MASTER INVESTOR
Wine Estate in December 2011 , I was the CEO of the industrypioneering Auction Alliance and at the pinnacle of a glittering 20- year career .
After being accused by a powerful billionaire of using a ghost bidder to inflate the bid price , my reputation was obliterated . In an echo of the Boxing Day tsunami I survived in 2004 , I was overwhelmed by a media-driven sandal that came at me like the killer waves I escaped in Thailand . Once the face of South African auctions , I sank without a trace .
I was initially overwhelmed and went through a torrid time for five years . But I was not beaten . I launched Inospace and built a whole new business in real estate . The lessons I learnt from suffering disaster and finding the tenacity to survive have been the greatest lesson .
How do you approach risktaking and decision-making within your business ? Can you share an example where a calculated risk paid off ? Many people would not believe it , but I am risk-averse . I suppose
I take calculated risks and try not to put everything on the line when starting a new venture .
When I started Inospace , I initially did it independently but decided to derisk the new company ' s business by finding external shareholders . Those shareholders not only allowed me to share the risk but allowed me to grow far quicker . In what ways do you prioritise corporate social responsibility and sustainable practices within your organisation ? Charity and social responsibility have always been prominent in my career and life . At Inospace , we launched an educational charity called the Red Circle Trust . I use this venture to uplift young entrepreneurs and startup businesses .
Can you highlight any career highlights , achievements you are proud of , and upcoming projects or ventures you are particularly excited about ? The R1,25 billion transaction I did with Fortress Reit was a career highlight . I am extremely excited about a new business called Lisa , which we are spinning out of Inospace . Lisa is a smart leasing
25 APRIL / MAY 2023 SA Real Estate Investor Magazine