Full Name: Cynthia Nomsa Pongweni

Position: FD, Mineworkers Investment Company (MIC)

Main Activity of the Company: Investment holding company

Date and Place of Birth: October 13, 1977, Chiredzi, Zimbabwe

Education: MBA, Chicago Booth Business School, US; CA(SA)

First Job: Articled clerk, Deloitte Harare, Zimbabwe

Career History Prior to Current Position: Not stated

Size of First Pay Packet: Z$2 350 a month

First Job with Present Group: FD

Value of Assets under Your Control: MIC’s total assets are valued at R6.9-billion

Number of People under Your Leadership: Not stated

Management Style: Consultative
Personal Best Achievement: Being selected as one of Poets&Quants’ 2017 top 50 executive MBA students globally

Professional Best Achievement: Being appointed a partner at Deloitte at the age of 29

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My mother

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Hugh Wright, staff partner at Deloitte Harare

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Barack Obama

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Elon Musk

Philosophy of Life: It is based on this prayer: God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Studying for an MBA at Chicago Booth Business School, a top-five business school globally

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Not qualifying to study medicine. At the tender age of 18, this was a huge disappointment; however, with hindsight, I now realise that everything happens for a reason and am content with the career path I took

Hope for the Future: That my daughter lives in a world where the opportunities available to her and her success are not determined by her gender

Favourite Reading: The Prophet, by Khalil Gibran

Favourite TV Programme: Masterchef Australia

Favourite Food/Drink: Seafood

Favourite Music: RnB

Favourite Sport: Cricket

Favourite Website: www.cricinfo.com

Hobbies: Running and golf

Car: Mercedes-Benz

Pets: None

Miscellaneous Dislikes: People who do not pull their weight; disrespectful people and practices

Favourite Other South African Company: Naspers

Favourite Foreign Company: Amazon

Married: To Takunda Pongweni, since February 24, 2012

Children: Ruvarashe, 3

Clubs: None