Michael Jordaan, Venture Capitalist and wine enthusiast stepped down as CEO of First National Bank, one of SA’s largest banks with a customer base of nearly nine million, in August 2013 to pursue his passion for entrepreneurship.
With more than 20 years’ experience in the financial services sector and nearly a decade at the helm of the bank, Michael oversaw the move away from traditional banking toward rewarding ecosystem-centric solutions for customers, and led FNB to be named the “World’s Most Innovative Bank” in the 2012 BAI-Finacle Global Banking Innovation Awards, held in Washington DC.
He is also the recipient of the CNBC Africa Business Leader of the Year for Southern Africa award.
The former Banker now heads up a private investment company, Montegray Capital, investing in disruptive business models enabled by technology.
Michael lends a strategic-hand to various businesses, including Mxit and Wines of South Africa (WoSA), and is a non-executive Director on the JSE Limited. He’s also part of a team that have started up a coding academy, codeX, focused on growing Africas coders.
Michael Jordaan Definition Of Success | It has become far less materialistic; one of the problems in society today is that people look at money as a yardstick for success. It is far more important that you achieve things that are more meaningful, like have you made peoples lives better and are you leaving the world a better place.
I Am Driven By | The fact that There are just so many better ways of doing things.
My Highlights | When my kids were born because it really puts you in touch with how your parents must have felt and you have a better sense of the future – you want to create a better world for them and you understand the reason you’re doing it all, for them and the next generation. It’s easy to explain but something you will never fully understand until it happens to you.
The Difference Between Good And Great | This is the answer you don’t want to hear, it has a lot more to do with hard work than talent, it’s perseverance and hard work that makes something difficult look very easy.
A Key Talent | Surrounding myself with people than are better than me. How you do that, have the confidence to know when you don’t have the right answer and that the people around you could come up with a better solution, give them credit and that way you get to harness the wisdom of the system.
Principles I Live By | Authenticity, integrity, execution-orientated, innovation, curiosity, passion, humility and accountability.
Resources I Use To Stay Inspired | Books and people, some recent books include ‘Quiet. The value of introverts in a world that can’t stop talking’, Exponential Organisations by Salim Ismail, Zero to One by Peter Thiel.
My Future Dreams And Ambitions | After many years in the corporate world, to have a happy family life spending more time with my kids as they grow up and to build up a successful Venture Capital business and overall better environment for start-ups in South Africa. I also hope to play a role in helping the Cape Winelands achieve their rightful position in the world as one of the most dramatically beautiful regions in the world with a quality product.
I Am Inspired By | Young entrepreneurs and start-ups disrupting markets, changing the way we do things and taking on the big players.
From the window of my top floor office in Cape Town I can see Lions Head and Table Mountain. I can also see the majestic and totally luxurious Cape Grace Hotel, one of the many hotels that Stuart Brand and his family built up over the course of generations, before selling out to the International […]
Platinum-selling South African singer/model/actress Lira (which translates to “love” in Sesotho) has already conquered South Africa and much of Europe with her irresistible blend of R&B, Jazz and African styles. She is a multi-platinum selling and an 8x South African Music Award-winning Afro-Soul vocalist and with her debut U.S. release and a US tour in […]
Ian Gabriel is a South African film and commercials director based in Cape Town, South Africa. He directed the film Forgiveness starring Arnold Vosloo, which treats the theme of forgiveness in post-apartheid South Africa. His 2013 film Four Corners was selected as the South African entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the 86th Academy […]
Extensive globe travel and international work experience has opened up the world of brand opportunity to this enquiring mind. Doug de Villiers has studied widely, pens papers and delivers talks on his subject. He has honed his professional skills towards Africa while at the reigns of branding and design specialist consultancy, Interbrand Africa. Being a […]
Allon Raiz is regarded both locally and globally as a pioneer and maverick in the business incubation industry. He is the founder and CEO of Raizcorp which, according to The Economist, is the only genuine incubator in Africa, and currently supports in excess of 500 businesses. Allon is the author of two bestselling entrepreneurial books […]
A legend in the music world with P!NK, Mark Schulman | The Legacy Project is an incredible musician, dynamic performer and a strategic business mind who has parleyed his success on stage into true business success. Unlocking strategies to help audiences Hack the Rockstar Attitude and Boost their R.Q. (Rockstar Quotient), your team will be […]
Francisca Kakra Forson is an international freelance journalist with Voice of America and West Africa Democracy radio based in Ghana and a consultant for the Institute for Statistical, Social & Economic Research at the University of Ghana. She is also fast becoming a powerful social activist and in-demand motivational speaker with a passion for matters […]
Shaun Harris is most well-known for his recent role as MD for Futurelife, which he helped become the fastest growing cereal brand in SA as well as market leader in its own new segment, increasing it’s revenue tenfold and in the process leading the brand to win numerous national and international awards along the way. […]
These remain the property of its owner and are not affiliated with or endorsed by WeSpeak Global.
Our Mission
© All rights reserved 2025. Created using VOXEL THEME
