Full Name: Lee Callakoppen

Position and Company Name: Principal officer of Bonitas Medical Fund

Main Activity of the Company: Medical aid scheme

Date and Place of Birth: October 4, Eden Park, Gauteng

Schools and Tertiary Education: Eersterust Senior Secondary School and Rand Afrikaans University (now the University of Johannesburg) and various other tertiary institutions

First Job: Sales associate at clothing retailer Edgars

Size of First Pay Packet: R3 200 a month

Career Path to Date: I held various roles at Edcon, the former owner of Edgars – in sales and as merchandise manager, human resources/employee relations consultant, and learning and development practitioner. I have also served as human resources manager at Vodacom, human resources executive at Primedia Entertainment, human resources and facilities management director at Medscheme/AfroCentric, MD of Medscheme in Mauritius (on secondment), operations executive at Bonitas, and principal officer of the fund since 2019

Value of Assets under Your Control: R11.6-billion

Number of People under Your Leadership: 20

Management Style: I would like to believe that my style is transformational

Personal Best Achievement: Being appointed as an executive director for human capital at the age of 28

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My mother – she taught me to be disciplined and tenacious in all that I do, while always maintaining humility

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: I have had the opportunity to learn from multiple individuals throughout my career, and it would be unfair to single out one person. A diverse range of line managers, peers, clients and staff across various organisations have all played a meaningful role in shaping my professional journey

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Football manager Jurgen Klopp

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Capitec Bank co-founder Michiel le Roux

Philosophy of Life: Ubuntu, the African philosophy rooted in a selfless approach to life, focused on making a difference to others and society

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Being appointed as the principal officer of Bonitas Medical Fund, the second-largest open medical scheme in South Africa

Biggest Ever Disappointment: I have faced many disappointments in my life. However, as a person with a very strong religious belief system, I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason and that in each situation there is a lesson to be learned

Hope for the Future: That we can narrow the divide in our society

Favourite Reading: The Alchemist. I mostly enjoy podcasts, particularly those by Simon Sinek

Favourite TV Programme: None

Favourite Food/Drink: Asian cuisine

Favourite Music: All genres from the 60s and 70s

Favourite Sport: Soccer and F1

Hobbies: Watching sports

Car: BMW M-series

Pets: None

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Traffic

Married: I am single

Children: Chloe-Leigh, 16

Clubs: None