‘There are huge opportunities in the world if you look’ - Sim Tshabalala, Standard Bank CEO

Bongani Bingwa speaks with Sim Tshabalala, Group CEO of Standard Bank.

Listen below.

The Business Leader of the Year Award honours individuals who have greatly contributed to the economy.

The winner is chosen by CEOs of the previous year’s Sunday Times Top 100 Companies.

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This year’s winner is Sim Tshabalala, Group CEO of Standard Bank, who employs 50,500 people in 20 countries around Africa.

Tshabalala carries a pocket-sized copy of our Constitution in his pocket and says the preamble inspires him in his work.

“Our job as business, community leaders, government, is to fight hard to let this beautiful country take its rightful place in the community of nations.”

- Sim Tshabalala, Standard Bank Group CEO

“The world seems a difficult place but there are massive opportunities if you look for them.”

- Sim Tshabalala, Standard Bank Group CEO

Tshabalala was born in 1967 in Hlabisa, a low-income area in KwaZulu Natal.

His mother was a nurse, and his father ran a chicken shop.

He says he is incredibly proud of his parents and the sacrifices they made which gave him the opportunities he had.

“My dad and my mom were visionaries; they could see the future.”

- Sim Tshabalala, Standard Bank Group CEO

He adds that he is extremely grateful to everyone who played a role in his leadership journey.

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.