The INN8 Journey: Can you share a bit about your journey at INN8? How did you start, and what has been the most exciting part of your experience so far?

I started with INN8 Investment Platform in May 2022. The most exciting part of my role is, no doubt, the ability to make a positive difference by partnering with wealth managers in KZN to add value by offering a platform that allows them to realise their clients’ strategies in a unique manner. This, coupled with the long-term relationships, makes my experience at INN8 exciting.

Day in the Life: What does a typical day look like for you as a Business Development Manager at INN8? Any interesting or challenging moments that stand out?

The interesting part is that each day is completely different. There are always challenges, as in any role; however, I am backed by a great team of very knowledgeable individuals who roll up their sleeves to tackle challenges.

Also, I can schedule my meetings to avoid traffic 😊—not many people are so fortunate.

I would also describe the wealth managers that I look after as generally 'very chilled'.

Key Learnings: In your role, what are the key skills or insights you've gained that have been crucial for success in business development at INN8?

Insights: Relationship is key to success. It just makes every engagement effortless.

Honesty and remaining ethical are important to me. I have learned that this also projects in one’s persona automatically, and this is probably the most important trait.

Appreciate a wealth manager's time.

Skills: Adjusting to the different audiences in a day according to their social styles. This has definitely been one of the skills I needed to sharpen up.

‍Favourite Project: Could you share a project or client interaction that you found particularly rewarding or memorable? What made it stand out?

This would definitely have to be an assistant’s day that a colleague and I planned together last year. We had so much fun! What stood out for me was the people that you get to connect with outside the office space. I love hearing the feel-good stories; for me, that’s what was the most memorable.

Client Connections: Building relationships with clients is a crucial aspect of business development. Can you share a story about a client interaction that taught you something valuable or left a lasting impression?

Relationships are formed over time; initial impressions really count until we reach the relationship-cementing stage. I met one of my wealth managers in the parking lot. At the time, I didn’t know it was him and held a parking spot for him—in KZN, these gestures are huge. We met at the coffee shop 5 minutes later and had a laugh.

I feel it started a great conversation and left a great impression without me having to pitch to get him to pay attention to what I was going to say. I remember thinking all it takes is to be myself, to be considerate, and to be an open-faced person, and people will gravitate towards that.

‍Challenges and Solutions: Every role comes with its challenges. What's a challenge you've faced as a BDM, and how did you overcome it? Any lessons learned?

I think I am constantly learning, and this role ensures that the learning doesn’t stop. A challenge is definitely being conscious of giving adequate time to wealth managers in my day, week, and month, and ensuring that I am available to them when they need my assistance. One solution is practicing good time and diary management.

A lesson learned is that I need to practice some form of segmentation, whether it be by geographic location or within my panel, to ensure I am productive.

‍Personal Growth: In your time at INN8, how have you personally grown, either professionally or personally? Are there any experiences that have shaped you?

My time at INN8 has challenged me to become a more resilient person. As a target-driven individual, I have really learned self-discipline and to go the extra mile to ensure that the wealth managers have all they need to make informed decisions for their clients. This experience has undoubtedly made me a better person in terms of service and more consistent in focusing on my professional growth to best assist from a knowledge perspective.

‍Advice for Future BDMs: If you could go back and give advice to yourself when you started as a BDM at INN8, what would it be? What advice do you have for someone aspiring to join the INN8 family?

Fortunately, I had a great team that assisted me at the beginning of my role as an SIC at INN8 and really inducted me into the role.

The advice I would give is to hang in there for the long term. Similar to the equity asset class, you have to stay invested and brave out the volatility so you can reap the rewards that await.