The morning of May 20 was the perfect setting for a networking breakfast event that promised to ignite new connections and collaborations. Industry-leading executives and ambitious business minds filled The Country Club Johannesburg with an electrifying buzz as they prepared to be equipped and empowered by our incredible speakers and panelists.
For those who could not join us, here are some highlights to give you a mini dose of FOMO 😉. And if you were one of our attendees, we’d love to know some of your favourite takeaways – share with us in the comments.
Keynote Address
Ivor Polo, CA (SA), Head of Private Banking Johannesburg at Investec, delivered the keynote address with the right balance of energy, originality and humour. We loved hearing all about his journey to leading a team at one of the best private banks in the country; a journey that was a combination of valuing relationships, grabbing opportunities that presented themselves along the way, and working hard in every role he found himself in.
What did we take away?
- Relationships are your currency to trade
- Don’t take credit for other people’s work
- Understand the context and cultural nuances of the environment you work in
- You build your own brand by showcasing other people’s strengths
- Not everyone will like you, and that’s okay
Essentials for your investment portfolio
Duma Mxenge, Business Development Manager at Satrix, took us through a mini-masterclass on the world of investing. He succinctly explained the ins and outs of investing in equities and how ETFs fit into the world of shares. He also gave us a view of where South Africa fits into the global equity space and encouraged us all to eventually think globally when it comes to our investments.
What did we take away?
- We were encouraged to invest in ETFs as they give us access to the whole market and in this way, diversify our portfolio. With Satrix’s Top 40, one single offering gives you access to multiple companies. This is a great place to kick off your investing journey.
- The equity market is very volatile, but if you stay the course, even with all the market corrections, you’ll see that equity as an asset class does better than property.
The message when it comes to investing is clear: stick it out, and you’ll see returns over the long run.
One nugget we’d do well to remember is what Duma described as “people proofing”. This is putting aside enough funds so you can walk away from toxic workplaces and toxic leadership that can eventually affect your mental health negatively. For those who struggle with sticking to financial goals, could this be a financial goal worth pursuing? It was a game-changer.
Panel discussion – leadership insights from seasoned executives
Moderated by the ever-so-vibrant Oletilwe Mogashoa, Head of Business Development at Old Mutual Corporate, the panel discussion left us inspired and empowered. Our panelists were:
- Nthabiseng Mutisya – Talent Management Director at Pepsico, South Africa, West, East and Central Africa
- Udumo Mazhindu CA (SA) – Associate Director in the audit and advisory divisions of PKF Octagon.
- Ivor Polo, CA (SA) – Head of Private Banking Johannesburg at Investec
So many valuable perspectives were shared and discussed.
- Nthabiseng opened our eyes to the characteristics that organisations look for when promoting someone to a leadership position. Some of these attributes include being agile and responsive. In a constantly evolving world, companies are looking for leaders who are very comfortable with change, flexible and able to think critically.
- We loved Ivor’s emphasis on social capital and how greatly it counts in leadership. He addressed the topic of vulnerability and how it builds a relationship of trust within your team.
- Udumo’s recount of his journey to success was refreshingly sincere and inspiring. In addition to hard work and effort, we enjoyed hearing about how his reputation for being a “fixer” led him to where he is today. Imagine having your clients offer you work because you are so good at solving problems 👌🏾. He encouraged us to find something we are good at and run with it. “Find your niche, find your thing and stick with it.”
Thank you to all our panelists for your refreshing contributions. Much of what was shared will certainly stay with us. In the words of almost everyone on the internet, “you just had to be there.” 😀
We were also thrilled to have three participating businesswomen showcasing their excellence:
- Salome Njwezana – Founder & CEO of the Candelery
- Dr. Boitumelo Phetla – Co-Author and Founder of Heaven on Earth
- Sarah Kgomo – Founder & CEO of Monni Skincare Therapy
Ladies, having you showcase your businesses at our event was fantastic.
And a hearty thanks to Satrix, all our partners, our speakers and MC for yet another successful event. We hope to see you all, familiar faces and new ones, at our next event!
About Mustard Seed
Mustard Seed is an organisation founded in Johannesburg, South Africa with the vision to connect, inspire and equip ambitious entrepreneurs and professionals across Africa. We are here to support you as you chase your dreams!
Connect with our community to kickstart or advance your investment portfolio, network with like-minded people, identify a mentor and get support from established entrepreneurs.
