Life of Purpose Beyond the Numbers
This career journey is one of quiet resilience, unwavering faith, and deep-rooted service. A childhood shaped by multicultural identity and Christian values to a two-decade career guiding South Africans toward homeownership, her journey reflects a rare blend of professional excellence and personal conviction.
Sally chose purpose, showing up with integrity, compassion, and courage in every season, even when life demanded more than seemed possible.
Although my parents are British, my story and my identity are deeply rooted in Africa. My parents moved to South Africa in the 1970s to begin a new life. When my maternal grandmother became ill, they briefly returned to the United Kingdom, and during that time I was born in Wales.
After her passing, our family moved back to South Africa when I was one year old. From that moment, Africa became my only true home. When I envision Africa, I see sunshine, joy, and people who smile even through hardship, a spirit of hope that has always inspired me.
After my parents divorced when I was four, my biological father returned to Britain and took no part in my upbringing. Growing up without him gave me a deep empathy for the fatherless, a reality many children in South Africa face.
My father’s absence shaped my heart for those who feel abandoned or overlooked, especially people living on the streets.
My mother became a Christian soon after the divorce and later married an Afrikaans man, which infused our home with a blend of cultures. English was our main language, but Afrikaans was spoken to my step-siblings, and many Afrikaans customs became part of our daily life.
This multicultural environment of my British heritage, English identity, and Afrikaans traditions broadened my worldview and taught me to appreciate South Africa’s diversity.
My stepfather was strict but grounded us in strong Christian values. Respect, boundaries, and integrity were cornerstones of our home. I was baptized at nine, and faith became a defining part of my life. I grew up attending youth, church services, and a church connect group throughout high school.
These spaces shaped my character, my friendships, and my convictions. My friends and I lived by the motto: “Stand for Christ, no compromise.” That commitment guided how we carried ourselves, how we treated others, and how we navigated the challenges of adolescence.
My stepfather also taught me valuable lessons about leadership: how to empower others, how to delegate, and how to trust people with responsibility. My mother played a complementary role of a servant-hearted woman who worked six days a week.
I often accompanied her in the school holidays from mall to mall as she oversaw stores, learning responsibility and discipline from a young age. She taught me to serve others with humility and compassion.
A strong advocate for women’s independence, she encouraged me to be confident, hardworking, and committed to becoming the best version of myself.
"It was a risk, but one worth taking. My purpose was ignited, and I became deeply convinced by it."
Today, my identity is a rich tapestry of these influences, African in experience and belonging, British in heritage, and shaped by Afrikaans culture and Christian faith.
From my parents, I inherited resilience, empathy, integrity, independence, service, empowerment, and unwavering faith. These values continue to guide how I lead, connect, and contribute to the world around me.
This is who I am: a woman shaped by a multicultural upbringing, strengthened by faith, grounded in compassion, and inspired by the enduring spirit of Africa, where hope shines even in adversity.
After matriculating, having finished school with full colours for academics, my parents did not have the financial means to send me to university. From a young age, I was encouraged to take responsibility. At 15, I began working in a retail shop in KZN at The Pavilion Mall on Sundays to earn pocket money and during the school holidays. This early experience introduced me to customer service, work ethic, and the importance of showing up consistently, lessons that would stay with me throughout my career.
At the age of 17, I left South Africa for the United Kingdom to find work, staying with a supportive grandparent while navigating a new environment on my own. I secured an internship at Wrexham Council in North Wales in local government working in the finance department where I studied Business and Administration while gaining practical experience.
To support myself, I worked days at the council and nights in a pub, often returning home after midnight, catching buses and walking kilometres alone at night. These experiences taught me resilience, independence, and the value of perseverance.
My responsibilities at the council included supporting tender assessments and overseeing the implementation of key contracts, such as stationery and photocopier agreements for Wirral and North Wales.
I also contributed to the launch of an online stationery portal for government departments, experiences that developed my organisational, administrative, and stakeholder management skills. Through hard work, I was later offered a permanent role as a Procurement Officer Assistant.
One defining moment was when I approached the Audit & Technical Manager to apply for the role at aged 18 and he asked, “What do you even know about procurement?” Drawing from my Matric Business Economics knowledge, I confidently answered and secured the position, a formative lesson in courage, preparation, and faith, inspired by Matthew 7:7: “Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
My heart remained in Africa and I returned at aged 19. Upon returning to South Africa, I joined Absa Bank then Barclays Africa Group in August 2005 within the Home Loans division as a temp worker covering for someone who was on maternity leave. Based at the Durban regional office, I supported a broad network of branches, serving Absa Business and Platinum clients with residential finance solutions.
In 2007, at the age of 21, I relocated to Pietermaritzburg as a Property Finance Specialist, where I began managing key relationships with estate agents, overseeing lead generators, and facilitating residential finance applications and now recently structured loans for a diverse client base spanning Absa Private Bank, Absa Commercial, Absa Priority Bank, and primarily, Absa Wealth clients.
My education laid the foundation for both my personal growth and professional journey. I completed my schooling in South Africa in 2003, finishing matric with full colours for academics, which reflected my commitment to excellence and discipline from an early age. I wasn’t a natural learner being ADHD.
I had to spend many nights revising what was learnt at school as being ADHD I naturally zoned out of lessons. Despite the challenge of being neurodiverse, I developed a strong work ethic and a sense of responsibility, values that would guide me throughout my career.
Growing up, my sister Lisa who was 2 years older played a vital role in supporting my learning, helping me with homework and even coaching me in long jump, which helped me break the school record. These experiences instilled resilience, perseverance, and the value of guidance.
At the age of 17, after matriculating, I was unable to attend university due to family financial constraints. I moved to the United Kingdom to pursue work opportunities while continuing my education through practical experience. I secured an internship at Wrexham Council in North Wales, where I did a vocational qualification in Business and Administration and secured my European computer driving license.
Balancing work and study allowed me to develop essential skills in administration, finance, and organisational processes, which later proved invaluable in my professional roles.
Upon returning to South Africa, my foundational education and early training in business administration enabled me to step confidently into the financial services sector with Absa Bank. Alongside my formal education, my informal, on-the-job learning played a pivotal role in shaping my success.
Experienced credit officers and senior colleagues invested time in teaching me the nuances of credit analysis, risk interpretation, deal structuring, and relationship management. Their mentorship accelerated my learning curve and embedded in me a belief in the power of strategic mentoring, which has become a principle I continue to apply in developing others.
In parallel with my professional growth, I pursued further studies to strengthen my expertise. I completed a Certificate in Banking (NQF Level 5), followed by an NQF 6 in Financial Markets and Instruments, and more recently with great thanks to INSETA I was afforded an opportunity to complete an NQF 7 Advanced Management Diploma through GIBS.
These qualifications enhanced my technical knowledge, strategic thinking, and leadership capabilities, further contributing to my ability to manage complex financial applications, serve a diverse client base, and drive growth in the property finance sector.
Overall, my education in formal schooling, further studies, informal mentorship and hands-on experience has shaped my analytical thinking, professionalism, and commitment to excellence.
My career journey began unusually early, and each milestone has shaped both my professional identity and my leadership philosophy.
One of my earliest milestones was doing an internship at Wrexham County Borough Council which started at the age of 18. This experience exposed me to formal organisational structures, procurement processes, and public-sector governance. It taught me discipline, accountability, and the importance of systems thinking.
Through hard work and before completing my internship, I was offered a permanent position as a Procurement Officer Assistant, a role that deepened my understanding of tender processes, compliance, and stakeholder engagement. This early responsibility gave me confidence and shaped my belief that age should never limit contribution.
When I returned to South Africa at 19, I began working at Absa as a temporary employee. I was soon offered a permanent position in the Sales Support team within Home Loans.
A defining moment that elevated my profile was being nominated by staff as a Change Leader at just 20 years old. I represented employees at management meetings, which taught me how to influence upwards, communicate across levels, and advocate for people. It was my first leadership experience outside of school, even without a formal title.
At 21, I reached a pivotal turning point when I moved to Pietermaritzburg and was promoted into my current role as a Property Finance Specialist.
Over the past 20 years at Absa, I have contributed more than R3 billion in mortgage business. My role continues to give me fulfilment: working closely with attorneys, estate agents, lead generators, and high-value clients, guiding them through residential finance and often helping them grow their property portfolios over many years. Some clients have trusted me to bond more than 50 homes for them, a testament to deep relationships and consistent service.
Throughout my career, I have also dedicated time to training and transferring skills to individuals. Mentorship, empowerment, and knowledge-sharing have always been core to who I am. My motto is to always show up 200% and to add value.
In recent years, I have extended this commitment beyond the workplace. In my spare time, I volunteered as a facilitator at Project Exodus, supporting the loved ones of individuals in recovery. This experience allowed me to see the world through a different lens, deepened my empathy, and helped me understand my father’s journey more compassionately. It has enriched both my leadership style and my personal growth.
Throughout my life and career, I have been profoundly shaped by the guidance, support, and example of several key individuals:
My husband, André Gouvea, has been a constant pillar of strength in my professional journey. His unwavering support for my career goals and further studies has empowered me to grow with confidence.
My mother, Elsie Lombard, and stepfather, Willie Lombard, whose unwavering love, sacrifice, and Christian guidance instilled in me strong values, a disciplined work ethic, and a commitment to serving others with integrity and faith.
Mr Burger, former GM of Absa Home Loans, whose mentorship and insights guided my career decisions and helped me focus on specialization and excellence.
Mr Padayachee, former Developments Manager at Absa Home Loans, who mentored me and provided guidance that shaped my professional growth and approach to client service.
Mrs Pieterse, former Property Specialist at Absa, whose unwavering faith in the Lord inspired us to jointly start prayer meetings at Absa in 2006 and 2007, deepening my understanding of faith in the workplace.
Mrs Marshall, recovery coach at Project Exodus, whose guidance inspired my work supporting loved ones of addicts and deepened my empathy and servanthood.
Throughout my career, I have focused on creating meaningful impact, uplifting others, and consistently delivering excellence. The achievements below represent key moments that reflect my commitment to service, performance, and community:
2006 – Service Hero Award Absa raising R500 000 for The Association of the Aged (TAFTA) as part of a CSI project.
2015 – Absa Financial Literacy Outreach Pietermaritzburg teaching 270 primary school learners the basics of saving and money management.
2016 – Absa Service Excellence Award recognised for exceptional customer service, professionalism, and consistently delivering high-quality work.
2007–2025 – Consistent High Sales Performance consistently exceeded sales targets and contributed over R3 billion in business to Absa Home Loans.
2020–2023 – Project Super User helping design a new Home Loan system within the bank.
2024 – Volunteer Facilitator at Project Exodus supporting loved ones of family members in addiction through training and small groups
What I hope will define my career legacy is the way I live out my faith in Christ through my work, my conduct, and my service to others. My career has never been just about performance or numbers; it has been about purpose, integrity and the people whose lives I was privileged to touch.
I want to be remembered for standing for Christ without compromise, even when it meant walking away from deals or opportunities that did not align with my values. My legacy is grounded in honesty, transparency and the conviction that doing the right thing always outweighs short-term gain.
A significant part of my legacy is also my servanthood nature. My volunteer work at Project Exodus deeply shaped me, teaching me compassion, empathy and the importance of walking alongside people in their most vulnerable moments. Serving families affected by addiction reminded me of my own family story, and it allowed me to pour hope, understanding and encouragement into others.
In the workplace, I hope to be remembered for bringing light, warmth and dignity into every interaction, greeting every person with a smile, treating everyone equally regardless of background, and always remaining fully engaged. I aim to leave every space better than I found it, whether through excellent service, mentorship, teamwork, or simply choosing kindness.
Ultimately, I want my lasting contribution to be that I served with heart, led with integrity, upheld my values boldly, and used my skills to uplift others and make a positive impact in my field, my community, and the lives of those around me by showing up, being fully present and adding true value.
My vision is to leave a legacy defined by significance rather than success: a life that reflects my faith in Christ, uplifts others, strengthens families, and contributes to a society where all people can live with dignity and opportunity.
