I've always known that one day I’d be successful,” says Dr Penny Tlhabi, general manager of new markets at Discovery Health.
"Back then, success to me equalled having a car,nothing fancy, just a car I could drive around in. A few years later I realised that there's much more to being successful than just a car. It's all about giving your best in whatever you choose to do."
For Dr Penny it all started with a keen interest in a young, female family doctor. "Her name was Dr Mashalaba – the first black female doctor in our community.
"She brought "sexy" and style to the title of doctor and I remember thinking to myself that's what I want to be – a stylish doctor and a reputable GP in my community. Little did I know that my career path held exciting future avenues for me, in a different medical business sector."
As Discovery Health’s general manager of new markets, Dr Penny and her team have developed a unique and much-needed medical scheme for the country’s lower-income market.
"I'm in the field of health care business, where I fuse business strategies with my medical knowledge and I am loving everything that comes with this territory,” she says.
Her career change came on the eve of her 30th birthday. "I was about to enter the third phase of my life. I'd married at the age of 24, had two kids and a qualification in medicine.
"Could that be all? I needed something new, challenging and adventurous. There was a doctor on every corner and I wanted to differentiate myself from the rest. That’s when the medical and business combo came about. The business bug bit and it has grown bigger and bigger with the years.
"I get bored easily and constantly need new projects to work on, whether business-related or personal. My newest releases include cooking classes, French lessons and the dance of love, salsa. I've teamed up with my two daughters and the three of us will be a sizzling trio in the near future!"
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