A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A DBSA GRADUATE

Which degree did you study and at which institution?

I hold a Bachelor of Social Science Honours Degree in Development Studies from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Which division and unit do you work within at the DBSA?

I work under the Financing Operations Division, across the Environment, Social and Governance Unit, as well as the Operations and Evaluations Unit.

Which DBSA value do you most associate with and why?

While I appreciate all DBSA values, I resonate most with high performance. The greatest leaders are committed to giving out their best and contributing to their organisation’s successes and improving the lives of others. The culture of high performance is fully entrenched at the DBSA. It is a pleasure to work with colleagues who are motivated to succeed.

What does a typical work week in your life look like?

My typical work week involves tackling a variety of challenging but interesting projects. If I am not at the office chasing a deadline or supporting my team on various activities, I am on-site conducting due diligence and engaging with other project stakeholders. 

How would you describe your experience of the DBSA Graduate Programme?

It’s an experience I wouldn’t trade for the world. I have been involved in tasks and projects that have stretched me out of my comfort zone. The Junior Management Programme and Mentorship Programme have also played a significant role in providing me with key tools to maneuver in both my personal and professional development.

What are your future aspirations?

Some of my key aspirations include living a purposeful life, being a well-capacitated leader and making a mark in “Building Africa’s Prosperity”.

If you could invite three people to your “last supper”, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

• Jesus – To make sure I am in his good books before we head to the gates of heaven.
• Trevor Noah – He’s one of my favourite comedians. I would need a very good “last laugh”.
• My mother – I’d definitely love my last warm African cuisine she would prepare.

Which degree did you study and at which institution?

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Law (LLB) from the University of Fort Hare.

Which division and unit do you work within at the DBSA?

I started in Infrastructure Delivery Division Legal. I have since rotated to Governance and Compliance within Supply Chain Management.

Which DBSA value do you most associate with and why?

I mostly associate with “integrity” since it forms part of my personal values. I never want to do anything that will put my character, my family and the organisation I work for in disrepute.

What does a typical work week in your life look like?

I start my mornings with a proper breakfast, attend meetings and then start reviewing documents either for Group Executive submissions or for Supply Chain Management Committee.

How would you describe your experience of the DBSA Graduate Programme?

It is everything I had hoped for. The exposure, the colleagues and the support from our Grad Manager are absolutely incredible. 

What are your future aspirations?

I aspire to be the best version of myself.

If you could invite three people to your “last supper”, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

1. My mom – She is my pillar of strength. I would die in peace knowing I spent the last supper with her.
2. My dad – He passed away in 2012. I would love for him to witness the woman I have become. I know for sure he would be proud of what I have achieved.
3. Mr James Nyanzi – He is my high school teacher. He believed in me when I did not believe in myself. When facing an obstacle, I always remember his words of encouragement.

Which degree did you study and at which institution?

BA Journalism at the University of the Free State.

Which division and unit do you work in at the DBSA?

Communication, Marketing and Events (CME) – Internal communication.

Which DBSA value do you most associate with and why?

High Performance – this value aligns with me the most because I am in a service- and client-orientated field, where you must always deliver consistent quality work, while showing accountability and integrity. 

What does a typical work week in your life look like?

Honestly, no two days are ever the same. Some days I am doing my day-to-day functions of the CME office, like updating the intranet, responding to online queries via DBSA webmaster mailbox or writing bank wide briefs. The next day I would be planning an event for the employees and have to deal with all granular details to make sure that the event is a success.

How would you describe your experience of the DBSA Graduate Programme?

It has been a fantastic experience in terms of career growth and field work. I get exposure to clients, stakeholders and business partners. These opportunities help enlighten me on how my profession works and which players are important on the business continuum.

Above all, the graduate programme has been a great learning experience towards being inducted into the corporate world. It allows you to learn from your mistakes without being hard on yourself. I have also built valuable friendships and good relations with my fellow graduate mates.  

What are your future aspirations?

I would like to become a seasoned professional within my field and potentially lead the institution from an executive level within the next decade. I also wish to lead the CSI team and implement more change in our communities and fully drive the big “D” in our DBSA name. 

If you could invite three people to your “last supper”, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

Al Pacino – The man is a legend, a true king of the big screen. I’d love to see him in person.

Drake – Who does not like Drake and his music? His presence would make for a great table conversation. I relate a lot to his power of manifestation and speaking what you want into existence. He is my idol.

Cristiano Ronaldo – My GOAT, he is a true example that hard work forever pays. I love this guy’s career trajectory and life path. He lives life to the fullest. At the dinner table, I assume he would find time to teach me Portuguese.

Which degree did you study and at which institution?

BCom Honors in Economics at the University of the Free State.

Which division and unit do you work within at the DBSA?

Origination and Client Coverage Division, Strategic Investment Partnerships Unit.

Which DBSA value do you most associate with and why?

Service oriention. I believe we are all called to a life of servanthood in one form or another and that accomplishing our goals and finding our purpose is not only limited to our individual benefit but extends to those whose lives are linked to our destiny. 

What does a typical work week in your life look like?

My work week predominantly comprises of:

• Engagements with the bank’s existing and/or new strategic partners both locally and internationally.
• Conducting market research on potential business opportunities.
• Assist in coordinating the Group Executive’s participation in business development and knowledge sharing forums.
• Attending virtual and in-person conferences for the purpose of identifying business opportunities.
• Engaging with internal teams on investment opportunities.
• Compiling project screening documentation for internal committee approval.

How would you describe your experience of the DBSA Graduate Programme?

The programme has offered me the opportunity to rotate to different units/divisions in order to get a holistic picture of how the DBSA operates.  

If you could invite three people to your “last supper”, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie – in addition to being a phenomenal writer, her values on gender equality and how it can be achieved make her a compelling dinner guest. 

Mother Teresa and Martin Luther King Jr: I’m inspired by how they dedicated their entire lives towards serving people and placed the needs of others before their own.

Which degree did you study and at which institution?

Bachelor of Commerce in Actuarial Science specialising in Quantitative Finance 
University of Cape Town. 

Which division and unit do you work within at the DBSA?

Credit Lab in the Financial Operations Division rotated to the Asset and Liability Management team within the Balance Sheet Management Unit – Treasury Division.  

Which DBSA value do you most associate with and why?

Service Orientation: “We deliver responsive and quality services that speak to the need of our clients and continuously build relationships that result in mutually beneficial outcomes.”

In my day-today tasks, I unfortunately do not get to interact with clients at all. Both of my roles can be described at middle office functions. Fortunately, I recently had the privilege of taking a road trip down to the South Coast. With every new municipality, I could recall a waterboard that was supported by DBSA funding or the Noupoort Wind Farm, in the Northern Cape, that the Bank was integral in funding. The trip gave me a deeper, more concrete understanding of the service impact that our work has and the important role that the DBSA plays in the building and maintaining of relationships with our clients (especially the most vulnerable municipalities).

What does a typical work week in your life look like?

Thanks to DBSA’s hybrid working model, I come to the office two to three times a week, depending on the engagements I have planned for that week. 

Credit Lab:
A typical day begins with a quick team meeting just to touch base and update the team on the progress of team and individual projects. My typical work week is rather autonomous. I liaise with credit analysts and investment officers to complete credit ratings for various clients. Ratings take differing amounts of time depending on the complexity of the project or the model being used. Team projects as well as ad-hoc individual tasks take up varying amounts of time depending on their urgency. 

ALM:
This week is much more unpredictable. The ALM is responsible for managing any financial risks that arise as a result of the bank’s operations (forex risk, liquidity risk, interest risk and debt concentration). The week is spent monitoring the positions that the bank holds and optimising them where appropriate. The ALM team also performs an advisory role to multiple front-line departments while also being involved in various capital market funding operations. A typical week would involve multiple meetings with internal teams (from finance, coverage, and so on) and external capital structuring teams from investment banks that the DBSA has relationships with. 

How would you describe your experience of the DBSA Graduate Programme?

The journey over the past two years has been very stretching (a term I encountered in our Henley Business School Advanced Certificate in Management Practice). It’s a very well-structured programme whose purpose is to impart knowledge and experience while making material difference in the teams we are a part of. The programme has introduced me to many brilliant young minds who are my peers and has enriched my understanding of the impact that ethical, sustainable financing can have on the lives of Africans on the continent. It’s been an inspiring journey that makes me aspire to do better.

What are your future aspirations?

“To be happy” – Beyoncé 

If you could invite three people to your “last supper”, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

Jesus Christ, The Prophet Mohammad and the Buddha. 

It would be interesting to have a conversation with three of the founders of the biggest religions in the world. Among many other topics, I would make sure that we talk about my life as I’ve lived it so far and what I should look forward to in the afterlife.

Which degree did you study and at which institution?

Master of Management in Finance and Investment. (MMFI), University of the Witwatersrand (Business School)

Which division and unit do you work within at the DBSA?

The Infrastructure Fund under the Infrastructure Finance Unit

Which DBSA value do you most associate with and why?

“High performance” is the DBSA value I associate with the most with. It speaks to the level of contribution I want to make in the unit and division I work and it also addresses the level of effort that would be required to see real positive change in the industry my division operates in.

What does a typical work week in your life look like?

• There is client faces activities in the form of roadshows online or in person we all get a turn to present;
• Stakeholder engagement in the form of managing the meeting pack for the PSC meetings or outcome documents;  
• A portion of the day is check-in meetings with of the 4 units part of the Infrastructure Fund on work in progress;
• I make time to speak to my designated mentor within the bank on a weekly basis,
• The individual work includes draft a variety of reports to be reviewed by my team member for consideration for MANCO;
• Tracking project information for the programme management unit; and 
• Preparing documents required for internal auditing season, etc.

How would you describe your experience of the DBSA Graduate Programme?

• I enjoyed interacting with the other graduates;
• The orientation in the beginning was comprehensive;
• The support from HR was there;
• There has been an open door policy;
• One got a good qualification from Henley out of the process;
• There has been much needed exposure in terms of the unit I am in so I am grateful; and 
• Opportunities for internal and external training has been provided for career development.

What are your future aspirations?

To become a transactor (1st priority) or an investment banker (if the opportunity presents itself) one day.

Your favourite movie/series/book? 

Movie: “Rush Hour 1”

Which degree did you study and at which institution?

Bachelor’s degree of Information Technology in Business Systems at IIE Rosebank College Africa

Which division and unit do you work within at the DBSA?

Data Management Unit under the Information & Communication Technology Division

Which DBSA value do you most associate with and why?

Innovation

As much as I identify with the other values, Innovation stands out for me because it represents the search of new and better ideas, solutions, and products that can improve people's lives and the world we live in. It fosters creativity, curiosity, and a desire to take chances, experiment, and learn from failure.

What does a typical work week in your life look like?

I currently perform two duties that go hand in hand, which are business analysis and data analysis. So the amount of time required to complete a certain task depends on various factors such as the amount of data, information accessibility, resource availability amongst other things. The following exercises don’t necessary happen weekly, but give an overview of my responsibilities:

Requirements elicitation: Gathering business requirements from stakeholders through online sessions and questionnaires.
Facilitating sessions: Often facilitate sessions for User Acceptance Testing (UAT) once a project is completed or a project module is completed. (e.g. Test cases for Dashboards)
Collecting and cleaning data – Collect, profile and clean data from various sources to ensure accuracy and complete data. Systems include CRM, SAP, DocuSign, etc.
Analyzing data - Analyze data to identify patterns, trends, and insights, using analysis techniques – using software such Excel, SQL, and Alteryx amongst others.
Creating reports Collaborating with other teams: I work with other functional teams to make data-driven decisions, presenting findings, answering questions and make changes.
Provide Support: Provide system support and ad-hoc training for systems such as CRM and DocuSign.

How would you describe your experience of the DBSA Graduate Programme?

It's been incredible so far; I've learned a lot, applied what I've learned at tertiary, and gained a lot of experience. I've noticed improvement in myself and the quality of my work. Tertiary education is very different from the corporate world, but DBSA has been amazing.

What are your future aspirations?

To advance my career in data science, so that as a certified and effective data scientist, I can make real and visible change to organizations before moving into management.

If you could invite 3 people to your “last supper”, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

• I would definitely invite my family for my last supper but besides them, it would be:
• Steve Jobs. – I would want to understand his thinking around design and setting the standard for growth. I also liked his videos on YouTube.
• Elon Musk – He has defined Innovation and technology with his ventures from electric cars to reusable rockets. And also because he is South African and one of the richest people in the world.
• Kanye West – because of his artistic vision and his willingness to push boundaries. He is a creative.