Full Name: Liezl Gericke
Position: Country manager: Southern Africa – Virgin Atlantic Airways
Main Activity of the Company: Aviation
Date and Place of Birth: November 8, 1977, Cape Town
Education: Diploma in travel and tourism
First Job: Travel agent
Career History Prior to Current Position: Travel agent/branch manager, Flight Centre; product development manager, Flight Centre; marketing manager, Flight Centre; commercial/product and marketing manager, STA Travel; MD, STA Travel; sales and marketing manager, Virgin Atlantic Airways
Size of First Pay Packet: R2 300 a month, excluding commission
First Job with Present Group: Sales and marketing manager
Value of Assets under Your Control: Annual revenue of R500-million
Number of People under Your Leadership: 45
Management Style: Democratic/consultative
Personal Best Achievement: My two children
Professional Best Achievement: Receiving the 2016 Leadership Game Changer Award at Virgin Atlantic, leading a dynamic team, and delivering the highest load factors and profit on our International network, coupled with a people engagement score of 92%
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My father
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Sean Hough, my MD at STA Travel
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: I managed to meet some amazing people in my career before working for Virgin Atlantic. I would have likely said Richard Branson, but I can tick the box on that one. Other incredible people I have met are Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the Queen of England and a few other royals and rock stars
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Richard Branson – he is the most down-to-earth, switched-on, dynamic and inspiring leader
Philosophy of Life: Good relationships keep us happier and healthier
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Leading a division of the Virgin group
Biggest Ever Disappointment: None – I am a half-glass-full kind of person
Hope for the Future: That our country is free of corruption and violent crime and becomes a place where our children can live in harmony
Favourite Reading: Nonfiction and motivational and leadership books. My favourite leadership book is Five Dysfunctions of a Team, by Patrick Lencioni
Favourite TV Programme: I do not watch TV
Favourite Food/Drink: I am sucker for authentic Thai or North Indian cuisine
Favourite Music: 80s and 90s everything. I also love pop and rock
Favourite Sport: Both my children play rugby, so I feel compelled to say rugby
Favourite Website: I love to travel, so, generally, any website that gives me inspiration for holidays. My first go-to website is, obviously, www.virgin-atlantic.com or www.virginholidays.com
Hobbies: Walking/running with my dogs
Pets: Three dogs and three cats, all of which are rescues or hand-me-downs
Miscellaneous Dislikes: People who are unkind
Favourite Other South African Company: Nando's
Favourite Foreign Company: Amazon
Married: To Sean Gericke, for 17 years on August 26
Children: Kyle, 16; Sian, 15