Full Name: Nolan Eric Daniel

Position and Company Name: Joint CEO of Payment24 Group

Main Activity of the Company: As a fintech company, Payment24’s main activity revolves around providing cutting-edge payment systems, innovative loyalty programmes, and a range of related financial products to blue-chip companies on a global scale

Date and Place of Birth: August 13, 1975, Cape Town

Schools and Tertiary Education: Matric, Eldoraigne High School; master’s degree (information technology), Cape Peninsula University of Technology

First Job: Delivering newspapers before school

Size of First Pay Packet: Four cents for every newspaper delivered (excluding tips) and, as a computer programmer, R2 500 a month

Career Path to Date: I started out as a computer programmer and moved up the ranks to information technology manager while starting Payment24 Group as a side hustle that I joined full time about 11 years ago

Value of Assets under Your Control: I plead the fifth

Number of People under Your Leadership: 85

Management Style: Laissez-faire (hands-off) . . . until I’m not

Personal Best Achievement: I have had the privilege of completing some incredible endurance events, including the Ironman and Cape Epic. However, my focus has shifted towards a new goal in recent years – I am currently dedicated to the growth of Payment24 Group, striving to make it a competitive player on the global stage. It’s an ongoing journey, and we still have a long way to go, but being a part of this growth is a significant achievement in itself

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

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: I have had various role models throughout the various stages of my career

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: New York University Stern School of Business marketing professor and entrepreneur Scott Galloway

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Nike founder Phil Knight

Philosophy of Life: Assume you are not the smartest person in the room

Biggest Ever Opportunity: I am living it every day

Biggest Ever Disappointment: So far so good – nothing too disappointing to report on

Hope for the Future: That artificial intelligence does not pose an existential threat

Favourite Reading: Finding time to read physical books has become a challenge. Luckily, audiobooks have become a delightful alternative that keeps me engaged with literature during my daily commutes. According to my Audible mobile app report, I have an impressive collection of 211 books, with a particular interest in nonfiction and autobiographies

Favourite TV Programme: I am not much of a TV enthusiast, but I find myself occasionally tuning into CNN

Favourite Food/Drink: Chocolate (yes, chocolate is food) and red wine, specifically Diemersdal’s Private Collection

Favourite Music: I enjoy listening to any upbeat vibe music that inspires me to dance and sing along – and definitely not those old favourite bar anthems

Favourite Sports: Cycling

Hobbies: Cycling is more than a hobby for me – it’s a passion that has transformed into a way of life

Car: I am temporarily driving an Audi e-tron

Pets: Three dogs and about 75 goldfish

Miscellaneous Dislikes: People, particularly politicians, who have the notion that we are easily deceived or gullible. Such presumptions undermine the importance of trust and mutual respect in professional interactions

Married: I am happily married to the wonderful Sarah Cotton

Children: Harvey, my seven-year-old son, the one who made me watch every episode of SpongeBob SquarePants and discover the joy of bonding over a cartoon

Clubs: Tygerberg Mountain Bike Club