Making a difference has a special meaning for Eben Maré: a meaning that gives him a great sense of pride and satisfaction. ‘I aim to provide honest and value-added services, advice and results to those I have the privilege of serving. I strive to create sustainable environments that offer the opportunity to grow and advance in life, in a safe positive working culture that promotes excellence and personal well-being, to the people to whom I have the privilege of providing an income,’ he says.
Eben has an opportunity to do all of this as the managing director of FinMan Capital, a company he founded. In 2014, when he was a finalist in the Top 35-under-35 competition, he was a financial director at Cambridge Foods. Over the past years, he has known when to serve and make a difference, and also when to walk out.
When asked if he achieved all the goals he set out for himself in the past ten years, his response is honest: ‘Yes, most of them I have achieved; some by luck, some through hard work, and most through grace. The one goal of joining a recent company and walking a road with the shareholders and colleagues for over ten years did not materialise and was exceptionally difficult to achieve. ‘I wanted to add value and share in the success of the entity, a group of shareholders I have enormous respect for as people and businessmen. The current leader of their business and my ethics did not align, and this played a big part in charting a course with my own business.’
It is not surprising that one piece of advice he gives to young CAs(SA) is that they must never compromise their integrity and ethical duty: ‘Be aggressive in your pursuit of value, but always stay on the right side of what our profession stands for.’ He adds that young CAs(SA) should never ‘stop learning. Work hard and be smart about who you spend your time with, and thereby allow their influence to impact you.’
These valuable words of wisdom obviously come from years of experience.
Why did you change industries over the years?
I wanted to broaden my experience and was fortunate that I learned from companies in furniture, fashion and footwear retail. I obtained exposure in manufacturing too, and a complex sequence of events from a personal perspective, coupled with a difficult but ethical alignment challenge, prompted a change to pursue my own business on a full-time basis.
How did your outlook change on business and life in the past ten years?
I will start with a quote from a person I have come across in my business travels who I admire professionally and personally: ‘There is power in positivity.’ Over the past ten years I have had constant reminders that people can be very busy but not add real tangible value to their shareholders and deliver measurable results – I am ever more committed to delivering real value to people in my personal circles as well as the professional ones.
This requires focus and dedication, with the ability to say no and recognise that you cannot be everything to everyone. I have grown tremendously as a person and made some horrible mistakes. I am fortunate to have gone through those with the privilege of learning from them and re-committing to growing every day. There is an enormous amount that I am learning about myself, life and business – I am excited about everything that still needs to go right in the future!
How did being a finalist change your career?
It has been a wonderful point of differentiation to share in conversation and the learnings from that process with colleagues and mentees since that time. It was exceptional exposure and a wonderful showcase event to have been part of.
What are some of your tips for the next group of finalists?
Never stop learning and actively pursue personal growth through introspection and humility. It forms the basis of any meaningful success. The difference we make in the lives of others outlasts our lifetime, but our achievements cease to be relevant when we are no longer here.
Do good and make this world and yourself better than how you found it. Add real value: tangible and measurable.
Career highlights since you were a finalist?
Navigating a multinational manufacturing concern through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the resulting business restrictions and market contraction.
Successful business optimisation of the AVI fashion and footwear businesses from 2016 to 2019.
Stepping out of a pure financial leadership role into a broader business sphere of responsibility.
What are you most looking forward to in the next ten years?
Learning, growing as a human being, and watching my two sons grow and learn; to be part of their journey and hopefully guiding them to learn from my personal and business learnings of the last twenty-odd years.
I am excited about the opportunities that are emerging post-COVID: artificial intelligence; hybrid and remote working environments; opportunities in South Africa for growth and value add; the ability to service international businesses from South Africa.
Important business lessons from Eben
Asked about the most important business lessons he has learned in the past ten years, Eben highlighted the following:
- Sales are vanity, profit is reality, and cash remains king.
- Be mindful of the people you allow in your space regularly. Their habits (both the positive and the not-so-positive ones) greatly influence yours.
- Listen … To really listen is exceptionally hard.
- Never compromise on the fundamental beliefs you stand for – even if it means leaving the table you are currently seated at.
Author
Mpho Netshivhambe, Publications Administrator, Brand
