Dear Stakeholder

Reading Siya Kolisi’s Rise, the official autobiography of our beloved Springbok rugby captain, in September was such a great reminder about heritage, specifically how what we inherit and what we pass on can be so different. It also reminded me of how rich and diverse our heritage in South Africa is. I believe that the work of transformation requires that we take a genuine interest in each other’s cultures, and that we develop our cultural intelligence (CQ). Apart from simply learning to appreciate how others see things, there is so much more that we can learn from one another and apply as intentional inclusive actions, moving us closer to our dream of being one unified people.

I am very proud of the work the ASISA Academy is doing through its partnership with the financial services industry to transform the lives of so many people who, like Siya Kolisi, could hardly have imagined climbing a corporate ladder or winning a World Cup. My dream for all of the ASISA Academy’s alumni is that they will find their “seat at the table” just as the two Fezeka Graduate Programme graduates, Moipone Pitso and Coco-Chanel MacMinn, featured in this article in CityWire, found theirs at Sanlam Investments Multi-Manager.

Coco-Chanel MacMinn (left) and Moipone Pitso joined the Sanlam Investments team earlier this year as Junior Investment Analysts after the successful completion of the Fezeka Graduate Programme.

Companies that prioritise inclusion can expect to reap compounding benefits over time. I see so many examples of this in my frequent interactions with the alumni who have come through the ASISA Academy. It is a privilege to be part of these efforts to build a legacy vastly different from what we inherited.

The Fezeka Graduate Programme, which is now gearing up for its third iteration, has been drawing attention to not only the lack of gender diversity in asset management in South Africa, but also to the collective action taken by the industry to address this challenge. Executives at various companies and professional bodies, including the CFA Society and the CFA Institute, have made contact, asking how they can get involved. 

In September, our Fezeka graduates attended their fifth of six work readiness modules. Graduates were required to present to a panel of industry professionals on their research and valuations of various retail businesses. I would like to thank the industry professionals who gave up more than half of their day to assess and support the graduates with developmental feedback.   

Further evidence of the growing reputation of the Fezeka Graduate Programme is that more than 700 applications were received for the 2025 programme! Applications are now closed, and shortlisting is currently underway.

The influx of applications speaks to both the success of the programme and to the continuing need. There are so many promising young Black women looking for an opportunity to get into our industry. To express interest in participating as a host company, a lead employer or by way of a financial contribution please fill out this form. 

OTHER GRADUATE PROGRAMMES

IFA Internship

Five interns from  the ASISA Academy Independent Financial Advisor (IFA) Internship attended the Humans Under Management Conference with me at the invitation of Fundhouse’s Rob Macdonald, who is one of the conference organisers.

Thank you to the IFA practices for releasing the interns to attend this interesting conference that, among other things, reminds us all that humans, rather than numbers, are at the heart of our industry.

The window for student applications for the IFA Internship for next year has closed, but IFA practices can still apply to host interns. To date, almost 300 young people have been through this programme, which has an exceptionally high success rate. Email to find out more

From left: Alicia Davids (ASISA Academy CEO), Philisiwe Sikhakhane (Private Client Holdings), Penelope Mashele (Investonline), Siphoesihle Gqaji (Private Client Holdings), Anelisa Mgcubhe (RF Advice), Siphelele Mjokovana (GTC Financial Advisory Services), and Mike Clare (IFA Internship Programme Champion).  

IMACS@TSIBA

After 10 years in the South African National Defence Force, Hlanganisa Mati found his way into the compliance team at Citadel Investment Services via the ASISA Academy’s IMACS@TSIBA Internship. In the words of his supervisor at Citadel, his [military] training shines through as he tackles every assignment with discipline and dedication. It is clear also that his heart remains in serving his countrymen and women.

Read his full story here.

Anton Berkovitz, Programme Champion for the IMACS@TSIBA Internship (right) congratulates Hlanganisa Mati on his graduation. 

HIGHLIGHTS

UCT Life Insurance Claims Assessors' Short Course

Phumla Motsa, the programme champion for the UCT Life Insurance Claims Assessors’ Short Course, represented the ASISA Academy at the ASISA Underwriting and Claims Conference (AUCC) held in Stellenbosch from 11 to 13 September. In addition to learning about the importance of automation and smart tools, including AI-powered solutions and Insuretech, Phumla said she gained insights into how generational shifts from the Baby Boomers to Generation Alpha are expected to shape markets and future strategies. She also enjoyed the talk on the future of healthcare in South Africa, particularly around creating a sustainable and inclusive National Health Insurance model.

UCT Life Insurance Claims Assessors' Short Course Programme Champion Phumla Motsa at the ASISA Underwriting and Claims Conference (AUCC) in Stellenbosch.

On the back of the success of a series of Online Sprints for Senior Claims Assessors delivered earlier this year, the ASISA Academy will be running a repeat of these 3-hour Sprints during October:

• Financial assessment of claims on 30 October 2024
• Dealing with complaints (including complaints to the Long-Term Insurance Ombudsman) on 6 November 2024

Interested senior claims assessors are invited to enrol here.

Retirement Fund Trustee Education

The ASISA Academy presented a refresher course for trustees who will be writing the External Integrated Summative Assessment (EISA) for trustees. This course, which covered five of our Retirement Fund Trustee Education (RFTE) workshops, was offered free of charge to trustees who had enrolled with Batseta for the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) assessment for the trustee qualification.

Bespoke Courses

The provision of tailored courses continued in September with an Investment Induction Course delivered to Sanlam employees, and a bespoke workshop on The Requirements of Regulation 28 of the Pension Funds Act and The Provisions of Board Notice 90 of the Collective Investment Schemes Control Act (CISCA) for staff at the JSE.

The Academy offers a range of savings and investment courses as well as a variety of bespoke courses for member companies. Please email us to discuss a tailor-made course or workshop for your organisation.

LEARN WITH US

The ASISA Academy is recognised as a Level 1 B-BBEE Qualifying Small Enterprise, with more than 83% of the Academy’s beneficiaries being Black South Africans. This means employers can claim 135% of their skills development spend with the ASISA Academy. Please get in touch with us to discuss how we can support your skills development requirements.

For a complete overview of learning opportunities, please visit the ASISA Academy Learning Calendar.

Please visit our website for more information on our many learning opportunities. We also invite you to interact with us on LinkedIn.

Best wishes

Alicia Davids
ASISA Academy CEO

Forward Email