 1992, Somerset West, Western Cape

Schools and Tertiary Education: Paul Roos Gymnasium and Stellenbosch University

First Job: Marketing information manager at Parmalat South Africa

Size of First Pay Packet: R11 500 a month – I could afford rent, a car and a social life with that money 12 years ago

Career Path to Date: I started out at Parmalat in a maternity cover role and was promoted to product manager within four months. In this role, I was primarily focused on building the Parmalat brand in Zambia, Mozambique and all new export markets. I then joined PEP Africa in 2017 with a mandated focus on market and product expansion of the company’s financial services portfolio in sub-Saharan Africa. After five years – and a pandemic in between – I joined Mukuru Money Transfer to support its expansion strategy into the East African Community. I recently joined Verto South Africa as country manager, supporting its expansion strategy into South Africa

Value of Assets under Your Control: Not stated

Number of People under Your Leadership: I currently have a team of four specialists supporting me to build out the sales, operations and regulatory exchange control functions, and a few more key individuals will be joining in the second half of 2024

Management Style: I believe in hiring the right people and letting them do what they do best, while unlocking any blocker that may stand in the way of personal and career growth

Personal Best Achievement: Receiving a Hyper Growth or Business Builder award at every company I have worked for. This reaffirms my passion for – and commitment to – building great businesses in all industries

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My parents, without a doubt. They are immensely ambitious and hardworking individuals who instilled their passion for success in both my brother and me. Equally important is my spouse, who has been my greatest critic and supporter over the past few years

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: I have been fortunate to work with great leaders over the past decade or so. Each, in his or her own way, has guided me in becoming a better leader and individual

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Christiane Amanpour, one of the best journalists of our time. I live by her quote: “We do it because we are committed, because we’re believers”

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Warren Buffett, who demonstrated that, in the amidst of immense and rapid change, being grounded, humble and committed to basic principles and values can lead to unimaginable success

Philosophy of Life: Treat every stumbling block as a stepping stone; within every challenge lies a hidden opportunity – it’s your choice how you perceive it

Biggest Ever Opportunity: A career that has afforded me the opportunity to visit about 35 African countries. We are blessed with an amazing continent, rich in culture and brimming with opportunities

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Being too hesitant when I was younger. Seize every opportunity that comes your way in life!

Hope for the Future: Financial inclusion and accessibility for all. We live on a continent that has so much to offer, and inclusion is just the beginning of boundless prosperity

Favourite Reading: The Hunger Games (all of them!) but I won’t say no to any piece of investigative journalism

Favourite TV Programme: CNN and BBC during the day, but any historical documentary in my free time

Favourite Food/Drink: All things Italian – Carbonara, Lasagne, pizza – and a very good red wine

Favourite Music: The Top 40 hits of the day

Favourite Sport: Biathlon, swimming and hockey

Hobbies: I’m an avid gardener with a love for the outdoors. Besides that, I always find a reason to get on a plane

Car: BMW

Pets: Two dogs that might just as well have been humans

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Any mall or shopping centre

Married: To Chandre

Children: None at present

Clubs: I’m an avid CrossFit member