Meet four of the brightest young actuarial minds at Discovery

Kwezana Matanga, Thalentha Ngobeni, Glory Ngwenya, and Jimmy Yuan. These young actuaries are among the brightest minds we have the privilege of employing at Discovery. They are the four most recent recipients of the Adrian Gore Fellowship Award (AGFA).

I care deeply about sustainably uplifting our country’s youth, identifying and nurturing talent, and helping people to flourish in their careers. I am strongly of the view that creating a pipeline of highly capable talent in our country is one of the most important investments we could make in the country’s future. That’s why I thought a post about the AGFA was perfect this Youth Month.

Launched in 2013, the AGFA targets third and fourth year actuarial science students at the universities of Cape Town, Pretoria, Stellenbosch and Witwatersrand. Each year, in July, the top 20 actuarial students from these universities go through a rigorous selection process in close partnership with the Deans of Faculty. 

The competition is tough and the calibre of students coming through the programme is top notch. They are academically brilliant, show leadership potential, believe in our mission to make people healthier, and live our values. After this rigorous process, one student receives the fellowship, including a full bursary towards their educational needs; mentorship with Discovery CEO Adrian Gore (of course himself an actuary), and a cash prize for their university. All 20 students are guaranteed employment with Discovery for the following year. 

Actuaries are the nucleotides to Discovery’s DNA. The many actuaries we employ at Discovery as a whole and within Discovery Health are fundamental to every element of our business. 

Meet Kwezana Matanga, Chief of Staff to Hylton Kallner, CEO of Discovery SA and Discovery Bank

Hailing from Mthatha in the Eastern Cape, Kwezana Lonwabo M. studied at the University of Cape Town and started working for Discovery in 2020.

When she was 16, Kwezana was inspired to study actuarial science after the South African Actuaries Development Programme visited her high school to raise awareness around this field of study and work. A past learner had also visited the school to talk about his career as an actuary. “I found the description of the programme fascinating, even though I didn’t fully understand what it entailed. The phrase ‘actuaries get to do what no one else understands’ also stood out for me,” she says.

Kwezana enjoyed the AGFA selection process. “It was unlike anything we had done at school or university. I also enjoyed that I was surrounded by 19 brilliant minds and I was able to connect with and learn from them.”

Kwezana was pleasantly surprised when she won AGFA in 2019. “I did not think I would win. It was a big opportunity to work for an innovative and dynamic company with the same great people I had connected with through the programme.” More than three years into her career at Discovery, Kwezana says she’s learnt a lot and has enjoyed the support of her colleagues. “The amount of personal and professional growth I have achieved in this short period is more than I could have imagined,” she says.

She encourages school goers and aspiring actuaries to, “Adopt a growth mindset. This will help you excel in various aspects of life.”

Meet Jimmy Yuan, Actuarial Analyst for Discovery Insure

Jimmy Yuan, who studied at Wits University, initially chose actuarial science because of his enjoyment of and affinity for maths and exploring mathematical concepts. “As I delved deeper into the subject, I became fascinated by the practical applications of actuarial science. It amazed me how statistical models and insights could be used to solve real-life problems across various fields. I wanted a career that would constantly challenge me, expand my knowledge, and allow me to contribute to society. Actuarial science offered exactly that.”

He found the AGFA selection process in 2020 stimulating and enjoyable, even though it was conducted online due to COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. “I expected it to be nothing more than a series of online interviews. But we had conversations and engagements with each other in web-based meeting rooms, and interesting challenges were posed to us throughout the programme. We had the opportunity to present our solutions to problems that the insurance industry faces and have discussions with Discovery execs.”

Jimmy believes that he was selected because of his consistently high academic performance and his enthusiasm to applying actuarial principles in solving real-life problems. He says that receiving the AGFA “was a validation of my hard work and a recognition of my potential to contribute to the profession and values represented by Discovery”. The award has motivated him to continue to strive for excellence in actuarial science.

Jimmy advises young people to build a strong academic foundation. “Enjoy thinking about the concepts in your course work and see if they can be applied to real-life situations. This will help with integrating the knowledge learned in class with your existing understanding of the world. A solid academic background opens doors and provides one with a competitive edge, but also opens one up to new ideas and ways of thinking.”

Meet Thalentha Ngobeni, Actuarial Analyst for Discovery Central Services Group Executive Management

Thalentha Ngobeni studied actuarial science at the University of Cape Town after realising that it was the field that best aligned with his interests. “I read that actuarial science was a tough course to get through, so I thought it would be a good challenge,” he says. “I also heard that actuaries are paid well, and enjoy a 0% unemployment rate – a major contributing factor to my decision to go into the field.”

During the AGFA selection process, Thalentha had to solve challenges facing Discovery. “I enjoyed solving real-world problems and coming up with sound and workable solutions that could add value to the business. It was a refreshing shift from the theoretical problems that we had to contend with when writing university exams. Presenting my solutions to Discovery’s executives was intimidating at first and they asked challenging questions, but it was a good learning experience. I also enjoyed picking Adrian Gore’s brain.”

Thalentha was thrilled to win AGFA in 2021. “It was an exciting achievement. I think what stood out was that I had some experience with investment markets, which gave me a reasonable level of knowledge about how businesses make decisions and what their priorities are.”

Working at Discovery has given Thalentha many opportunities to learn. “And being surrounded by so many talented individuals fills me with energy and makes me optimistic about the future of our country,” he says.

When choosing a career, Thalentha advises young people to consider both their interests and capabilities and then make a pragmatic decision. “I believe that succeeding in university is a team effort, and it is important to surround yourself with people who have similar goals as you, and an even better work ethic than you do.”

Meet Glory Ngwenya, Actuarial Analyst for Vitality Global

Glory Ngwenya won the Adrian Gore Fellowship Award in 2022 and was the first Stellenbosch University student to do so. 

Glory was motivated to study actuarial science because she loved maths and wanted to use it to make a positive impact in people’s lives. “Studying actuarial science has challenged me and enhanced my mathematical ability. It’s also given me the opportunity to work in industries that significantly influence the physical and financial well-being of many people,” she says.

During the AGFA selection process, Glory had to solve complex problems faced by Discovery. “We were asked to share our thoughts on the risks that they pose and to come up with viable solutions.” Receiving the award was an unbelievable experience and honour says Glory. “It allowed me to celebrate my successes and reflect on the hard work that had gone into my actuarial journey, and the support I had received from my family, friends, and lecturers, to whom I’m forever grateful.”

Since she started working for Vitality Global in January this year, Glory says she’s grown exponentially. “I’ve developed and enhanced many of my skills due to the knowledge sharing, and open and collaborative environment fostered by my colleagues. It has allowed me to learn and improve my skills.”

Glory points out that there’s no clear-cut formula on how to excel in life or when choosing a career, so she advises young people to start by working on their growth and development. “Make the most out of every opportunity you’re presented and take the time to learn from your experiences and the people around you. Every experience, whether it’s good or bad, yours or someone else’s, is a chance to grow and expand your horizons.”

Congratulations to these brilliant, inspiring young people

The four of you are not only helping to take Discovery from strength to strength now, but will no doubt make a big impact on society through the span of your careers. You are an inspiration to other young people.

If they have inspired you, I’d love to know your thoughts on what you have found to be an excellent way to enable young talent in South Africa.