Focused investing driven by passion
Investment company manages today’s differences while also preparing for tomorrow’s
SEELAN Gobalsamy uses the words ‘passion and focus’ often. Both appropriate sentiments for the chief executive of one of the largest asset management companies in Africa.
STANLIB is founded on the power of focus and the strength of diversity. Gobalsamy explains “Just think how different the world is today compared to 50 years ago. Change occurs all the time, from year to year and day to day. The world changes in hundreds of thousands of ways every day and if you want to build a financial future in this world then you need an investment company that manages today’s differences while also preparing for tomorrow’s.
“We believe that to be a successful investment company today and tomorrow, requires that we learn from the past, are intently focused on today and thoroughly prepared for tomorrow.”
He continues, “When I look at the pace of technological change and how things have progressed over the years, one thing is very evident: What people needed in the past isn’t the same as what they need today.
“The world and our customer’s needs are constantly evolving. Our parent companies, Standard Bank and Liberty succeeded through focusing on today while planning for tomorrow.
“At STANLIB we have built ourselves on this learning to ensure we can provide, our more than 400 000 customers, with investment excellence. These customers have entrusted us with over R566 billion worth of their assets to ensure we help them achieve financial freedom.
Keeping up with the everevolving needs of our customers is a major focus area and this is why STANLIB has expanded into Direct Property, Infrastructure, Private Equity and Passives.”
He adds, “As an industry leader with a stable and experienced investment team in the fixed income, listed property and equity space, we are now setting our sights on attracting assets in the alternative space.”
Changing lives
Another focus area for STANLIB is also an industry one: To get South Africans to save more and to invest to secure their fi- nancial futures. Gobalsamy recognises the need to improve financial literacy levels: “We need more South Africans to save and to create wealth to secure their futures. July is National Savings Month and the focus has once again been on
When you follow your passion, you love what you do, you work harder and you give more and achieve more
teaching South Africans about saving for the future and improving financial literacy levels for children.
“In South Africa, financial literacy levels are of the lowest in the world and so imparting savings skills and knowledge about investment products to children in our primary schools is a key element in changing the country’s attitude towards saving. Every year, in excess of 550 000 learners write matric and enter the labour market – some without financial skills or even a basic understanding of saving and investing. With many asset managers, investment products and a choice of 1062 portfolios to invest in, our industry is still seen as complex for many South Africans.”
He continues, “As an asset management company, we want to not only provide our customers with appropriate savings vehicles but we also want to make a difference in the communities we operate in. STANLIB has always invested in education and in 2014 we will again be launching our Smartbucks ‘Mind your Moolah’ initiative. We believe that the more financially educated our country, the better off we will be as a nation.”
Leadership Style
Gobalsamy speaks from experience and has always had a love for financial services and making a difference. He has led smaller businesses as well as large corporates in financial services.
He qualified as a chartered account CA(SA) in East London. After running a niche insurer, Prosperity Life, the first black-owned insurance company to be licensed in South Africa by the FSB (Financial Services Board), he joined Old Mutual Employee Benefits as Financial Director and eventually became Managing Director of Old Mutual Corporate. In 2010 he joined the Liberty Group as CEO of Liberty Corporate, and joined STANLIB as CEO in March 2014.
He shares, “I have learned many things about leadership but the thing that stands out most for me is that to get the best out of people, you need to create an environment for people to thrive and realise their potential. A successful leader, he says, understands the people being lead, listens to customers and stakeholders.
He adds, “I achieve a great sense of fulfilment when the people in STANLIB win and achieve. Life is about making a positive difference to others and making the world a better place for our future generations to life in. I am passionate about this. ”
He concludes, “Every person has a reason to up every morning and go to work. Every person has a driver for their ambition and a fire in the belly that inspires to push harder. And. it’s different for everyone. When you follow your passion, you love what you do, you work harder and you give more and achieve more.
“At STANLIB we firmly believe that, provided each person in our organisation is following their passion, this will lead to excellence and success. This will mean success for our people, our customers, our shareholder and the countries we operate in.”
STANLIB is a multi-specialist investment company with a presence in seven countries. Established in 2002, it is wholly owned by the Liberty Group since a merger of the Liberty and Standard Bank Group’s asset management, wealth management and unit trust businesses. This served to cement a history of collaboration that began in the 1960s.
As one of South Africa’s top investment managers the company has received numerous awards for investment performance.