1st Edition 2007 - University of Namibia

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Photo: Utaara Hoveka NEWLY APPOINTED CEO of Sanlam Investment ...ALUMNI CORNER Management Company Focus, perseverance and hard-work even in the face of harassment from apartheid authorities have paid off for UNAM Alumnus and newly appointed CEO of Sanlam Investment Management company Tega ya Shiimi. Ya Shimi is a Bachelor of Accounting graduate who has worked his way up to this hot seat, having previously worked as Premium Clerk, Broker Consultant and Country Manager. UNAM Forum 20 He recently shared his professional and personal experiences with UNAM Forum. UF: Tega, give us a brief background about your yourself? TS: I grew up in the Donkerhoek suburb in Windhoek. I got a scholarship from the Catholic Church to go to St. Paul. It was hard growing up in the heart of apartheid. As you know Donkerhoek was a target of the apartheid authorities because of Swapo activism in the area. We were harassed and persecuted by the authorities at the time. It was even tough going to school. One needed to create smart ways of getting to school. I remember waking up at 5 o’clock in the morning, getting on my bicycle and taking the back roads to Klein Windhoek in order to attend school. UF: How was it like living in an area regarded as low class, and going to school in a fairly affluent suburb? TS: It opened my eyes to understand classism at its ultimate peak, going to school with predominantly privileged kids
who were so naive towards blacks, the Katutura neighbourhood and the struggle for independence, and on the other hand, staying with mates you grew up with who did not go to school. It is a dichotomy of worlds that I experienced on a daily basis. That experience has made me understand the dynamics of companies like Sanlam. These human traits make me understand what excites people and what discourages them. UF: How would you tie in that experience with your current portfolio? TS: My job as CEO involves matching people and processes to management expectations. It is highly technical. One has to show an understanding of people, because it is people who drive these processes. Some people like being praised with money, while others prefer a holiday or praise in the media. You also have to be tough minded when it comes to principles of the mandate that you are given. You cannot forget the underlying responsibility. UF: What would you say to students aspiring to enter the insurance industry and those dreaming of becoming CEOs? TS: You need to be good on the technical side. You need to have general analytical skills, accounting, finance & mathematics. You need a lot of self confidence, you really need to believe in yourself. You need to sacrifice and be willing to admit mistakes. Just before you came in, I was talking to someone who was telling me that the latest inflation figure is 6.9%. Now, our thinking was that inflation would be at 6% this time of the year. The reality is that it is higher than we expected. We now need to look at the impact this will have on portfolios and the expectation of our clients. So you need to be on the ball about world financial and capital markets, and geo-political factors. You also need to be aware of people’s perceptions and the knock on effect this can have. You must be able to absorb a lot of information. UNAM Forum 21 UF: How did you get to where you are? TS: I joined the Sanlam Group as Country Manager to start of the fi rst third party investment management and portfolio company. We are involved in providing portfolio administration and accounting services to Sanlam Investment Management. I was running the back and front offi ce operations which were later consolidated into one. I was then appointed as Chief Operating Offi cer for Sanlam Investment Management. Along the way I took on new responsibilities in preparation for my current role as CEO of Sanlam Investment Management. UF: Where do you see yourself in the next fi ve years? TS: I would like to see myself contributing to economic growth substantially, whether it is in the form of changing policy or perceptions, opening up doors and avenues for other young people to add value. Old people are very complacent and do not really look for exciting challenges. UF: Any plans of getting married? TS…Haaah….I am still checking out. The time is not right. I won’t fully give of myself right now and it would be unfair to whoever is to become my partner. I get up at fi ve o’clock in the morning and go to sleep slightly after midnight. There has been pressure from the family and colleagues that I get married. They say a person in my position has to show some stability. UF: Who comes to mind as the most important person in your life and why? TS: There are a lot of people who have contributed to what I am. But if you ask me to single out one person, it will be my mother, because of her ability to reassure me of her believe in me. She has been there through it all. UF: What was your most embarrassing moment? TS: It was when I was still a student, waking up in Swakopmund not actually knowing I was there. I have never really quite recovered from that. You need to be good on the technical side. You need to have general analytical skills, accounting, fi nance & mathematics. You need a lot of self confi dence, you really need to believe in yourself. You need to sacrifi ce and be willing to admit mistakes.
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Page 3 and 4: It is always so gratifying to share
Page 6 and 7: 195 UNAM ACADEMICS TRAINED AT LEVEL
Page 8 and 9: VC encourages diversity on SRC... P
Page 10 and 11: UNAM Launches Masters in Security &
Page 12 and 13: Graduation 2007 Pi UNAM Forum 12
Page 14 and 15: SENIOR MANAGEMENT Appointments Prof
Page 16 and 17: Prof André Du Pisani FRENCH Govern
Page 18 and 19: CATHOLIC CHURCH Supports Students T
Page 22 and 23: Photo: Utaara Hoveka UNAM Forum 22

1st Edition 2007 - University of Namibia

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