Standard Bank: Learning and development are embedded in our culture

Driving change at Standard Bank reverberates beyond our product and service offerings.

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Erik Olwagen, Head, Offshore Distribution

My journey with Standard Bank began in 2014. My first role was as an Offshore Manager sourcing sales as my key objective. Shortly after, I moved into a Provincial Manager position where I took on the responsibility of distribution for 60% of our offshore business throughout South Africa. Thereafter, I was promoted to Head of Distribution for International Personal Banking across South Africa, which continues to evolve and I'm now responsible for distribution across all Africa Regions.

The most important aspect of my role is to connect with people and empower them to fulfil their objectives. Working across jurisdictions makes it challenging but it is always satisfying when you achieve results and overcome obstacles together. Whether it relates to your employees or clients, the aim is to give people the best experience possible whilst delivering financial results.

As a leader, having the right talent is about more than being able to generate revenue for the business. We’re looking for individuals who are high performers with a natural ability to solve problems, work with different teams, constantly look for solutions and develop ideas that elevate our products and service offering.?We look to build teams of people who take ownership of their work, and can be held accountable to execute, whilst also admitting if they made a mistake so that they can learn and move on without procrastinating on the past.

Whilst Standard Bank Offshore is a relatively small business unit in the grand scheme of things, the Bank keeps us all connected and informed. What goes for one region is usually offered to the others, so everyone feels included within the business. Whilst the various jurisdictions we operate in are complex and varied, Standard Bank Offshore wants to break down any barriers to serve our clients and be willing to find solutions that cater to our clients’ global needs. In such a large organisation, it could be hard to achieve this, especially if the origin is not in your ambit of influence, however, there is that drive to get the results we desire.

Through our platform, the business is constantly driving change and is very much aligned with Standard Bank Group’s strategy.?We never shy away from tackling a challenge in any of the areas we operate in. Instead, we have responded to an industry that is advancing by the day. We have harnessed the power of innovation, an open mind, and taking bold steps to overcome the complex nature of the business.

We are evolving in line with the times and engaging with modern technologies that are positioning our organisation in the present space in which our clients exist. For a bank that has been around since 1862, we are staying true to the purpose of driving Africa's growth, integrating new systems, and becoming more automated to give our clients the easy and enjoyable experience they are looking for.

This is the essence of what success means to us as Standard Bank employees. If we are all collaborating across jurisdictions and functions keeping the client at the centre of it all, we learn and overcome any obstacles in future scenarios and serve our clients and shareholders to the best of our ability.

Driving change is at the heart of what we do, and I can proudly say that this reverberates beyond our daily roles and service offerings. There have been several joint ventures where Standard Bank has supported social, economic, and environmental initiatives. In our offshore jurisdictions and across Africa, we make an impact by discovering new solutions to social, economic, and environmental concerns. We look for ways to assist our clients and workers in achieving success, prosperity, and fulfilment.

These projects pull everyone together from across the different jurisdictions to achieve a common goal. Some examples are the Ripple Effect, Walkathon & Qhubeka 'Play a Part' initiatives – each with its own unique objective. In 2021, 82 of our employees joined the Relay for Hope challenge, travelling an incredible 14 000 miles and raising over ￡14 000 (R273 539). We also encourage our local teams to take part in initiatives that are close to their hearts. Recently, our team based in KwaZulu-Natal raised funds for a family whose home was ravaged by the devastating floods in April this year. The Bank is always willing, pound for pound or rand for rand – to match what you raise.

On an environmental level, Standard Bank has partnered with Climate Partner to reduce our emissions to reach carbon neutral in 2022. We’ve been self-reflective on our products and how they are situated within society. New Environmental, Social, and Governance related products have been introduced as we are committed to consulting, engaging, and partnering with our stakeholders, as well as transparently reporting on progress.

Our leaders play an important role in aiding this journey of growth with their innate ability to get the best out of our teams. The environment we are exposed to promotes the sharing of information, a willingness to help others find solutions, and a system that encourages mentorship. Learning and development are two key factors embedded in the fabric of our culture - every day is a school day and an opportunity to retain new knowledge.

There are a variety of development and leadership tools to their staff, several leadership programs, and mentor-mentee programs on offer. Anyone willing to invest the time to develop themselves will not struggle to do so. I have yet to meet anyone within the group that refuses to help another. That is why Standard Bank is such a wonderful place.