Rufaro "Beast" Mapanda

Rufaro "Beast" Mapanda: Head of Equity Trading at ABSA Group

“I wish to be remembered for what I have left in the minds of those I led and mentored – an ability to live and think freely and thus to lead and mentor by being.”

Q1: When did you join The Grind? How did you get to know about the Foundation?

A1: I joined The Grind when it was originally an informal chat group for financial professionals. As conversations and debate about the state of the country and its youth raged on – we found common ground amongst ourselves and moved to formalise this response and address our concerns – thus the birth of The Grind and our first project with Enke: Make Your Mark, back in 2013.

Q2: Tell us about your career journey and where you are today.

A2: Professionally speaking I have always wanted to be regarded as an expert appraiser or, in simple terms, a pricer or valuer of both people and worldly objects. With that in mind I sought to learn how to price “things” both in the short and long term.

Ultimately, I chose the financial markets to be the conduit of that profession. I joined the Bank of America Merrill Lynch in 2007. I worked there through the insanity that was the financial crisis initially in the Investment Banking Team (long term pricing) and then on the Equity Trading Desk (short term pricing).

I left for a two-year stint with RP Capital, a London based Private Equity Fund with telecom and mining investments in West Africa and Eastern Europe, before returning to Bank of America Merrill Lynch on the trading desk with a focus on global miners. I was headhunted by ABSA in 2014 and joined the Equity Trading Team which I now run.

Career wise, I regard myself to be a serial entrepreneur – it is the most efficient vehicle for learning about new ideologies and methodologies – and about how people live and work. A tough endeavor financially but rewarding spiritually that I have been pursuing since my time at university.

Q3: What personal sacrifices have you had to make in your career?

A3: I think my biggest sacrifice has been time – more explicitly personal time – for family, life and love. Unfortunately or fortunately – in any endeavour, personal sacrifice is a must. Sai Baba said a mantra I live by “Life is a song - sing it. Life is a game - play it. Life is a challenge - meet it. Life is a dream - realize it. Life is a sacrifice - offer it. Life is love - enjoy it.” My career, like the mantra above, has been a cocktail of challenges, sacrifices, games and dreams. I would gladly offer the sacrifices again.

Q4: Looking back on the past 2 years, what has been the impact of Covid-19 on you and your family, as well as the way you work? 

A4:  The impact on my family has been tremendous. My family is spread over Africa and Europe – so physical visits have always been a challenge. However – this crisis has forced my family to adapt and communicate more using any and all technologies available. I think we have grown closer while being further part – an ironic but heartwarming twist.

Work has changed dynamically – working from home and other offices has leaped forward exponentially in practicality – we can only get better. I think we now measure performance in actual terms of delivery rather than appearances – the shake-up has been a welcome evolution.

Q5: How do you see the industry in which you work change post-Covid?

A5: I think the world post-Covid will be an exciting one. I believe we have finally been forced to accept innovation and change – to live with them! For too long change was an activity people paid consultants somewhere to hypothesise about and place in Powerpoint! Change and innovation are now living and breathing variables that play a large part of our work and social lives.

Q6: What would you like to be remembered for - what type of legacy would you like to leave?

A6: I am a massive believer in the fact that leadership and mentorship are two sides of the same coin – they are based on the idea of building. Leaders, I believe, are made and built through mentorship – the future leaders of society must be built and mentored by those in positions of influence, power and awareness. A legacy of building young, self-aware people is one that I wish to leave behind. I live to learn and love to teach.

Too little was done by previous generations particularly in Africa – to build capacity and lead by example. We measured success by its distance between those with and without – and never realized that true success and true freedom is the ability to close the gap in ideology and exposure between those with and those without. That is freedom.

I wish to be remembered for what I have left in the minds of those I led and mentored – an ability to live and think freely and thus to lead and mentor by being.

Q7: As we wrap up the year and reflect on where we are, are you happy with what you achieved this year?

A7: In a year and period beset with challenges and obstacles – I am very happy with how things have unfolded. I have lost people important to me but also welcomed a whole new generation of nieces and nephews into an ever-changing world.

I look forward to seeing how bravely we approach the new world in 2022 – as we learn to live and work with the virus and all it has come to mean.

Q8: Which fictional character do you resonate with, and why?

A8: You must indulge me here. My favorite African fictional character is Okonkwo from Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart – because from an early age he taught me the innate strengths and flaws of the archetypal African male – and the dangers of blocking one’s emotions and fearing femininity.

My favorite European classic fictional character is Lizzy Bennet from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice – she taught me how to be honest and proud – while retaining the ability to laugh at my own shortcomings and flaws. To be determined and focused while being human and to be able to see the humour in my own seriousness.

My favorite comic character is Batman – nuff said!

Grind Feed: Rufaro "Beast" Mapanda