#BehindtheSelfie: Nadya Bhettay, new Board Member at Endeavor South Africa
‘What’s behind your selfie’ — tell us something that people don’t know about you?
· I come from Cape Town, and from a family of doctors, and was determined to not be one!
· My propensity for numbers and process showed up when I won the prize for #1 in auditing in the country but rapidly moved away from my CA qualification to become a banker. And when that become “not-so-cool”, I decided telcos was where I wanted to be and from there the new tech businesses at Vodacom — and now it’s time to find the next space to get excited about and be good at….this next chapter still ‘loading’…
Growing up, what did you want to be?
· A fighter pilot, only because I wanted to fly those amazing planes. Then I realised that those are used in war, so it lost its appeal — but Top Gun has been watched many, many times!
What brought you to Endeavor and/or sparked your interest in entrepreneurship?
· My brother was part of a start-up in Silicon Valley, sold his shares and then co-founded an online pet care company (many series funding rounds later, still going)
· Understanding his journey made me realise how much support is available in the US for entrepreneurs: the environment, the players in this space, how the whole ecosystem supports amazing ideas to become reality, …and how comparatively little of that is available here in South Africa
· Being able to bring the Endeavor Global network to our country could enable so much growth, realisation of dreams and, very importantly, job growth
· I have always had a fascination with techie things and Endeavor is naturally placed to be exposed to new technology ideas and their founders.
· I’m keen to help where I can, and believe that Endeavor provides an admirable structure to enable that contribution — and I expect I will learn much more too from Endeavor’s impressive network of entrepreneurs, mentors, etc.
Endeavor’s network includes +5000 pro-bono mentors globally, including yourself. Tell us your first impressions and what are you most looking forward to?
· I am excited at the calibre of people involved and the huge opportunity to learn more — evolving business models, new business ideas, where the next big bet will come from.
· I am fascinated by leadership — how to identify good leaders, the skill sets needed to lead at different stages of a business and bringing the right people around those leaders to make things happen. I’m very much looking forward to honing my skills on this topic.
Describe the journey that led you to where you are now?
· Numbers were my game, but the career guidance guy told me that “ladies should not be doing actuarial science” and steered me towards a Business Science degree in commerce. Best thing ever as it gave me a great way to understand business from a perspective beyond the numbers.
· After my articles at EY, I discovered the joys of investment banking in New York and here in SA with Morgan Stanley before relocating to London.
· At the time the telcos were building their Africa footprint, I started my 17 year career with Vodacom and Vodafone, holding a number of exciting roles: from Mergers & Acquisitions (leading Vodacom’s JSE listing in 2009 and Vodacom’s first BBBEE deal of R7.5bn) to Finance, first in India before becoming Finance Director at Vodafone Ireland.
· In 2016, I became Vodacom’s Chief Officer of Group Strategy and Business Development here in South Africa where I led various projects — acquisition of 35% of Safaricom, IoT.nxt and the R16.4bn BEE deal.
· The move from telco to techno started taking shape and with it the opportunity to join Vodacom Business beyond connectivity, in a role leading portfolio and stakeholder management of Vodacom’s Ventures, which ranged from IoT, payment security, agri-health and edu-tech type businesses.
· Currently I am exploring options for my next big move and enjoying some travel and new experiences.
Thinking back to your 20yr career at Vodacom, what made you get out bed every day?
· Vodacom is an amazing company, constantly pushing boundaries, raising the challenge, and wanting more — for its customers, and its employees. It was very results driven, but backed by a huge culture of caring for your people with an ethos to: celebrate the wins, take the losses, but move forward.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
· The people — each of my roles gave me fantastic learnings but I also met amazing people who taught me so much and who have supported my growth and career. Priceless.
What next & what are you looking forward to in 2023?
· Travel, Endeavor, finding my next passion and career move.
What are you watching/reading/listening to at the moment?
· The Cold Start Problem by Andrew Chen
· Delhi Crime (my time in India is close to my heart)
What activities do you enjoy most outside of work?
· Travel, anywhere near water, or to meet some member of my family
· Hiking (short ones)
· Experiences: going to shows, concerts, wine farms
Three adjectives to describe yourself at work/out of work.
· At work: Determined, demanding, “not the way it was always done”
· Outside of work: Enjoy the good things, relaxing, new experiences
