I recently had the privilege of listening to Brand Pretorius, the legendary former CEO of McCarthy, speak on “In the Driving Seat.” His reflections on leadership resonated deeply with me. Having founded RFS Fund Administrators twenty-five years ago, I realised how closely my own journey mirrors the principles he described, principles that have quietly underpinned our company’s growth and reputation over the past quarter century.

Pretorius spoke of ‘authentic leadership’, leading with integrity, humility, and sincerity. From our first day at RFS, I believed that trust is earned not through grand speeches but through ‘consistent action’. When staff, clients, and trustees see that you mean what you say, every time, they begin to trust not only you, but the institution you represent.

He also emphasised ‘servant leadership’. True leaders serve their people, not the other way around. This philosophy has shaped our culture. We have always seen ourselves as ‘custodians’, not controllers, serving members, trustees, employers, and regulators with a sense of moral duty. In our industry, which touches the lives of thousands of pensioners and families, this responsibility can never be taken lightly.

Pretorius reminded us that leadership requires ‘courage and accountability’. In difficult times, one must not hide behind committees or consultants. I have learned that even unpopular decisions, taken with fairness and transparency, strengthen an organisation’s character.

Finally, he spoke about ‘vision and values’ — that a business must have a clear purpose beyond profit. At RFS, our purpose has always been to provide a truly Namibian, professional, and ethical pension fund management service. We have grown not because we chased numbers, but because we pursued ‘excellence through values’.

As I listened to Pretorius, it struck me that leadership is not about the destination but about ‘the journey’, the daily commitment to honesty, service, and accountability. The exceptional success of RFS over the past 25 years is, in essence, a reflection of those timeless principles behind the wheel.