Michael Jordaan | The Legacy Project | Venture Capitalist

About

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.

Interview Questions

[everest_form id="26923"]

View further interviews.

The Legacy Project

Everyone has a spirit for adventure yet few passionately pursue this professionally. Amongst many other extreme endeavours, Peter has rowed across the Atlantic, raced across the South Pole, negotiated blizzards all the while capturing the beauty of this planet and striving to harness significant action to protect our earth. Peter has also become globally known […]

The Legacy Project

Kirsty Chadwick is an educator, public speaker and leader, who has spent almost two decades involved in the field of education. Founder of The Training Room Online, which designs and develops innovative tailor-made e-learning material for the corporate, industrial and private sectors, Kirsty has trained, developed and inspired people across three continents. Kirsty Chadwick Definition […]

The Legacy Project

Adrian Gore is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Discovery Group. He launched Discovery in 1992, with a simple and core purpose of making people healthier and enhancing and protecting their lives. Discovery has since evolved into a diversified and multinational financial services group. Discovery is widely acknowledged as a global thought leader […]

The Legacy Project

Simeon Oriko is a young entrepreneur, who is the founder and Executive Director of The Kuyu Project, which is a digital literacy initiative aimed at teaching African high school students how to use social media and other digital tools to effect social change in their communities. Another project Simeon is involved in is Jamlab which […]

The Legacy Project

Maria Popova is a reader, writer, interestingness hunter-gatherer, and curious mind at large. She has previously written for WiredUK, The Atlantic, The New York Times, and Harvard’s Nieman Journalism Lab, among others, and is an MIT Futures of Entertainment Fellow. I Am Driven By | The yearning to learn how to live, how to lead […]

The Legacy Project

A Boston native, Asha began playing violin and viola at age six and is a graduate of the New England Conservatory Preparatory School where she studied privately with Boston Symphony Orchestra members Michael Zaretsky and Edward Gazouleas. In 2004, Asha moved to Los Angeles to pursue a full-time music career on her electric 7-string Viper […]

The Legacy Project

Andy Fenner is the co founder of Frankie Fenner Meat Merchants which is responsible for starting a conversation that can now be heard at butchers, restaurants and dinner tables across the country. The meat merchants are getting in touch with the origins of our food, asking questions about the farmers and the animals, and eating […]

The Legacy Project

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 […]

Disclaimer
The profiles and images embedded on these pages are from various interviews conducted by The Legacy Project.

These remain the property of its owner and are not affiliated with or endorsed by WeSpeak Global.

Our Mission

We are your partner creating memorable and engaging experiences that go beyond the event itself.

© All rights reserved 2025. Created using VOXEL THEME