On the record with Vanessa Chinhengo, student and actuary of the future
How would your best friend describe you?
Focused, fun, considerate.
What motivates you?
Being the best at doing what I love the most, and taking up the challenge so that I can excel.
What would be your personal motto?
No excuses, champions take action.
Name five dream companions to be stuck on a desert island with?
Tesla, to build an electric vehicle for us to escape from the island; Buddy Valastro, to cook for us; Kevin Hart, for some free drama and jokes to make us laugh uncontrollably; Simon Cowell, to attack our sense of humour and constantly remind us that we are stuck on an island; and Marjorie Ngwenya, to calculate the risk of using a car with no insurance cover and encourage us to buy comprehensive life cover.
What's your most 'actuarial' habit?
Combining statistical data of my friends' birthdays and further analysing them, comparing how far they are from Christmas Day to work out a budget for all their presents for the year.
How do you relax away from the office?
Baking, cooking, and playing or watching cricket.
Favourite Excel function?
CUMIPMT.
What is the funniest thing that has happened to you recently?
It was two years ago - I was in a physics class and I wanted to go and work out a question on the board and I fell in front of everyone. I told the teacher I was praying.
Alternative career choice?
A business owner.
What song best describes your work ethic?
Humble and Kind by Tim McGraw.
Greatest risk you have ever taken?
Falling in love with mathematics and considering an actuarial career.
If you could go back in history, who would you like to meet?
Isaac Newton. I really need to know what he was thinking when he developed calculus.
If there was a movie produced about your life, who would play you, and why?
Cameron Diaz, she just has this zeal and determination in all her movies. So I'm pretty sure she will make me look good.
If you could be anyone else, who would it be?
My mum, she is perfect.