BACKSTORY: Sharon Keith, of Heineken South Africa

What’s your one top tip for doing a deal?

Do your homework on the parties involved. Understand what’s important to them. Also be clear on your “gives” and “gets” and what your walk-away point is.

What was your first job?

While I was at university I worked as a teller at Standard Bank (I had a bursary with it) every Saturday during term time and during my long vacations. It was humbling work, as you dealt with a wide range of customers, and while it was repetitive, transactional work, it required full concentration throughout — balancing cash at the end of a shift was a stressful exercise!

How much was your first pay cheque, and how did you spend it?

I don’t remember exactly — but it funded my skedonk of a car and gave me some desperately needed disposable income as a student.

What is the one thing you wish somebody had told you when you were starting out?

Not to be a stubborn idealist and to think that merit alone would get me places. It helps to have people who are prepared to give you a chance. It’s still up to you to prove that you’re worth hiring — but at least you have a foot in the door.

If you could fix only one thing in South Africa, what would it be?

Eskom would be a good start. Universal access to data would be another. Education, health care, housing, nutrition, unemployment, crime, xenophobia, gender-based violence, climate change. Really difficult to pick just one.

What’s the most interesting thing about you that people don’t know?

I’ve hiked on every continent except Australia and the Antarctic (they are both on my list).

What’s the worst investment mistake you’ve made?

Buying mutual funds in the US in 1999 just before the dot-com crash.

What’s the best investment you’ve ever made? And how much of it was due to luck?

My MBA. I cashed in my pension fund after seven years at Unilever to fund an MBA at the Graduate School of Business in Cape Town. It was a big risk and a tough year, but it really paid off for my career afterwards.

What is the hardest life lesson you’ve learnt so far?

It’s a cliché but you think you have time. Don’t wait to say and do the things that mean the most to you.

What is something you would go back and tell your younger self that would impress them?

You will have more crazy adventures than you ever thought were possible. Don’t suppress those big dreams.  

Was there ever a point at which you wanted to trade it all in for a different career? And if so, what would that career be?

I always wanted to work as a photojournalist for National Geographic.

If you were President Cyril Ramaphosa, what would you change, or do, tomorrow?

Make tough calls. Hold your leadership to account. Zero tolerance for crime and corruption.