Wendy is the only daughter of South African tycoon Donald Gordon, who is best known as the founder of Liberty Group. In 1994, Wendy had her first business experience with an investment firm called Wiphold, short for Women’s Investment Portfolio Holdings. The company was founded by her and ten other influential women and was the first woman-dominated company to become part of the JSE. Some of the other women are Nomhle Canca, Louisa Mojela and Gloria Serobe. They had an initiative to help women understand the topic of investing so they could boost their finances. Their aim is to empower more women, as well as mobilize the purchasing power of women in South Africa.
-The Wendy Appelbaum brothers and their early years:
Growing up as an only child with two older brothers Richard and Graeme, she loved games and could play almost anything, including puzzles, tennis, card games, dance performances, golf; you name it! In an interview with Forbes Africa, she said that games are a great teacher to master negotiation. She grew up to be a very competitive woman through the sports and games she plays, and she thinks that’s why she’s such a great director. She studied psychology at the University of the Witwatersrand and graduated. She then went to work with her father at Liberty Group.
-Wendy Appelbaum father:
Appelbaum said she learned incredible skills such as attention to detail, determination, work ethic and patience from her father, Sir Donald Gordon. However, he is more of a role model than a mentor to her. More often than not, she was the only one challenging him in the boardroom, and he wasn’t happy about that. His choice is to accept the challenge to avoid escalation. Mr. Gordon doesn’t hate women because his question is whether he wants to work with them.
-The Appelbaum family:
Wendy Appelbaum has two sons. The first child, Nicholas, is a surgeon while the last, Matthew, is a banker in Johannesburg. During an interview conducted by Forbes Africa at Wendy’s in Cape Town, Nicholas walked in and was asked what it felt like to have such an energetic mother. His answer was quite amusing when he said that although Wendy is always with everyone, she is a mother behind closed doors. He added that she is not cuddly but capable of motherhood. Appelbaum also said that Nicholas was the coolest kid but most of all, he was extremely serious. Her husband, Hylton, was often in charge of their Morgenzon estate.
Wendy Appelbaum’s achievements:
Wendy Appelbaum is a trustee of an investment trust called The Tribune Trust. She is also a director of an empowerment company, Sphere Holdings Limited, which mainly focuses on the financial and mining divisions. Furthermore, she is also the director of Victory Strategy Services, in addition to being the president of her agricultural and wine farm, as mentioned earlier. I’m sure you now have at least an idea of what it takes to become a millionaire.
On the board of Synergos South Africa, Wendy is a highly regarded member. She is a member of Harvard University’s Women’s Leadership Board, Harvard University’s Global Advisory Board, and the International Women’s Forum. In addition, she is a Trustee of the Global Fund and Director of the University of the Witwatersrand graduate teaching hospital, Wits Donald Gordon Medical Center Limited.
She was recognized as one of the world’s top businesswomen in 2006. She was a director of Liberty Investors Limited before the company changed its name. She also served as Vice President of South Africa’s leading computer and technology retailer, called Connection Group Holdings.