Leader, chairperson, philanthropist, coach. This week, we profile Takalane Khashane, Director at Search Partners International (SPi) / AltoPartners South Africa, a fearless trailblazer and avid reader who has overcome adversity to hold executive positions in some of South Africa’s best-known brands.

HERE WERE YOU BORN, AND WHERE DO YOU LIVE NOW?

I was born in Soweto, the fifth of seven children. With my three brothers and three sisters, I grew up in Limpopo, the northernmost province of South Africa. I am now based in Centurion, in Gauteng, the economic hub of the country.

WHAT DID YOU STUDY AND WHY?

I obtained my BSc Hons in Microbiology and Physiology from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in Johannesburg – it felt like the right thing to study at the time. As a scientist who understands how the human body functions and the microbes that cause disease, I imagined I would do research and come up with products that could heal or prevent disease. However, after spending some time in commercial organisations, I decided to switch to business. I did a postgraduate diploma in business and followed it up with an MBA.

FIRST JOB?

From about age 12, I worked on farms in Limpopo, mostly during harvesting season. Child labour is now illegal in South Africa.

FIRST CAR? A pre-owned Nissan Sentra1.6 sti – one of the fleet cars at my first formal job.

CURRENT CAR? CX5 Mazda, maroon. Also pre-owned.

WHAT’S THE BIGGEST SURPRISE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

How much patience it requires. Every moment is about business development and relationship building; however, getting the assignment and placing a candidate into the role takes much longer.

BIGGEST RISK YOU EVER TOOK?

Professionally, deciding to work in commerce, rather than pursue the sciences. I was not sure if I could hack the change. Personally, it has to be climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro (Africa’s highest peak and the largest free-standing mountain in the world), knowing that as an asthmatic I could struggle to breathe due to altitude sickness. Both experiences taught me that I can do anything I set my mind and energy to.

WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER ON A BAD DAY?

Music, especially when my kids sing.

MY MOST REDEEMING QUALITY IS… I am a happy person. I smile a lot.

I HAVE LEARNED TO COME TO TERMS WITH… Change. It is a constant. It now excites me because it brings new opportunities.

WHAT’S THE THING THAT PEOPLE ARE MOST SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOU?

I speak all 11 official South African languages (Afrikaans with difficulty but I get by). I would like to learn Sign language and Swahili (the biggest language in Africa of African origin), spoken by more than 200 million people, mostly in East Africa.

IN THE LAST MONTH, WHAT IS THE MOST INTERESTING CONVERSATION YOU HAVE HAD?

The role of luck in a person’s life. My daughter is starting University this year, and we were discussing how luck tends to follow the more prepared we are and the more work we put in.

LAST (OR MOST LOVED) HOLIDAY?

Mlilwane Game Reserve in the Kingdom of Eswatini was a pleasant surprise. I had been to Eswatini many times for business, but going there for a holiday made me see the country through a different lens. Maybe because I went there with no agenda and no expectations.

BEST BOOK YOU’VE READ IN THE PAST YEAR?

Shoe Dog (the Nike story) by Phil Knight. I bought the book many years ago but only recently got around to reading it. For me, the biggest takeout is how family support is key to success outside of the home, and one should always stick to what one believes.

WHAT HAVE YOU BINGE-WATCHED RECENTLY?

Vera, the British crime drama featuring the irascible but determined Detective Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope, who investigates complex crimes in Northumberland. It’s about justice and redemption. I love that the killer is always much closer to the victim than expected and always gets caught in the end. In Venda, they say, ‘Naho wa I viyela bakoni, mahunguvhu a do I vhona,’ which directly translates to: ‘Even if you slaughter an animal inside a cave, the vultures will know (or see),’ meaning that not much in life can be a secret forever. Just live a clean life.

BEST GADGET?

Is a smartphone a gadget? If I forget my ID card at home, I will keep going; if I forget my phone, I will turn back. At home, it is my air fryer.

HOW DO YOU RELAX AND UNWIND?

I swim or read. I only learnt to swim when I turned 40 and it is magic. I feel weightless when I am in the water. It is my happy place. Books took me from poverty to where I am today. Through reading, I got to travel (mentally) to many countries without leaving my home. Reading remains my escape.

CHARITY/ CAUSE CLOSEST TO YOUR HEART?

I participate in feeding schemes, although less so now than when I lived in KwaZulu-Natal province. I don’t understand how people can starve when others throw away food. I have come to realize that some people will never go to church or even own a Bible, Quran or Thora – the only time they will experience God is when they are offered a piece of food.

I HAVE A COLLECTION OF… fridge magnets from countries I have visited. They are easy to buy and to carry. I can appreciate them every day, and they keep the memories fresh (no pun intended).

IN MY FRIDGE, YOU WILL ALWAYS FIND… Okra Water. I don’t like the taste of pure water, and okra makes it thicker and nicer to drink. And it’s good for you. It boosts the immune system, is anti-inflammatory, promotes good heart health, and is high in fibre, antioxidants, and vitamin C.