What do I do?

I'm a Relationship Manager (Private Banker) at Investec Private Bank. On a daily basis, this means I assist clients with their local and global banking transactional queries, credit applications for personal and business finance, foreign exchange and exchange control queries, and their investment and business banking decisions, while managing risk to both the client and the bank, and building long-term, lasting relationships.

What's been a highlight of your career so far?

I was lucky enough to find a company that's been an excellent fit for me personally right out of university. The people I'm surrounded by daily are driven, ambitious and most importantly authentic, which in turn allows me to be true to myself. I've often been told that you can't take a job based on the people in the team because there's no guarantee that they'll be there for long, but l've found that the people you work with are such a huge part of your day-to-day life, that being surrounded by likeminded individuals who support and appreciate you for who you are has a hugely positive impact on your mindset and the experience you have at a company or in a team.

Looking back, what advice would you give to current students?

Don't let yourself be blinded by the ‘shiny' career choices that everyone seems to be going for. Especially in Commerce, it can often seem that you have to apply for a very specific set of companies that everybody wants to work for, and if that's truly what you want, give it your all. But those aren't for everyone, and if you're pursuing something only because it's the 'right' thing to do, rather than because it's what you're passionate about or even just enjoy, you'll never stand out and it's quickly going to lose its shine.

What are some of the challenges you have faced in your career?

When you're constantly dealing with people, you aren't going to get along with everybody, whether that's your colleague or a client, and not everybody is going to like you. It took me a long time not to take that personally and not let it impact the working relationships I have.

What is the most fulfilling part of your job?

Being an intricate part of helping someone fulfil their goals. Whether that's buying their first home, helping them reach their investment goals, or going on the journey with them from graduation to having their first child - when you have such a personal relationship with your clients, their wins often feel like your wins.