Financial services company RCS, a Top Employer for 2019, is driving new ways of working and empowering employees to take ownership of their career development.
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I am inspired in my ambition to run a successful business because it not only creates job opportunities that put individuals in positions where they are able to support themselves and achieve their dreams, but also their families’, says Regan Adams, CEO of RCS. RCS, a financial services company that was bought by BNP Paribas in 2014 is in the midst of an exciting business transformation. Adams believes that this transformation will be achieved by driving a new culture and new ways of working. It is exactly this belief that informs the HR strategy, which places employees at the heart of the business’ transformation, ensuring that they are equipped and empowered for this change. This strategy was created through a strong collaboration between the local HR team, the business, and support from the BNP Paribas Corporate HR team in Paris. With the solid blueprint in place and the wheels set in motion, the HR team embarked on the journey for RCS to become accredited as a Top Employer. Sandi Richardson, Deputy Head of HR explains that this accreditation is not only a prestigious accolade for RCS but will continue to elevate the HR team’s delivery through the benchmark reports and feedback provided by Top Employer. Richardson says that participation in the Top Employer certification process will deliver a sustained and strengthened performance, supporting the team’s mission to make RCS a great place to work.
Richardson says that this is an exciting time for the RCS team. The HR function have accelerated their own transformation with the introduction of a BNP Paribas sponsored, digital employee tool, called ‘About Me’. This tool is intended to empower employees to take ownership for their career development. ‘About Me’ puts the employee in the driving seat of their career by integrating the individual’s data around their career preferences and professional profiles. The use of algorithms then suggests learning and mobility offerings from both the Learning Management System and Recruitment tools. This tool also hosts the employee’s appraisal (including the functionality for continuous feedback) and personal development plan. The digital nature of the tools means that it promotes transparency, flexibility and accessibility in these fundamental topics.
RCS equips its leaders to lead differently by providing Leadership Development programmes that are not only focused on the technical aspects of transformation but the behaviours required of those entrusted to guide its teams. RCS employs many new entrants to the labour market, particular into its call centre. A host of development programmes are put in place to support the growth of these employees. Some of these initiatives include secondments across the business, an internal graduate programme and financial assistance to fund their tertiary education.
RCS further invests in the wellbeing of its employees by providing holistic, world class wellness facilities both onsite and offsite. These include clinics providing primary healthcare, gyms, fitness classes of varying natures to suit the diverse preferences of its employees and a host of initiatives throughout the year. RCS also invests in the education of the children of their qualifying staff, through its annual bursary programme.
This drive to empower extends beyond the borders of RCS as Adams explains that RCS strives to be an organisation that contributes to the building of South Africa’s nation. This is done through various contributions and the efforts of its employees in a number of organisations and projects that are focused on the upliftment of the communities within which RCS operates.

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Transformation Through People

Africa has experienced stellar growth over the last decade. This growth has been supported by improved political stability, prudent macroeconomic policies, robust commodity demand and a growing consumer base. These factors are set to continue propelling African growth in years.
In the next couple of years, Africa is expected to be a key driver of global growth. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects sub-Saharan Africa to grow by an average of 5.4% between 2012 and 2013, compared to average growth of 1.6% in advanced nations over the same period.
Africa’s contribution to global growth is not going unnoticed. Cash-laden investors, benefitting from developed economies’ loose monetary policies, are looking towards the continent for investment opportunities as markets in developed economies offer less attractive returns.
Many reckon that Africa can capitalize on the economic and fiscal woes of the developed world to claim a bigger share of global growth. This argument is highly plausible. Europe, given its fiscal austerity measures which will constrain growth, is expected to remain in the doldrums for the next decade.
<div id="attachment_617" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-617" class="wp-image-617 size-medium" src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Kofi-Anan-300x182.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="182" />CAPE TOWN SOUTH AFRICA, 05MAY11 &#8211; Kofi Annan, Secretary-General, United Nations (1997 &#8211; 2006)</div>
The opportunity is undeniable for Africa, but with opportunity comes responsibility. As such, WEF’s theme this year could not be more appropriate. Africa is on the brink of major transformation and how this transformation is handled will shape the future of millions of hopeful Africans.
To attain the aspirations of the continent will require out-of-the-box thinking; generating creative ideas that can propel Africa to greater heights. However, ideas, no matter how grand, will remain just ideas if not coupled with bold and visionary leadership. There is no better time than the present for Africans to become doers as opposed to merely talkers.
With the flood of ideas, it is up to African leadership to come to the fore—only when African leaders realize this fact and accept the honor and responsibility of leadership, will these ideas translate into tangible results on the ground.
Unfortunately, Africa leaves a lot to be desired in the leadership category. Political developments in some parts of the continent are evidence of this. This mentality could change with the memories of the Arab Spring still fresh. Recently, the masses in Mauritania protested against President Abdelaziz and his government’s ‘anti-democratic policies’. There is a real risk for unrest in sub-Saharan Africa as people grow increasingly frustrated with poor leadership, which perpetuates underdevelopment and poverty.
Strong leadership is the foundation of Africa’s transformation. Africa needs to invest heavily in both social and economic infrastructure. In terms of social infrastructure, Africa needs to direct significant resources towards health and education. Growth and development will only occur in conjunction with a healthy and skilled population.
According to the World Bank the number of people living in extreme poverty halved in 2010. But more needs to be done, especially in Africa where the challenges are greatest. Robust investment in health and education will go a long way to achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Equally important to social investment is investment in capital infrastructure. Africa needs to direct enormous resources towards infrastructure development to ensure economic growth in years to come.
Regional economic integration has also been highlighted as key to the growth of the continent. According to a 2010 McKinsey &amp; Co. report, intra-African trade accounts for just 12% of the continent’s total exports. By comparison, regional trade in Western Europe accounts for 61% of exports. African leaders need to take the opportunity to boost economic ties between their counterparts and work towards enhancing trade networks to take advantage of the continent’s growing consumer market, thought to be worth at least $860 billion.
African governments have already taken heed. Almost each and every country on the continent has earmarked significant resources in their budget for infrastructure development. South Africa, the continent’s biggest economy, has budgeted R845bn ($108 billion) over the next three years for capital expenditure.
Infrastructure development will be wasted if not accompanied by regulatory enhancements that improve the ease of doing business on the continent. Africa lags behind the rest of the world in terms of the ease of doing business and governments need to eliminate red tape to ensure that their economies are conducive for business. This will ensure that business invests in that economy, which will translate into job creation, in turn denting the continent’s worryingly high youth unemployment.
The fact that 2012’s WEF on Africa being held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is in itself significant. Ethiopia is the second most populous country in sub-Saharan and a prime example of Africa’s fastest growing economies—according to Ernst &amp; Young, Ethiopia is set to grow an average of 7% over the next decade; well above the average growth of 5% predicted for the rest of the continent. WEF Africa will attract global and pan-African leaders who will help shape Africa’s transformation to ensure that the continent takes its rightful place in the global economy.

Tag: Transformation

FORBES AFRICA SOCIAL MEDIA

Transformation Through People

The Time For Africa To Cash In Is Now