Full Name: Raisibe Morathi

Position and Company Name: Group CFO and executive director of Vodacom Group since November 1, 2020

Main Activity of the Company: Vodacom is a telecoms and fintech group with operations in South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique and Tanzania

Date and Place of Birth: I was born in Polokwane, Limpopo province

Schools and Tertiary Education: I am a chartered accountant (South Africa) with a Master of Philosophy in Corporate Strategy from the University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute of Business Science. I also hold an Advanced Diploma in Taxation and a Certificate in Corporate Governance, and have completed INSEAD’s Advanced Management Programme

First Job: Trainee accountant at Fisher Hoffman Stride

Size of First Pay Packet: I don’t remember, but I gained experience more than money

Career Path to Date: My career path has taken me from investment banking to lending, insurance and group CFO

Value of Assets under Your Control: Vodacom Group has R250-billion market capitalisation

Number of People under Your Leadership: About 1 200 finance people across the group. Vodacom Group as a whole has about 10 000 employees

Management Style: My management style can be characterised as engaging and coaching, as well as outcomes-, results- and goal-orientated

Personal Best Achievement: Enterprise resource planning systems replacement for human resources, finance and procurement, as well as closing various merger-and-acquisition deals

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: They are too many to mention. These include both men and women

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Former US First Lady Michelle Obama

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: British entrepreneur, philanthropist and founder of Virgin Group Richard Branson

Philosophy of Life: Laugh and smile

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Being a mother

Biggest Ever Disappointment: That I stopped studying

Hope for the Future: To write a few books about my boardroom experiences

Favourite Reading: My Life in Full: Work, Family and Our Future, a memoir by Indian-American business executive and former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi

Favourite TV Programme: Investigative television programme Carte Blanche

Favourite Food/Drink: I am not fussy about what I eat or drink; it all depends on my mood

Favourite Music: R&B

Favourite Sport: Soccer and board games like Scrabble

Hobbies: Safaris, reading a good book and nature walks

Car: As long as it moves

Pets: Pets are not my thing

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Chaos and clutter

Clubs: The Methodist Church