Full Name: Natalie Jantjies
Position: Digital transformation director at Heineken South Africa
Main Activity of the Company: Heineken South Africa sells, markets and distributes beers and ciders on the South African market
Date and Place of Birth: July 12, 1979, Cape Town
Education: BCom (management accounting), University of South Africa; management development diploma, Gordon Institute of Business Science; digital business certificate, IMD
First Job: Lab assistant at F.Hirst & Company
Career History Prior to Current Position: Head of information technology (IT) at Heineken South Africa – 2017 to 2019; portfolio manager, program manager, systems manager and business analyst at South African Breweries – 2009 to 2017; business analyst at British American Tobacco – 2008 to 2009; project accountant, business analyst and procurement manager at Peninsula Beverage Company – 2004 to 2008
Size of First Pay Packet: R10 000 a year, in 1997
First Job with Present Group: Head of IT, in 2017
Value of Assets under Your Control: R150-million
Number of People under Your Leadership: 40
Management Style: Outcomes based and value focused
Personal Best Achievement: Being the first woman in my family to graduate from university, while working full-time
Professional Best Achievement: My current position on the executive team of Heineken South Africa and building a team from scratch for this new function
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My husband, Randall Jantjies
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: My mentor for many years, Sandeep Seeripat
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Lillian Barnard, MD of Microsoft South Africa
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Jack Ma
Philosophy of Life: ‘Success is not final, failure is not fatal’ – Winston Churchill
Biggest Ever Opportunity: I love travelling and have been to 15 African countries over the past five years – we live on an amazing continent
Biggest Ever Disappointment: Not having the financial resources to study full-time after matriculating
Hope for the Future: That we get the education system in South Africa functional and effective
Favourite Reading: Harvard Business Review
Favourite TV Programme: Anything narrated by David Attenborough
Favourite Food/Drink: Ice-cold Heineken
Favourite Music: Classics
Favourite Sport: Golf
Favourite Website: Google.com
Hobbies: Reading, golf
Car: I do not have one – Uber works wonders
Pets: None
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Loud chewing
Favourite Other South African Company: Capitec Bank
Favourite Foreign Company: Heineken International
Married: To Randall Jantjies, since June 1, 2002
Children: None
Clubs: Bryanston Country Club