CO-FOUNDER & CEO

Shivani Ranchod

Shivani is a healthcare actuary and part-time academic. She sees her work life as an extension of her meditation and yoga practice: an imperfect (but always evolving) attempt to bring careful attention to bear on socially-meaningful problems.

The healthcare system is the primary object of her intellectual affection. When she isn’t working (or reading something healthcare-related) you’ll find her hanging out with Dave, her son Shivam and Zadie & Bruno, the dachshunds. She spends an inordinate amount of time thinking about food. She also loves big cities, reading fiction & writing.

We say:

“Shivani is a health actuary with a deep commitment to our health sector. She has extensive experience across the system including working with funders, healthcare providers, government and regulators. She has held various leadership positions including Head of Actuarial Science at UCT. She is currently appointed to the Government Technical Advisory Centre. She is a leader who knows when to follow, a thinker who never forgets to feel, an expert ever-humble about her skill. She’s the poster child for an abundance mindset, always ready to share, always generous with her expertise.”

Shivani is reading:

All the fiction she can get her hands on. Current favourites include Djinn Patrol by Deepa Anappara, Overstory by Robert Macfarlane, The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt and Girl, Women, Other by Bernadine Evaristo.
Everything written by Atul Gawande
The Science of Meditation by Daniel Goleman and Richard Davidson
Narrative non-fiction. Current favourite is Jonny Steinberg.
Poetry (Mary Oliver, Mark Nepo, David Whyte)
Books about our wildness (Women who run with the wolves, everything by Jay Griffiths)

She is listening to:

The Knowledge Project with Shane Parrish
Oprah’s Super Soul Sundays
Her favourite apps are:
YogaGlo for yoga and Insight Timer for meditation

Her favourite apps are:

YogaGlo for yoga and Insight Timer for meditation

CO-FOUNDER

Dave Strugnell

Dave is an actuary by background, a problem-solver by nature, and a multi-disciplinarian by inclination, so it’s no surprise that he’s a deep believer in Percept’s mission of collaborative work on solutions to meaningful problems. He has a long involvement with education and an enthusiasm for lifelong learning, and is affiliated with the University of Cape Town as an Adjunct Senior Lecturer in Actuarial Science. He is also the co-founder of the Explore Data Science Academy. He’s also a big believer in harnessing technology for good and in the power of innovation and smart analysis to make the world a better place, and has a special place in his heart for start-ups who share that philosophy. When not directly occupied with Percept’s amazing clients, figuring out how to make healthcare and financial services work better for South Africans, you’ll find him engrossed in good fiction, good food or thinking about the coming wave of Artificial Intelligence and all of its promise, as well as its ethical dangers.

We say:

“Dave has a breadth of experience as the previous Head of Actuarial Science at UCT, Head of Research in a large South African financial services company, positions on various boards and, most recently, as a co-founder of both Percept and the Explore Data Science Academy. He believes that the world could become a better place if evidence was readily available for decision making. He is the deeply-grounded and endlessly wise guardian angel of Percept. He manages to simultaneously act as an ethical compass and remind us to not take ourselves too seriously.”

What Dave’s been reading (leaving out the fiction to keep the list manageable):

The Body by Bill Bryson
Superintelligence by Nick Bostrom
The Inevitable by Kevin Kelly
Zero to One by Peter Thiel
The Singularity Is Near by Ray Kurzweil
The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande
The Emperor of all Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee
How The Mind Works by Steven Pinker
Time To Think by Nancy Kline

Dave’s favourite podcasts:

Waking up with Sam Harris
Freakonomics radio
Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History
EconTalk
The Knowledge Project
How I built this
Wired
Spirits
The Food Chain

PROBLEM SOLVER

Ursula Torr

Ursula has a multi-coloured approach to life – with a deep love of people and things creative, she may be that rare creature, a marketing actuary.  She is passionate about making a difference in South Africa, about finding the balance between celebrating individuality and acknowledging community and using understanding/data/heart/analysis/collaboration/perception to build financial solutions that truly work for everyman.  She is usually energetically involved in discussion… with clients, with team mates, with work makes, with friends, with her son Henry whose talent is negotiation…… 

Ursula’s professional history is in risk protection, investments and reinsurance – in all three fields she has worked in both a marketing as well as a more technical capacity.

We say:

“Ursula is a firecracker and is as bold as her hair! She is a whirlwind of personality, love and deep thinking. She is a people person and is able to make you feel instantly close to her and ‘known’.  She is the person whose big presence and astute mind combine to produce solutions of unparalleled creativity. She is the best kind of power – compelling and impactful.”

Ursula is reading:

Deon Meyer, as soon as it arrives!  In Afrikaans, so the pleasure of the read lasts longer
Arundhati Roy – The Ministry of Utmost Happiness
Jonathan Safran Foer – Here I Am
Jonny Steinberg – A Man of Good Hope
Frederik Backman – A Man Called Ove

Ursula is listening to:

Honestly?  P!nk of course…. Also just about anything from Dire Straits to Dolly Parton.
Harry Potter on audiobook, since that’s Henry’s current obsession 

PUBLIC HEALTH CONSULTANT

Jodi Wishnia

Jodi studied occupational therapy at the University of Cape Town. During her year of community service in a rural hospital, she realised the need for better health systems and health financing, to ensure quality health care. She has subsequently graduated with a master’s in public health and is currently pursuing a PhD in health financing and leadership in public health. She has worked with South Africa Departments of Health, Treasury and academic institutions. Her passion is health financing and governance within public health.

We say:

“Jodi is quirky, outspoken and courageous. She is simultaneously all heart and all head: she wears her heart on her sleeve and is an unabashed health geek. Always ready with a soulful laugh, always willing to speak truth to power: there are very few more passionate advocates of better healthcare for all, and the importance of a robust public health sector for the future of South African society.”

She is reading:

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Insomniac City: Bill Hayes
My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
No is Not Enough by Naomi Klein
Talking to Strangers by Malcom Gladwell
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
Outlaw Culture by Bell Hooks
Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga
Anything by Adam Hochschild- favourite is To End All Wars
The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee
Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed
And the Band Played On by Randy Shilts

She’s listening to:

Sleep stories and guided meditations

CONSULTING ACTUARY

Kelly Chennells

Kelly is a consulting actuary with twelve years of work experience – she has medical scheme, reinsurance and consulting experience. She’s worked in both the life and healthcare industries in South Africa. She has an interest in healthcare access and financing.

We say:

“Kelly’s middle name is Grace, which pretty much sums up the way that she conducts herself. Her under-the-radar ways belie a razor-sharp mind and a meticulous approach to her work. She brings to her work the same qualities she brings to life: passion, dedication, wholeheartedness and thorough research.”

Kelly is reading:

Nudge by Richard Thaler
The Brain Maker: The Power of Gut by Kirstin Loberg, David Perlmutter
Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
No-drama discipline: the whole brain way to calm the chaos and nurture your child’s development by Daniel Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson
Malcolm Gladwell
The Economist
The Harvard Business Review

DATA SCIENTIST

Njabulo Dube

Njabulo holds a Bachelor of Business Science degree in Actuarial Science from UCT, and has completed the coursework component of a Master’s degree in Advanced Analytics and Decision Science. His working experience includes the Teaching Assistant role in the Division of Actuarial Science at UCT, as well as a position at the Data Centre of the Western Cape Department of Health, where he has worked with integrating and analysing data from a wide variety of sources.

We say:

“Njabulo is effortlessly cool, with a wide smile and enquiring eyes. Smart, soulful and kind- he is most definitely one of our missing puzzle pieces. He doesn’t seek attention yet offers all of his own – with deep reflections and carefully considered thoughts. We love his wide-ranging curiousity, fabulous style and hunger to learn.”

Njabulo is reading:

The Stoics
Sapiens, Homo Deus and 21 Lessons for the 21^st Century by Yuval Noah Harari
Anything from Thomas Sowell
Anything from Jonathan Franzen
Karl Pilkington
Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality
Act Ed Notes ☹

Njabulo’s listening to:

Deep and soulful house music (think House Afrika, Larry Heard)
Smooth Jazz
Old School RnB
The Blues
Just good music in general (not very well defined but I know when I hear it)

Njabulo’s Favourite podcasts:

The Thursday afternoon Monday morning podcast
Your Mom’s House
Any and all comedy

Njabulo’s Favourite YouTube Channels:

Binging with Babish
Bob Ross painting
CPG Gray
Mentour Pilot
Numberphile and Computerphile
The School of Life
Wendover Productions
Wisecrack

OFFICE SUPERHERO

Amiena Moerat

Amiena has approximately 23 years of experience working within the development sector. She is a committed activist and extremely passionate about serving the needs of the community i.e. from building the capacity of rural development organisations to working and learning from Orphans and Vulnerable Children including supporting Foster Parents.

Her interest has always been in operations and administration and going the extra mile to ensure that the organisation has the necessary resources and systems to run like a “well-oiled” machine. She brings a unique belief system and approach to her role “Administrators are more than ‘paper pushers’ and if given the opportunity can add that ‘special flavour’ to any task. She enjoys spending quality time with her two daughters Aishah and Ghanifa; taking Sunday walks on the beach and of course baking – her latest craze!

We say:

“Amiena takes authenticity to a new level, bringing her whole, wonderful self to the Percept team. She is smart, dedicated and has a special skill to make everyone’s life easier. By holding the space for us, she has allowed Percept to grow – a remarkably selfless and generous person. Amiena is deeply committed to her spiritual practice and brings all that soulfulness to her work. She seem to genuinely delight in the opportunity to make our lives easier. She blends the fearlessness to take on tasks outside of her comfort zone with an attitude of service: no task too big or too small.”

Amiena is reading:

Always The Quraan (in Arabic and English)
Red in the Rainbow by Lynn Carneson McGregor

Amiena’s listening to:

Podcasts from Noha Essop & Associates (Life coach)
Arabic music by Maher Zain

DEVELOPMENT ECONOMIST

Anja Smith

Anja Smith is a development economist and part-time academic. She helped found Cenfri, a financial service think tank, in 2008. After spending eight years of her career consulting in the area of access to financial services and financial inclusion, she pursued a PhD in economics focusing on health system questions – which she was awarded in March 2016. Her PhD explored topics related to the financing, delivery and user acceptability of healthcare in South Africa. Her current research interests include the measurement of quality of healthcare and access to contraception and reproductive care for vulnerable women.

Anja works for Percept as an economist and is also a part-time researcher for Research on Socio-Economic Policy (ReSEP) at Stellenbosch University’s Economics Department. A project on the redesign of primary healthcare systems in the Western Cape is currently consuming most of her focus at Percept.

We say:

“We love Anja’s rigorous research skills, the economist lens she brings to our projects and her commitment to the end-users of both the healthcare system and financial services. She combines an profound ability to grasp the big picture with research grounded in the lived experience of real human beings.”

Anja is reading:

Everything Is Waiting For You – David Whyte
Drinking From The River Of Light: The Life Of Expression – Mark Nepo
An American Marriage – Tayari Jones
Range: Why Generalists Triumph In A Specialized World – David Epstein

Anja is listening to:

Any music which brings joy to her heart – this includes anything from Mozart to Spoegwolf.
Anja’s current music obsession is Paul Simon’s Graceland.
Any podcast interview with Jungian analyst, James Hollis.
The Knowledge Project podcast series by Shane Parrish – introduced to this fantastic wealth of life and work knowledge by Dave and Shivani.
The On Being podcast series by Christa Tippet.

DEVELOPMENT ECONOMIST

Carmen Christian

Carmen Christian is a development economist who is committed to advancing research that impacts health policy – and ultimately health outcomes – for the better. Her understanding of public health issues is strengthened by her inter-disciplinary background in health sciences and economics.

Carmen joined the Department of Economics at the University of Western Cape as a lecturer in 2011 after working in the South African health sector – public and private – for eight years. Her current research interests include health-seeking behaviour, access to healthcare, quality of care and the economics of tuberculosis.

We say:

“Carmen is gracious and vivacious. She contributes deeply to discussions of all types with her thoughtful approach to life, data and everything else!  Carmen is deeply committed to the patient perspective – this comes through in her clinical background, her desire to work at a system-level and in her humanity. She is proof that striking cheekbones and intellectual rigour are not mutually exclusive. We vote her as Economist most likely to light up a room.”

Carmen is reading:

Turn Up The Heat, Dr Philip Goglia
The Dancing Wu Li Masters, Gary Zukav
Any book by Marian Keyes (when I feel like something light-hearted)
Nordic noir (when the mood hits me)
via Blinkest: The Surprising Science Of Meetings (Steven G. Rogelberg), Too Fast To Think (Chris Lewis), What We Say Matters (Judith Lasater, Ike Lasater)

Carmen is listening to:

Mainly old school Rhythm & Blues
Bossa Nova
Acid Jazz (love Jamiroquai!)

Carmen’s Favourite podcasts: 

Anxiety Slayer with Shann and Ananga
Kwik Brain with Jim Kwik
Elevation with Steven Furtick

Carmen’s Favourite YouTube channels:

Manes by Mell, Alyssa Forever, YoursNaturally11 (my go-to for tips about naturally curly hair)
Meghan Livingstone (all things healthy)
DJ Arch Jnr (proudly South African talent)

HEALTH SERVICE REDESIGN EXPERT

Neal J David

Neal qualified with a BSc and medical degree from Wits University in 1985, when dinosaurs roamed freely over much of the planet. He obtained post-graduate qualifications in Family Medicine and Obstetrics and then spent 20 years of his life as a GP. His focus has always been on the value of the primary care platform in the healthcare value chain. In 2011, he understood that his role in unlocking this value would be best served in the public sector, and he has worked as a Family Physician for the WCDoH in Khayelitsha, Mitchells Plain and Hanover Park from that time onwards. His passion within the PHC facilities he has worked in has been to re-engineer the patient flow systems to create overall efficiencies and improve the patient experience. Over the past few years he has been engaged with the Department’s move towards a Community-Oriented Primary Care (COPC) approach and was instrumental in the establishment of the COPC system in the Eastridge area. He is currently on secondment with Percept from his post in Hanover Park to focus on strengthening the COPC platform in the Klipfontein sub-district. He is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Family Medicine at UCT and enjoys the interaction he has with the final year students.

He has been married to Marion for almost 30 years, and they have 3 boys who are thankfully almost independent. He and Marion are exploring their newfound freedom by catching up on life with outrageous behaviour, like going to movies and spending unsupervised weekends away from home. He enjoys jogging (although shuffling forwards may be a more accurate description) and cannot imagine life without old-fashioned books. He has never used a kindle and doesn’t have a Facebook account.

We say:

“Neal is our Chief Reality Checker. As a family physician who has worked in the South African public health sector since 2012 he knows the on-the-ground challenges (but also opportunities) of delivering care in a public primary healthcare setting. He is easy to talk to and always keen for a debate and discussion. He brings a heady mix of pragmatism and idealism to the room. Neal is a courageous clinician, unafraid to work at the front line, to make changes to the accepted way of doing things and to step out of his daily life. He is a shining example of commitment to delivering quality healthcare to everyone, regardless of wealth or social position.”

Neal is reading:

A Man of Good Hope by Jonny Steinberg
Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen
The Harari trilogy – Sapiens, Homo Deus and 21 Questions, like everyone at Percept
Educated by Tara Westover (Favourite book of 2019)
Two dated books with a focus on Spain by James Michener – The Drifters and Iberia
In-between fillers-in – crime novels by Lee Child, James Patterson, Stieg Larsson, Deon Meyer

Neal is listening to:

From his era: The Beatles, The Stones, The Who, Jefferson Airplane, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Springsteen, Chuck Berry, Clapton, Tracy Chapman, Janis Joplin, S&G, Leonard Cohen, Steely Dan, Nina Simone, BB King, Steely Dan
Very partial to acoustic Jazz, Blues and Classical music.

Recent viewing:

After Life by Ricky Gervais

ACTUARIAL CONSULTANT

Aphiwe Baleni

Aphiwe Baleni is an actuarial consultant who has more than 2 years’ experience consulting for mainly medical schemes and wider healthcare stakeholders. He is currently writing board exams towards qualifying as a healthcare actuary. He is excited about the future and hopes to contribute in some way to the betterment of society.

We say:

“Aphiwe’s soft spoken ways belie a wicked sense of humour. He has a disarmingly kind face coupled with curious eyes. He is a budding polymath and a deeply logical problem solver with a professional work ethic.  He emanates resilience, intelligence, gentleness and is able to put people at ease. In a nutshell: heart and soul and a whole lotta brain power too!”

Aphiwe is reading:

Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell
Skin in the Game by Nassim Taleb
Nudge by Richard Thaler
Adventures of a Mathematician by Stanislaw Ulam
Sapiens by Yuval Harari
Behave by Robert M Sapolsky
Creating a World Without Poverty by Muhammad Yunus
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Betting on a Darkie by Mteto Nyati
Postmortem by Maria Phalime
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
Mortality by Christopher Hitchens
Free Will by Sam Harris
Studies in Pessimism by Arthur Schopenhauer
On the Shortness of Life – Seneca

Aphiwe’s Favourite podcasts:

HBR IdeaCast
Dear Sugar
In Our Time

DATA SCIENTIST

Jason Webster

Jason is an experienced Data Scientist and educator, with an unquenchable academic spirit and passion for making an impact. He currently holds an MSc in Physics, having graduated with the highest academic honours presentable by both Stellenbosch and Wits. He’s since pivoted to the world of data science, where his love of academics and making an impact more fully intersect. He loves writing papers, attending conferences, and giving talks at MeetUps.

We say:

“Jason is the best kind of quirky – the kind that will find the unexpected solution to the intractable problem. He is smart as hell and willing to get stuck into any problem- the harder the better. We imagine that the inside of his mind is some sort of verdant jungle, rooted in a big heart committed to a better world.  He has a wry sense of humour and a strong moral compass.”

Jason is reading:

The Book Of Why by Judea Pearl
A Field Guide To Lies And Statistics by Daniel Levin
This Is Going To Hurt by Adam Kay
Surely You’re Joking Mr Feynmann by Richard Feynmann
Why Information Grows by Cesar Hidalgo
Academic papers in the fields of Natural Language Processing, Generative Models, or Reinforcement Learning

Jason’s favourite YouTube channels:

3Blue1Brown
Kurzgesagt
CGP Grey
Corridor Crew
Chubbyemu
Binging with Babish
Game Maker’s Toolkit
Numberphile
Wisecrack

HEALTH ECONOMIST

Rose Tuyeni Peter

Although styled as a health economist, Rose self identifies as a researcher whose obsession with measuring things and love for thinking deeply about how to make societies more fair finds perfect expression in the study of economies and their health systems. Her previous work experience includes a Senior Researcher role at Cenfri, Data Quality Control Assistant at the South African Labour and Development Research Unit, tutoring Quantitative Methods at UCT School of Economics, and J-PAL Africa’s first ever research intern. She holds an MSc in Health Economics and Decision Science from UCL and an MComm in Applied Economics from UCT.  She is happiest sitting in front of Stata, with a good playlist and a warm cup of mint tea, trying to extract meaning from large household survey datasets.

We say:

“Rose’s curiosity is striking – she’s always reading something interesting. She has a generosity of spirit that reflects in how engaged she is, her easy sharing of knowledge and her willingness to put aside time to help you think your way through things. She is calm and witty, with a deep passion for the world and the people within it.  She has both a grounded energy and an absolutely infectious laugh.”

Rose is reading:

Segu by Maryse Conde
1984 by George Orwell
Wizard of the Crow by Ngugi wa Thiong’o
Talking To My Daughter: A Brief History Of Capitalism by Yanis Varoufakis
Women, Race and Class by Angela Davis
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari
23 Things They Don’t Tell You About Capitalism by Ha-Joon Chang

Rose listening to:

Brent Fayaz and Sonder
Goldlink
Burna Boy
Khalid
Beyonce
Nina Simone
Aretha Franklin
The Temptations
Kendrick Lamar
Little Simz
Noname
Anything soulful and funky with a good baseline…

Rose’s Favourite podcasts:

Sound Africa
Revisionist History
S-Town
This American Life
Where should we begin? With Esther Perel

Rose’s Favourite YouTube Channels:

Impact Theory
Jubilee
AFTV (don’t judge me!)
Anything with cute animal videos or cooking… love watching people cook almost as much as I love eating 😊

CONSULTANT

Emma Finestone

Emma is an actuarial science graduate currently following her passion for public health and pursuing a Masters in the field. She’s particularly interested in innovative solutions that change the way in which we think about solving health problems, which is why she so strongly relates to the values and vision of Percept.

We say:

“Emma is the saying ‘still waters run deep’ personified. She is always thinking and stretching herself in ways that support and challenge her teammates. She doesn’t take herself too seriously which gives her a grace and ease that draws everyone in.”

Emma is reading:

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
Being Mortal by Atul Gawande
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

Emma is listening to:

Anything and everything – with fellow Perceptors providing the goods
Also, lecture videos…

CONSULTANT

Mufaro Chiwara

Mufaro studied Actuarial Science at the University of Cape Town. Looking to diversify his skillset, he completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Entrepreneurship at UCT, while working as Teaching Assistant in the Actuarial Science Division. Since then he has worked on projects helping companies with market entry in Africa before finding his home at Percept. Mufaro is eager to help make the world a better and kinder place.

We say:

“Mufaro is a self-starter with an inquisitive mind. He is always willing to get his hands dirty and is an impeccable team player.  Mufaro is cool, calm and collected, no matter how much he has on his plate. He is a deep thinker, always ready to learn new things.”

Mufaro is reading:

Animal Farm (because it’s still relevant)
The Remains of the Day
My Cousin’s Thriller Stories on Wattpad

Mufaro is listening to:

RnB
Disney hits
Plenty of stuff from before I was born (60s, 70s, 80s classics)
Hip-hop
Duolingo’s French podcast

Mufaro’s favourite YouTube channels:

Psych2Go
Economics Explained
The Daily Show
Valuetainment
YesTheory

CONSULTING ACTUARY

Martin Coxon

He started his actuarial career in pensions but soon realised that healthcare is where his passion and ability intersect. He has a keen understanding of healthcare data, how it is constructed, and how to apply risk-adjustment techniques across a variety of analysis platforms.

He has been exposed on a wide range of projects for both health care funders and providers over his 9 years of work experience spanning stints at both a large medical scheme administrator, a niche health care consulting firm and as an academic.

Outside of consulting, you will find Martin either on a motorcycle, running, in the boxing ring, around the poker table or brewing a batch of beer.

We say:

“We only very occasionally get to pull Martin into our orbit. When we do he brings his rapid problem solving, entrepreneurial spirit and uncanny instincts to bear. His hobbies tell you everything you need to know: boxer agility, motorcyclist foresight and poker-playing ability to read the situation – and always collecting and processing data.”

Martin is reading:

Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
Anything by Bill Bryson
As by fire by Jonathan Jansen
Anything by Dan Ariely
The Goal by Eliyahu M. Goldratt
The Why Axis by John A. List and Uri Gneezy
The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich

Martin is listening to:

Anything with a guitar and a lead break

INTERN

Aisha Moolla

Aisha completed an undergraduate medical degree at the University of Cape Town. Looking to move beyond the clinical space and have a greater impact on society and the healthcare system, she is now completing a master’s degree in public health at the University of the Witwatersrand. After having worked as a medical writing editor and being exposed to cutting-edge research, she is now interested in working towards creating a more innovative, efficient, and sustainable health system.

We say:

“Aisha has a surgeon’s eye for detail and a spider’s instinct for how the web weaves together. There are no half measures with her, everything is executed beautifully. Aisha is all kinds of layered and mysterious: she embraces the deep-thinking side of life, takes in information like a sponge and also has a playful side, a sophisticated sense of humour and joy bubbling below the surface. She knows what she wants from life and has made some very courageous choices in her life and career. She brings this wisdom, bravery, courage and joy to her Percept work: not shying away from difficult analytical questions or tasks, and always hungry for more.”

Aisha is reading:

The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday
The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande
The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman

Aisha is listening to:

Anything Indie/Folk/Alternative
The Glee version of everything
Drake
Khalid
Taylor Swift

Aisha’s Favourite podcasts:

The Health Code
Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations
TED Talks Daily
Anything True Crime

Aisha’s favourite YouTube channels:

Aisha Moolla (My own channel, of course)
The financial diet
Cut
Jubilee
SoulPancake

INTERN

Ruvimbo Chigwanda

Ruvimbo Chigwanda has a Social Work background and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Health specialising in Social and Behavioural Sciences at UCT. She’s particularly passionate about healthcare interventions that look improve the livelihoods of African communities with a focus on sustainability and socio-economic development. Being a strong believer of multi-disciplinary approaches to solving problems, she strongly relates to the values of Percept. Something else which she is particularly passionate about is food and spends a great deal of time thinking about it, cooking and baking!

We say:

“Ruvimbo is powerfully attuned to the human-beings around her (her teammates and clients) and those at the centre of the problems Percept is trying to solve. She also thinks deeply about being able to deconstruct the systemic issues that make helping the individual so difficult – a perfect marriage of her social work and public health backgrounds. She has a way of making you feel calm and at ease: a big exhale! She is meticulous and has an eye for making things beautiful.”

Ruvimbo is reading:

I am Malala, Malala Yousafzai’s autobiography
Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
The Secret life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
Memoirs of an Arabian Princess by Emily Ruete
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
Say You’re One of Them by Uwem Akpan
Women Who Run with Wolves (recently added to the bookshelf from the Percept Womxns month set of recommendations)
BMC and the Lancet Journal Articles

Ruvimbo is listening to:

Anything and everything but currently she is obsessed with Spanish and French music

Ruvimbo’s Favourite podcasts:

Deliciously Ella
Elevation with Steven Furtick
Unpack ‘n Bounce Back by Reyna Biddy and Skye Townsend

Ruvimbo’s favourite YouTube channels:

The Pasta Queen
Living DIY with Rachel Metz
The Bucket List Family

CONSULTANT

Noxolo Gqada

Noxolo’s work experience includes not only clinical practice as a generalist practitioner in both the public and private sector, but also being a digital health enthusiast. Her insights as a clinician and co-founder of a health-tech start-up drive her commitment to finding innovative solutions to enhance healthcare systems. She holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBChB UCT), a Post Graduate Diploma in Primary Emergency Care (DipPEC SA) and is currently completing a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) at the UCT Graduate School of Business.

We say:

“Noxolo blends clinical expertise with business acumen. She also has a knack for joining the dots and sense-making. Nox is a self-starter who brings both head and heart into every interaction. She provides a sense of comfort that things will get done with her “all-in” energy.”

Noxolo is reading:

Keep your Love On – Danny Silk
Post Mortem – Dr Maria Phalime
When Breath Becomes Air – Paul Kalanithi.
The Girl who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest – Stieg Larsson (this trilogy is so good!)

Noxolo is listening to:

Feel good music – Micasa, Loyiso, Lady Zamar
Smooth Afro-Pop for the soul – Somdala by Mandisi Dyantyis is currently on heavy
rotation
More music for the soul – Maverick City Music Vol 3 Pt2, anything by Stefanny Gritzinger

Noxolo’s Favourite podcasts:

Do No Harm
Dr Death
The Moth
Revisionist History

ACTUARIAL ANALYST

Nicholas Swarts

Nicholas holds an Actuarial Science and Economics degree from the University of Stellenbosch and is currently pursuing an Honours degree in Economics while writing board exams to qualify as an actuary. He has completed internships in the short-term insurance market and the public health sector before starting at Percept where he is excited about contributing to Percept’s mission of working towards a healthier, more financially resilient world.

We say:

“Nicholas embodies the Percept value of curiosity – he is so keen to learn and contribute. He is the archetypal generalist – a gift to a trans-disciplinary team. And we love his pragmatism. Nicholas personifies being “chilled”, but his calm demeanour belies a fiercely curious mind that, despite being fresh out of university, has already amassed an impressive understanding of the health and insurance environments.”

Nicholas is reading:

A Promised Land by Barack Obama
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
The State of Africa by Martin Meredith
Range by David Epstein
The Education of an Idealist by Samantha Power
Changing a Leopard’s Spots by Alex van den Heever and Renias Mhlongo

Nicholas is listening to:

Mostly alternative and pop but also any classics from his Dad’s iPod

Nicholas’ Favourite podcasts:

The Economist Radio
The Science of Sport Podcast
The Good, The Bad and The Rugby

ACTUARIAL CONSULTANT

Vanessa Vermeulen

Vanessa values innovation and has a keen desire for knowledge. She has experience in various industries including insurance, finance, technology, wellness, and art. She holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Actuarial Science and Statistics from UCT with distinction and has worked in various roles from analyst to business owner, with experience that extends from the technical in nature, to understanding and dealing with direct consumer facing concerns. Passionate about creating better solutions, she hopes to have a positive impact on the world around her.

We say:

“Vanessa has a photographer’s eye for detail, a dancer’s grace and discipline and an actuarial enthusiasm for problem solving. She is a deep thinker and is connected to herself and her team – making her an asset to Percept. Her kindness and humility make her a pleasure to work with.”

Vanessa is reading:

The Happiness Animal – Will Jelbert
The Book of Joy – Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu & Douglas Abrams
Blood Memory – Martha Graham
Turtles all the Way Down – John Green

Vanessa is listening to:

Kizomba, salsa bachata
Jazz
Classical…
Anything that moves her.

Vanessa’s Favourite podcasts:

Lore
Cabinet of Curiosity

Vanessa’s Favourite YouTube Channels:
Martha Graham
Broadway Dance
Walk off the Earth
Suselle DIY

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Tania Douglas

Tania is an academic who operates at the interface of technology and health. As a professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Cape Town, she cultivates an open research climate that appreciates the contextual specificities impacting on the successful, responsible and inclusive deployment of technology in Africa. This is aided by her interdisciplinary training and research experiences in electrical and electronic engineering, biomedical engineering, and management, received at institutions in South Africa, the USA, the UK, Japan and Germany. Her enjoyment of travel is accompanied by a desire to learn different languages (which does not necessarily translate into an ability to speak them).

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Lele Mehlomakulu

Lele holds a BSc Honours from Medunsa and a Masters in Business Leadership from UNISA. She is the founder of mPower People Solutions, a strategic human resources and organisational development company. Lele is passionate about the development of people in organisations, especially women and young professionals transitioning through various periods in their careers, as well as individuals who want to come out of their shell and achieve great things. She is South Africa’s first Certified Daring Way Facilitator, a highly experiential methodology based on the research of Dr. Brené Brown. Lele is a Consultant, Facilitator, Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Organisational Improvement/Change/Transformation/Culture interventionist.

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Machela Sathekga

Machela is an actuary and a graduate of the MBA programme at London Business School. Her career has spanned consulting, insurance and asset management and most recently technology and impact investing. As a qualified actuary she has held several technical roles including pricing, valuations and product development. She worked as a technical advisor for the Chief Executive of one of Africa’s largest asset managers before joining the investment team where she was responsible for reviewing the financial and risk management as well as investment capability reviews. Machela is a pioneer in many ways, preferring the road less travelled, novel ideas and challenges that require multi-dimensional thinking. In her time at London Business School she has successfully explored her interests in technology, private equity and entrepreneurship landing exciting roles at Amazon and impact investor CDC. She hopes to leverage her experience and expertise to help build the leaders and businesses that will build Africa.