SENIOR FINANCIAL MANAGER: NEDBANK GROUP
GIDEON BOTHA IS A WELL-ROUNDED RESEARCHER AND FUTURIST WITH A BALANCED OUTLOOK ON LIFE. HE IS THAT EXCEPTIONAL EXAMPLE OF AN ACADEMIC WHO INTELLIGENTLY PUTS ALL THE KNOWLEDGE GAINED TO WORK BY ADDRESSING CORE ISSUES IN SOUTH AFRICA’S PRIVATE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. AND TO TOP THAT, HE’S PUT A GREAT DEAL OF EFFORT INTO LEADING HIS TEAM AND DEVELOPING THEM TO BE THEIR BEST
Photo: Theana Breugem
Rooted in his unquenchable desire to grow and learn, after completing his CA(SA) qualification Gideon pushed on to expand his technical capabilities through the completion of two postgraduate degrees while also applying his skills and talents to address core issues in South Africa’s private healthcare system. His PhD will offer a framework for the implementation of National Health Insurance.
‘I am using my technical skills for the improvement of others by pursuing a PhD that is expressly aimed at making a valuable contribution to the health care system in South Africa and making private health care more affordable and accessible to more people,’ says Gideon.
‘Gideon Botha is an excellent leader in business and a thought leader who is using his academics to change the world,’ said Ayanda Seboni, 2019 Top 35 judge.
Gideon was a Top 4 finalist for the BHF Titanium Young Achiever Award, which celebrates young professionals who have made a notable impact in the healthcare industry. Another proud moment was presenting the results of his master’s thesis at the International Academy of Business and Public Administration Disciplines (IABPAD) Conference in Spain, along with the publication of two academic articles that he co-authored.
His PhD titled ‘Developing a framework for price tariffs in the costing structures of South African private hospitals’ will be completed by December 2019. The aim of his PhD is to recommend a unit costing model and reimbursement model combination that can be used to determine price tariffs in private hospitals in South Africa.
‘I believe that my PhD will not only have great significance for private health care in South Africa but will also make a valuable contribution to our country’s troubled health care system. It addresses the concerns raised by the Competition Commission and the Department of Health regarding the high cost of private health care by recommending a unit costing and reimbursement model combination that could be used to determine price tariffs in private hospitals,’ says Gideon.
‘The value of the recommended unit costing and reimbursement model combination lies in the fact that it enables hospitals to calculate an accurate unit cost for a hospital procedure or an episode of care, and then further provides the mechanism to set a price tariff for the given procedure or episode of care. In so doing, it provides more transparency and understanding as to how price tariffs are determined for private hospital procedures, and it enables private hospitals to implement process improvements based on an improved understanding of the different resource usage that applies to the unit cost of treating a patient.’
At the same time, Gideon is completing a postgraduate diploma in Future Studies, which will be concluded in October 2019. He is registered for his master’s degree in Future Studies in 2020, in which he will use it to outline new banking scenarios for Africa and identify mechanisms to make banking more financially inclusive for South Africans.
‘At heart, I am an academic who loves to learn and study the latest trends in finance, healthcare and the global economy. As someone who is fascinated by the opportunities the future holds, I’m actively pursuing my development and qualifications as a professional futurist. I also maintain my optimism about the future, as I move forward in faith,’ says Gideon.
‘Even though I am busy with various projects and studies, my commitment and work ethic relating to my responsibilities and management of my team at Nedbank Home Loans is of the highest calibre, as evidenced by my achievement of “Excels”, which is the bank’s highest possible performance rating.’
To empower his team of ten, not only does Gideon arrange but personally funds yearly workshops and talks by key motivational speakers. In 2017 he arranged for Dr Johan Beukes, CEO of Harmonie, to conduct a workshop ‘Telling and embracing my life story’. In the same year Yeukai Muduzi, a World Bank economist, presented a two-hour talk on the importance of ‘knowing your why’. And in 2018 Duncan Stewart, a renowned artist, conducted a two-day creativity workshop with the team. He addressed the factors that limit one’s creativity.
This year, athlete and international conference speaker Alex Harris will conduct a day session with the team on how to succeed when facing difficult journeys. In the second half of this year, Yeukai Muduzi will return for a breakfast talk with the ladies in the Nedbank Home Loans Finance team regarding the challenges women face in the workplace and how to overcome them. Moreover, Gideon gives back to his community through the informal mentorship programme he personally initiated, and by serving on the Nedbank Medical Aid Board in support of his Nedbank colleagues and their families.
And where does he see himself in five years’ time? ‘As a proud father and committed partner to my fiancée (soon to be wife). Furthermore, I plan to be a C-Suite executive at an organisation that affords me the freedom to apply my skills and acquired knowledge to push the envelope in all aspects of business. I also intend to complete my second PhD, this time in Future Studies, and an undergraduate degree in Economics. And I am preparing to become a leading Future Studies author in the fields of banking, economics and healthcare in South Africa.’
