Full Name: Trent Bomberg

Position: MD of Dask Distributors

Main Activity of the Company: Manufacturing of abrasives and distribution of protective plastics (Horn and Bauer) and personal protective equipment (Mallcom) into the automotive, do-it-yourself and industrial sectors

Date and Place of Birth: August 28, 1981, Johannesburg

Education: BBA, Institute of Marketing Management; Stanford Seed Programme, 2019

First Job: My mother had a stationery shop, and, from the age of 13, I would often help her behind the counter or stacking shelves during school holidays to earn extra spending money

Career History Prior to Current Position: I worked in several sales and marketing roles while completing my degree, before moving to London at the age of 26. I was appointed sales manager at British Telecom (BT) and spent seven years at the company

Size of First Pay Packet: Probably R100 for a day’s work in the stationery shop

First Job with Present Group: Sales director

Value of Assets under Your Control: R15-million

Number of People under Your Leadership: 16

Management Style: I am very hands-on with my team, but I also try to empower them to get on with their jobs

Personal Best Achievement: My family. We have four-year-old twins, who keep us on our toes, but their stories and hugs make even the hardest days easier. Being selected to take part in the 2019 Stanford Seed Cohort and graduate programme was also a great achievement for me

Professional Best Achievement: I took a chance and moved back from London to buy a small, struggling business seven years ago. Seeing the results of the long hours and sacrifice is very rewarding

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

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: My stepfather, Frank Payne, has been a mentor to me

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: I am a big Liverpool fan and the past 30 years have been tough on the football club. The man who has led the turnaround has been Jurgen Klopp. I love his charisma and passion. So, he would be an interesting guy to have a beer with

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Elon Musk

Philosophy of Life: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts” – Winston Churchill

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Being given a chance to work in sales at BT, in London, despite the fact that I arrived at the height of the 2008 financial crisis, when many people were being retrenched

Biggest Ever Disappointment: In my first sales job at outdoor media company Wideopen Platform, I missed my sales targets constantly, while the other sales executive seemed to be able to sell sand in the desert

Hope for the Future: That South Africa does not suffer any more job losses due to Covid-19 and corruption

Favourite Reading: Autobiographies – I am currently reading Christo Wiese: Risk and Riches, by TJ Strydom

Favourite TV Programme: Peaky Blinders – a great British gangster series on Netflix that is set in Birmingham shortly after World War I

Favourite Food/Drink: Asian food and red wine from the Cape, especially Diemersfontein Pinotage

Favourite Music: Rock music from the 80s

Favourite Sport: I love all sports – but I will have to say rugby

Favourite Website: BBC.com

Hobbies: The children enjoy mountain biking with me, but I also enjoy golf and I find cooking therapeutic on weekends

Car: Toyota Fortuner

Pets: None

Miscellaneous Dislikes: People with a bad attitude, and laziness

Favourite Other South African Company: Nando’s

Favourite Foreign Company: Apple

Married: To Diane Bomberg Children: Twins Joshua and Alexandra, 4