Full Name: Tracey Henry

Position and Company Name: CEO of Tshikululu Social Investments since 2008

Main Activity of the Company: Tshikululu Social Investments manages and advises on social investment funds

Date and Place of Birth: December 27, 1969, Fochville, Gauteng province

Education: BA Social Sciences (Social Work) and Master of Social Sciences, both from what is now the University of Johannesburg

First Job: My first full-time job after my undergraduate studies was with the Chamber of Mines’ Witwatersrand Centre for Human Development employee assistance programme. Prior to that, I did vacation work for Gold Fields, with whom I had a bursary

Size of First Pay Packet: R3 200 a month, in 1992

Career Path to Date: I worked for the Chamber of Mines (now Minerals Council South Africa) as a social worker from 1992 to 1995, providing counselling for employees and their dependants. I moved to Anglo American mid-1995 – to the Anglo American and De Beers Chairman’s Fund. The department was disbanded in 1998, following restructuring at Anglo American, and out of this Tshikululu was established to provide the-first-of-its-kind outsourced corporate social investment model in South Africa

Value of Assets under Your Control: Not stated

Number of People under Your Leadership: 60

Management Style: As I have grown, so has my leadership style. In the early days, it was about getting things done and pushing productivity. The demands on leaders have changed, as we deal with constant change and the complexity of managing various stakeholder interests. I place a lot of trust in my teams, but with clear expectations about what success looks like

Personal Best Achievement: My children

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

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Barry Swartzberg, one of the founders of Discovery – he encouraged me when the opportunity arose to apply for the CEO position at Tshikululu

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: No one person but a group of rural South Africans from diverse backgrounds who would be willing to share their cultural and life experiences

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Sizwe Nxasana – a successful and ethical businessperson who has used his expertise to contribute to the advancement of young people

Philosophy of Life: Keep moving forward and always make sure that the decisions you make will not tarnish your reputation, your family or your company

Biggest Ever Opportunity: The bursary I received from Gold Fields

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Not taking the lift to the top of the Empire building

Hope for the Future: A well-governed and prosperous South Africa where we can all thrive

Favourite Reading: It depends on the time of the year and what insights I need to solve a particular problem. More recently, I have enjoyed reading The Upside of Down, Thinking the Future and Managing the Professional Services Firm

Favourite TV Programme: Other than the evening news and rugby and soccer matches, I don’t watch much TV

Favourite Food/Drink: Drink – cappuccino; food – I love simple meals and we tend to braai a lot at home; however, a special treat for me is a bowl of fresh oysters

Favourite Music: My playlist is diverse – it includes music from the 50s to adult contemporary

Favourite Sport: Rugby

Hobbies: I am an amateur beekeeper

Car: Honda CRV

Pets: Two yorkies

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Negative and dishonest people

Married: Divorced

Children: Lance, 17; Jenna, 19

Clubs: My Run, Walk for Life group of friends