The CEO advocates to bodies like the G20 and challenges ratings agencies, arguing that the perceived risk of African projects is higher than the data supports. This aims to lower the risk premium, unlocking more capital for the continent.
The CEO of Africa's largest bank states they strategically avoid being on the cutting edge. This "fast follower" approach allows them to adopt proven innovations responsibly while avoiding the high costs and risks of being a pioneer.
Companies like Optasia leverage mobile phone usage data from telecom partners to provide small loans to millions of unbanked individuals. This model of financial inclusion has created highly valuable "unicorn" companies on the continent.
CEO Sim Shabalala argues that a bank's largest risk factor is "country risk." By promoting societal growth and inclusion, the bank creates a more stable operating environment, which directly reduces its cost of capital and debt.
Sim Shabalala's firsthand experience with financial exclusion during apartheid directly informed his leadership and the bank's broader purpose of fostering growth for entire communities, moving beyond a narrow focus on just shareholders.
Using the historical parallel of ATMs, CEO Sim Shabalala argues that AI won't eliminate human roles but will automate routine tasks. This frees humans for higher-order work involving empathy, complex problem-solving, and valuable client interaction.