Glyn Broomberg - Chief Executive Officer

When Glyn Broomberg decided in 2003 to support a small group of cyclists from Masiphumelele as part of his gym's community outreach program, it was a decision that would forever change his life - and that of hundreds of under-privileged children and young adults.

Working with the youngsters, training and supporting them so they could participate in local competitive cycling events, Glyn soon realised that not much was being done to make cycling more accessible to budding cyclists interested in the sport, but without the means to buy cycling equipment and pay for entry fees.

As more and more children showed an interest, Glyn took a giant leap of faith and sold his gym, determined to transform the sport by making it more accessible to all - and thus the Life Cycling Academy (LCA) was born.

What started out as an outreach project for five cyclists quickly grew to a full-scale project. Glyn met Amos Ziqubu, who was working with a group of cyclists in the township of Khayelitsha, they joined forces and together decided they would forever change the face of cycling in South Africa.

"At that time Amos had left his job as a postman in order to pursue the development of his cyclists on a full time basis in Khayelitsha. The timing for our meeting was perfect and the LCA was founded and became a full time project for both of us," explains Glyn.

The LCA, of which Glyn is Chief Executive Officer, today offers hundreds of township children the opportunity to experience recreational and competitive cycling.

Glyn has a pragmatic approach to managing the LCA. "I believe that anything is possible with thorough and proper planning and understanding that growth, although good, can also be the undoing of a business - this is extremely important to me. The LCA has grown out of nothing and I think a major reason for its success has been that we have never bitten off more than we can chew."

The LCA - a not-for-profit organization - is run like a business. It is a registered NGO (non-governmental organization) and is controlled by a Board of Directors.

"In this line of work it is vital that we create a sustainable infrastructure. We cannot afford to give hope to these young athletes and have it taken away because we didn't plan properly or look ahead and plot our goals and objectives," explains Glyn.

His step-based approach includes programs that start with a school-based educational program on safe cycling, through to a club structure for mass participation and on to an elite level competitive program.

And it's an approach that's working.

Youngsters of all ages have noticed the impact that cycling is having on the lives of their peers - with the result that the LCA has more members than it has bicycles for.

"Not only does the number of our cyclists entered each year in the South African Road Cycling Championships prove the success of the LCA's various cycling programmes, but it was an opportunity to show our sponsors and supporters that the investment they've made in the youth in our previously disadvantaged communities is paying dividends.

"Passion, dedication, discipline, motivation, loyalty and teamwork is the key to our success as is setting out to achieve certain goals and working systematically to achieve them," says Glyn. "Without passion all you have is the warm and fuzzy of the moment ... that wears off and then you have nothing."

Glyn has a solid foundation in all aspects of training - with a specific focus on the youth.

He spent four years in the SA Navy, five years in the Montessori teaching system and four years managing his own gym. In 2009 the LCA is in its fifth year and Glyn, who has always had a passion to see others succeed, wouldn't trade the experience for anything.

"Watching young people grow and use the opportunities presented to them is a fantastic thing. My greatest pleasure comes from seeing those special youngsters embrace every opportunity they are given; you just know that through this they are going to change their lives and ultimately their circumstances."

A recreational cyclist himself, Glyn enjoys the peace and quiet in forest rides, and says that the business has taught him that 'saying no and putting limits in place definitely extends your battery life.'

He spends some time each morning watching the CNN interviews with heads of global companies and draws inspiration from them.

"I have three phrases that I have never forgotten: 'For some near enough is good enough, for others good enough is never enough; Proper preparation prevents poor performance. (The 5 P's); You get three types of people in this world. People who watch things happen, people who make things happen and people who wonder what the heck just happened. Which one are you?'

"I think about these all the time and then ask myself if my day's activities have contributed to making a difference to our organisation. If they have, then great, if not, I know what I have to do tomorrow."

Glyn also relates to the familiar challenge that a lot of the LCA cyclists face - the lack of a healthy support structure in their young lives.

But he believes that personal circumstances should never be allowed to conquer one; rather they should be turned into a motivating force.

And he has survived and grown beyond these circumstances, proud and passionate about his sustainable business that is having such an overwhelmingly positive effect on the lives of young South Africans from the poorest communities, watching them compete at unbelievable levels and enjoying the support of his wife, Suzi, who is responsible for the administrative aspects of the LCA and its programs.

"Suzi always said to me that I was destined to do something that was going to be successful and she has stood behind me in making it happen."

Getting to know Glyn:

I was born on October 23.

I spent four years in the Navy, five years working in the Montessori teaching system and four years running my own gym before starting the LCA in 2003.

I have always had a passion to see others succeed.....the LCA started as a simple program to give young boys from a township the opportunity to experience competitive cycling. Now we reach over 7000 young cyclists through our safe cycling, recreational and competitive programs.

Watching young people grow and use the opportunities that are presented to them is a fantastic thing. My greatest pleasure comes from seeing those special youngsters embrace every opportunity they are given; you just know that through this they are going to change their lives and ultimately their circumstances.

I am a recreational cyclist. I also enjoy relaxing by getting away into the forest with a few mates and enjoying the peace and quiet of nature.

I didn't start out in life with a great personal support structure but that has not stopped me and my team from building a solid organisation. Instead of letting my personal circumstances conquer me I simply made the decision that I was going to use it to drive me to achieve as much as possible (as opposed to curling up and crying about it).

I believe that anything is possible with thorough and proper planning. Understanding that growth, although good, can also be the undoing of a business is extremely important to me.

Sustainability is key to the work I do - we cannot afford to give hope to these young athletes and have it taken away because we didn't plan properly or look ahead and plot our goals and objectives.

Transformation in sport is a controversial issue. My philosophy has always been not to get involved in politics but rather to get on with the job. If we got on and developed the athletes to the point that they can participate, on merit, at national and international levels - and not on perceived tokenism - then South Africa would truly be a great sporting nation. Of course we have to be realistic as to how long this would take and again set realistic goals.

The secret to our success is passion, dedication, discipline, motivation, loyalty and teamwork - simply put!! We have set out to achieve certain goals and we have worked systematically to achieve them.

Profile date: October 2009