Foreword


F


society and to make this an integral part of the strategy we published in March. We have chosen growth as our measure of success, but this is in a much broader sense than returns for our shareholders. We are going to be an active agent that facilitates growth for our clients, customers and the communities we serve.


In line with this, we will play a shaping role in society by bringing fresh thinking and ideas to the table in order to help solve some of society’s and our clients’ intractable problems. By this, we don’t mean what has been known as corporate social investment, but a broad spectrum that includes innovative products and solutions and how we think about major corporate decisions. We want to ensure that these offer lasting benefits to all, including our colleagues and shareholders.


We are


going to be an active


agent that facilitates growth for


our clients, customers and the


communities we serve.


Gradient Issue 2 9


This is not going to be easy because it requires a total shift in mindset, thinking differently about our individual and collective responsibilities because we want to serve a higher societal purpose. This also means thinking about and actively supporting preservation of our natural resources and environment, and choosing very carefully what we do and do not get involved with.


For instance, while we finance the university studies of more than 3 000 young people across the continent each year, we also have to concern ourselves with the structural problems that make it so difficult for high school graduates to access good-quality higher education and training. This means working with policy-makers and other concerned stakeholders to resolve issues of inclusive economic growth, which in Africa will be fuelled partly by improving the success rates of small, micro- and medium-sized enterprises.


We have already begun this shift and will, for instance, fully participate in the land reform and restitution policy discourse currently underway. We are collecting additional data and inviting the input of experts in order to develop proposals that will contribute to a sustainable national solution to the land issue. By participating actively in this process, we will be serving the broad interests of society and those of our clients, who are also members of society in any event. The point here is that the two do not necessarily contradict.


Africa’s challenges will possibly never be resolved adequately if all of us are merely concerned with protecting our own turf. We have to work very hard to find solutions of which future generations will be proud.


I am delighted that this edition of Gradient magazine focuses on this very important topic. I hope you will enjoy the insights contained therein.


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