2018 Top 35-under-35 Finalist: Mitan Raman Keshav Nana

Mitan holds the view that his life’s purpose is to be a catalyst in bringing about positive change in the lives of others. He believes that material achievement fulfils only part of our needs as human beings and that it is incumbent upon us all to also answer our calling.

He has seven years of experience in the financial services, food retail and educational spaces. He completed his training at Investec Bank, which culminated in an 18-month stint in London. His experience ranged from internal audit and business intelligence to equity analysis and property investments. Thereafter, he founded an investment company which had interests in the fast food and catering industries. He has dabbled in the educational finance arena, where his aim was to bring more affordable funding to students. He has held the position of senior lecturer and course coordinator at Wits University and co-launched a new honours degree programme in the School of Accountancy. He has also conducted corporate training in partnership with Atcor.

Mitan also served as a non-executive director of East Wave Radio, a community radio station, and as an executive committee member of the Wits Postgraduate Association. He was actively involved in the South African Black Entrepreneurs Forum (SABEF) as an advisor to the CEO and remains an advisor to Emerge Business Consulting. He was an active member of a community initiative, Lenasia Going Green (LEGG), and worked with the City of Jo’burg on some its air quality improvement and greening initiatives. He has been a mentor for the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation. He is also a certified performance and life coach, holds a master’s degree of Commerce (cum laude, Wits) and has completed all three levels of the CFA qualification. In qualifying as a CA(SA), he placed eighth and first nationally in the first and second qualifying exams, respectively.

Having always strongly held a passion to touch the lives of others and work in the health sciences field, he felt that his life needed a change of direction. Last year, he qualified as a medical doctor (MBBCh, Wits, cum laude) and is currently completing his internship at George Hospital in the Western Cape. He is also working on an initiative to promote healthy eating in communities and curb the obesity endemic.