1st Edition 2007 - University of Namibia

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.