TSHIWELA Mhlantla is living proof that hard work and commitment does pay.

The deputy managing executive in charge of personal loans at Absa has just been appointed the group's managing executive of personal loans.

Mhlantla now has overall management responsibility for personal loans.

During the past five months she has been further exposed to the personal loans business.

Her academic qualifications include a B Juries and an LLB from the University of Durban-Westville . She is also a graduate of the Absa Development Initiative .

Mhlantla started working in 1996 at First National Trust as a deceased estate and trust liquidator.

She then moved to Sanlam Trust and later to Sanlam Life.

In 2004, she joined Absa in the Eastern Cape as a sales manager.

Her motivation, passion and drive to excel paid off and she was promoted to provincial general manager - retail delivery in 2006. Her work ethic and performance saw her becomechief of staff for the group - executive director of retail bank.

Mhlantla said she was ready and excited about her latest promotion.

"Absa has given me countless opportunities to explore my leadership potential and I'm truly grateful and excited to be taking on this new challenge."