When Tendani Sikhwivhilu reflects on the high and low points of his career, he finds it difficult to pinpoint them. It’s not that he hasn’t faced challenges or celebrated victories — it’s just that, for him, they are often intertwined. Tendani has always been driven by an insatiable curiosity, a relentless desire to learn and grow. That curiosity has been the guiding force behind every assignment he has taken on, pushing him to explore new ideas and navigate uncharted territory.
He firmly believes that stepping out of one’s comfort zone is essential for growth. It’s in those challenging moments — when he is stretched and tested — that he discovers not only his limitations but also his true potential. For Tendani, discomfort is not something to avoid but rather an opportunity to evolve. In his view, being pushed to the edge is where real learning happens, and it is that mindset that has propelled him throughout his journey.
‘Some of my high and low points have been a direct reflection of that mindset,’ Tendani explains. ‘When you’re being stretched, you realise just how much you don’t know — and at the same time, you also discover your own capabilities. In a way, the highs and lows are intertwined because a low point can eventually become a high point when you finally overcome it and achieve your goal. I know I’m explaining it in an analytical way, but that’s how I view it.’
‘I don’t necessarily think I have reached the pinnacle of my career just yet. I believe I have accomplished quite a bit, but there’s still more that I can learn and more that I can achieve. Failure moments — the ones where things didn’t go as planned, either because I missed a perspective or due to external factors — have certainly shaped me. But every failure has been an opportunity to gain experience and insight,’ he adds.
Steady progression
One of the moments that stands out as a high point in Tendani’s career is when he led the turnaround of struggling businesses. For him, that was a significant achievement. Typically, he would inherit a business that was not performing well and then take on the challenge of mapping out a plan for its future. Once the plan was implemented and the results started to show, it was an incredibly rewarding experience. That sense of accomplishment and transformation is what he considers a true high point in his career.
Tendani’s is a story of steady progression, built on hard work, curiosity, and a knack for making sense of complex financial puzzles. Until recently, he was the CFO at Bidvest Financial Services and Financial Director of Bidvest Bank, roles he held since August 2021. He was responsible for steering the financial strategy and keeping the numbers in check while navigating the shifting landscape of the financial services industry.
Before Bidvest, Tendani spent more than seven years at Standard Bank Group. He concluded his time there as head of finance for retail and business banking. In his roles at Standard Bank, he focused on financial strategy, performance management, and making sure the business met its goals without losing sight of long-term sustainability.
His time at Absa — from January 2012 to October 2014 — saw him taking on the role of head of business performance for retail and business banking. Before that, Tendani was financial controller for business banking at Absa for just four months in 2011. His focus there was on governance, compliance, and keeping the books in order. He also served as group technical accountant from September 2010 to August 2011, providing technical accounting advice and helping the bank stay on top of new standards and regulations.
His journey started at EY, where he spent nearly four years from 2007 to 2010 as a manager in technical accounting. This role was all about advising on accounting standards, training teams, and reviewing financial statements to ensure compliance. There was also a brief stint in San Francisco on secondment, where he worked on auditing diverse client portfolios.
Tendani spent time as a lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand from 2009 to 2010. He previously served academic articles at the institution after completing his accounting degree.
Against the odds
‘My background provides context to how I view challenges and successes,’ Tendani says. ‘I was raised by my grandmother because my parents never got married. I am their only son, but both of them have daughters from other relationships. My mother, who was a street vendor selling fruits and vegetables, played a pivotal role in my education. She worked tirelessly to make ends meet, and despite the challenges, she always encouraged me to aim for a better future.’
He continues: ‘During my final year of high school, I faced a major setback. My math teacher had an accident and was unable to teach for most of the year. Maths was crucial for the bursaries I wanted to apply for, and without good grades, there was no way I could afford university. I knew I had to take matters into my own hands, so I sought out a former teacher from my community who offered me tutoring on the side. I also bought numerous past question papers and dedicated countless hours to self-study.’
Despite the odds, Tendani managed to achieve an ‘A’ in maths, marking a pivotal moment in his journey. However, even with his impressive grades, he did not receive the bursaries he had hoped for, and securing a student loan proved impossible due to the lack of collateral. It was a challenging situation and felt like a low point because, without financial support, university seemed out of reach.
Eventually, he managed to get into Wits University through NSFAS funding. But the challenges did not end there. He arrived without accommodation or study materials and had to stay with a friend in Hillbrow who covered his lodging expenses. Since he could not afford textbooks, he spent countless hours in the library, meticulously taking notes from the books available. Determined to make the most of every opportunity, he put in the extra effort needed to achieve good marks and secure his academic future.
‘In my first semester, I achieved 95% in computational maths, and this opened up an opportunity for me to become a tutor,’ Tendani recalls. ‘Being able to teach others not only helped me financially but also reinforced my own understanding of the material. Later on, I became a lecturer, teaching subjects like statistics, financial accounting, and tax. These roles were essential not just for my professional growth but also to support my family back home.’
Financial struggles were a constant in Tendani’s life, but they taught him to be resourceful. During high school, he worked as a garden boy in Limpopo, including a teacher who paid him around R100 a month. That money helped him afford the application form for Wits University and cover transport costs to Johannesburg. The experience instilled in him the value of hard work and sacrifice.
Self-discipline and leadership
Throughout his career, self-discipline has been a crucial factor for Tendani. He has always believed that imagining a different future and persevering through challenges are essential to success. One of his most significant motivations has been his role as the eldest sibling. Tendani has ten sisters — six from his father’s side and four from his mother’s. As the firstborn, he felt a responsibility to set an example and pave the way for his siblings. He knew that if he couldn’t succeed, it would place unnecessary pressure on them.
Tendani also acknowledges the people who have influenced his journey. At Standard Bank, for instance, his former boss continually challenged him to think beyond his limits and explore new ways of contributing. These challenges played a vital role in shaping his understanding of the banking sector and the business world. Mentors and supportive friends have also been instrumental in guiding him and helping him grow both personally and professionally.
‘When it comes to leadership, I believe it’s about more than just technical expertise or holding a title. People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. It’s crucial to lead with empathy, understanding that people are not just workers but human beings with their own stories and struggles. Putting yourself in someone else’s shoes helps you see situations from their perspective, which in turn builds trust and respect,’ Tendani says.
‘Leadership also means creating an environment where people understand how their individual roles contribute to the broader strategy. When people see the bigger purpose and understand that it’s not just about the leader but about a shared vision, they naturally put in the effort, even when no one is watching. That sense of ownership and purpose is what drives real transformation,’ he adds.
Chaos and comfort
When Tendani steps away from the spreadsheets and boardrooms, he steps into another life — the one where he’s a husband, a father, and a guy trying to tame his golf swing. He has thirteen years of marriage under his belt and three sons who keep him on his toes. It’s chaos and comfort all rolled into one, and he wouldn’t trade it for the world.
Golf is his escape — a chance to breathe, to silence the noise, and to just be. Funny enough, he didn’t even pick it up on his own. One of his mentors shoved a club into his hand one day, and it stuck. Now it’s his thing — the one place where the only numbers he’s worried about are the ones on his scorecard.
But if you scratch beneath the surface of the pinstripes and golf gloves, you’ll find that Tendani’s idea of success isn’t just about climbing the corporate ladder or hitting that perfect shot. It’s about people. It’s about showing others that they can do more than they think they’re capable of. He’s got a knack for helping people see the bigger picture — giving them that nudge to realise they’ve got more in the tank than they thought.
Ultimately, that’s what really matters to him. It’s not about racking up personal accolades or counting how many rungs he’s climbed. It’s about making sure that, somewhere along the line, he’s helped someone else climb too. And if that means swapping the boardroom for a bit of mentoring or trading a weekend lie-in for a round of golf with the boys, well, that’s just part of the deal.
‘The road to success is not straightforward, and challenges are inevitable. But with perseverance, discipline, and a supportive community, anything is possible. I am grateful for the lessons I’ve learned and for the people who have supported me along the way,’ he concludes.
