Mapping Investec Innovation

Innovation lives everywhere in Investec

colleagues discussing code around a screen

It is in the DNA of the organisation that innovation sits across the group and within each of us, never in a hub or a dedicated space but is all our accountability and drive. The Venture Builder is an incubation space for new, out of the ordinary ideas that require a home to flourish.

Our innovation philosophy means that each of us are expected to innovate, drive change and dedicate time to continuous improvement and transformation. In the course of our roles, a part of our work. Each day, every day.

Other initiatives that seek to talk about innovative ideas are

Young Leadership Council

FinTech Partnerships & Innovation

Corporate & Institutional Banking

Product Optimisation & Development (POD) Ideas Hub

Wealth & Investment

Young Leadership Council

With four generations currently occupying our workforce we have a unique opportunity in leveraging the difference in how our young people think, act, perceive the world and define value providing a different lens and opportunity to our traditional way of doing business.

With this in mind, our aim is to embed an aspirational space for our young professionals through establishing two global development initiatives: (1) Young Leaders Council and (2) Reverse Mentoring Programme. These initiatives are aimed at people aged 35 and under, who represent a multitude of diversity and experience.

How it is run

Four sub-councils.
Council members have the option to choose a problem statement that they would like to work on, thus forming the councils.
Each council has an OD consultant as well as a sponsor to lend thinking and provide access.
The problem statement chosen by each sub-council is the means by which council members can share their views around strategic work in the business. Here, we engage young talent in strategic thinking and provide them with the opportunity to shape the strategic initiatives of our business.

For more information please contact Edgar Maghoma: Edgar.Maghoma@investec.co.za

FinTech Partnerships & Innovation

Investec prides itself on having an entrepreneurial culture and innovation is critical to driving Investec’s growth and helping our clients succeed.

The Innovation and Fintech Partnerships team coordinates high priority internal innovation initiatives focused on ideating, validating and building bold solutions and new businesses.

The team aims to accelerate our growth by seeking out innovation both internally and externally by assisting different businesses on their innovation journey, and seeking opportunities to partner with external innovators. A key focus will be exposure to next horizon approaches and disruptive technologies.

This drives fresh strategies, partnerships across the business and access to new revenue models. This in turn modernizes the way we work and learn, embedding an ‘intrapreneurial’ culture.

The team supports business units from the spark of an idea, prioritization and on to MVP launch. In addition, the team also aims to identify and create new business value by actively collaborating with external stakeholders, Fintechs and the innovation ecosystem.

For more information please contact Camilla Swart: Camilla.Swart@investec.co.za

Corporate & Institutional Banking

Collaboration between Investec Corporate and Institutional Banking, Private Bank, Digital and Tech teams in South Africa to focus on leveraging the developer community in South Africa to co-create and drive product development and execution.

Creating challenges to solve business problems and creating a mechanism for collaboration between internal teams and external parties (developer community / partner networks) to co-create.

For more information please contact John Singlam: John.Singlam@investec.co.za

Product Optimisation & Development (POD) Ideas Hub

The Product Optimisation and Development (POD) team is ultimately responsible for defining the ‘why,’ ‘what,’ ‘how’ and ‘when’ of the Investec Private Banking offering.

The team gets to look at some interesting, shiny and new concepts (product development). However, a large part of our role is ensuring the various components of our current offering to clients is still relevant and works as it should (optimisation).

Through collaboration, we can discover and action the best ideas and innovations from anyone whose experience can help Investec do things better.

Have any product or proposition ideas? Send your thoughts to PODideasHub@investec.co.za, and a member of POD will get in touch.

For more information please contact Tebogo Kganyago: Tebogo.Kganyago@investec.co.za

Wealth & Investment

Innovation is at the heart of the evolution of W&I over the past two decades – beginning with Stockbroking capabilities and metamorphosising into an International Wealth Management and Investment business today. Driven by being connected to the pulse of the industry, changing client needs and behaviour, global trends and an entrepreneurial culture of excellence, innovation is held within our DNA.

Ideas are generated, celebrated, debated, and delivered within teams and leaders based on shared challenges and cognitive diversity through problem solving, as well as through various forums. As a business we strive to not only remain competitive in a complex, dynamic world but to also consistently seek out opportunities that enhance our unique value proposition which is founded on quality growth and shared purpose. This, coupled with the pillars of our organisational culture ensures that innovation lives in the minds, hearts, drive and behaviour of all our people.

For more information please contact Maxine Gray: Maxine.Gray@investec.co.za

Mapping Innovation in the Group

Where does my idea go?

Submit your venture

Think you’re the right person with the right idea for the Venture Builder?*

* The application page is not accessible on mobile as it is locked and only available to Investec employees. To submit a pitch please access this part of the site on your laptop or PC.