Section 05

Questions for the Panel

The quality of a candidate's questions reveals more than the quality of their answers. These questions are not rhetorical — they are the things I genuinely need to understand before I can commit to a plan.

The Business
01

"What is the actual root cause of the 86% collections ratio — and what has already been tried?"

Why I'm asking: This is the most important operational question. I want to understand what has already been diagnosed and attempted, so I do not repeat work or dismiss prior efforts. The answer will tell me a great deal about the organisation's analytical capability.
02

"What does the employer acquisition pipeline look like today — and what is the conversion rate from first contact to signed agreement?"

Why I'm asking: The employer acquisition engine is the growth lever. I want to understand the current state of the pipeline, the conversion economics, and where the bottlenecks are. This will shape the Day 31–60 diagnostic.
03

"What is the current technology stack — and what is the board's appetite for technology investment in Year 1?"

Why I'm asking: Technology investment must be sequenced correctly. I need to understand what exists, what is missing, and what the board is willing to invest — before I can propose a technology roadmap.
04

"What is the average contract value by employer tier — and how does it vary between enterprise, SME, and public sector?"

Why I'm asking: The CVP design depends on the economics by employer tier. If enterprise contracts are significantly more valuable, the acquisition strategy should prioritise enterprise. I want to understand the data before I form a view.
The Team
01

"Who are the two or three people in the organisation whose departure would be most damaging — and what is their current level of engagement?"

Why I'm asking: Talent retention in a leadership transition is a known risk. I want to identify the critical people early and understand whether there are retention risks I need to address in the first 30 days.
02

"What is the current management team's view of the CEO role — and what do they most need from a new leader?"

Why I'm asking: The management team's expectations will shape the first 90 days. If they need direction, I lead differently than if they need autonomy. Understanding this before Day 1 is important.
The Board & Anuva
01

"What is Anuva's exit timeline — and what are the specific metrics that will determine exit readiness?"

Why I'm asking: I need to understand the exit thesis in detail before I can build a plan that serves it. If the exit is in 3 years, the priorities are different than if it is in 5 years. I want to understand the specific metrics — not the general aspiration.
02

"What is the board's definition of success for the first 100 days — and how will it measure whether the new CEO is on track?"

Why I'm asking: Aligning on success metrics before Day 1 prevents misalignment at Day 100. I want to understand what the board expects — not assume I know.
03

"What is the board's appetite for risk in Year 1 — and what decisions require board approval versus CEO discretion?"

Why I'm asking: Governance clarity is critical in the first 90 days. I want to understand the decision rights framework before I make any material decisions.
The Opportunity
01

"What is the one thing the board most wants the new CEO to change — and the one thing it most wants to preserve?"

Why I'm asking: This question surfaces the board's real priorities — not the stated ones. The answer to 'what to preserve' is often more revealing than the answer to 'what to change'.
02

"What has NuMobile tried in the past that did not work — and what did you learn from it?"

Why I'm asking: Understanding what has been tried and failed is as important as understanding what has succeeded. It prevents me from repeating mistakes and signals whether the organisation has a learning culture.
03

"If you could change one thing about how NuMobile operates today — what would it be?"

Why I'm asking: This question is for each panel member individually. The answers will reveal where the real pain points are — and whether there is alignment or divergence at the board level.
A Final Note

"I am not asking these questions to impress you. I am asking them because I cannot build a credible plan without the answers. The best CEOs I have observed are the ones who ask more questions than they answer in the first 90 days — and then deliver more than they promised in the next 270."

— Vicus Burger
Availability

Available immediately. Based in Johannesburg, 15 km from NuMobile HQ. CTC expectation: R2.4–2.8m. Happy to discuss further at your convenience.

Vicus Burger
CEO CANDIDATE
+27 84 746 9578[email protected]