Page 45 - KZN Top Business LEADERS-eBook

RUSSELL CURTIS

ussell Curtis is Head of Invest Durban, the would be our primary investment in life.” His pride Russell strives to motivate his team by leading with
city’s investment advisory and facilitation in his family is clear: “My son is now 23, getting a compelling vision. “If you can craft a compelling
authority. However, he wears other hats married later this year, and my daughter is in her vision and lead with that vision, then demonstrate
Rin various business, community, and faith- second year at university. So, an accomplishment your own personal commitment to it, that’s key,” he
based structures. for me is that I’m still married, have two happy, says. He emphasises the importance of ‘proximity’ in
healthy children, and a wonderful network of overcoming team conflicts and challenges. “Where
Russell describes himself as a ‘son of the soil across friends and family.” I find myself in conflict with someone or there’s an
this planet’. Born in Zambia, he grew up in Zimbabwe, obstacle in our relationship, I intentionally go and
spent over a decade in the United States (where he On a professional level, Russell is proud of his work sit myself next to them as often as I possibly can,”
became a citizen), and had stints living and working with Invest Durban. “We started off life as the Durban he explains. “Proximity breeds solidarity.”
in the United Kingdom and Europe. This experience Investment Promotion Agency (DIPA) in the early
has given him a global citizen perspective, but he 2000s, which was an unknown entity in South Africa,” A HIGHER CALLING
remains deeply rooted in Africa ‘as a dyed-in-the- he recalls. “Now, over these last 23-odd years, we’ve
wool African’. He says, “All of us across the Rainbow built it into something that Durban understands, Russell draws inspiration from many sources,
nation, across this continent, proudly see ourselves and it’s woven into the fabric of other investment starting with his faith. “My faith in the Lord God
as Africans, whether we came here by naturalisation promotion authorities around the world. I’m happy to Almighty absolutely inspires me and gives me a
50 years ago or like my ancestors that came here say we’ve leveraged that for Durban’s benefit into the never-ending source of foundation and strength,”
over 300 years ago.” global network.” he says. He also mentions past bosses like Henk
Leenstra, who ran the Nedbank group for KwaZulu-
The journey into work for Russell started at the young ATTITUDE VS ALTITUDE Natal, and global icons like Nelson Mandela. “One
age of 13 doing weekend work in the US. His first full of the traits that run across these leaders, and
time job was at the age of 20 with a fund management Russell reflects that we all get peppered with good even from my faith, is servant-hearted leadership,”
company in the US called First Investors Corporation advice, “if we’re open to it and, more importantly, if Russell notes. “If we can think of others more
as a management trainee. “That’s progressed into we’re willing to implement it.” One piece of advice highly than ourselves, if we can lead our lives self-
financial services, investment advisory and various that stands out for him is that, “Your attitude sacrificially, there’s no higher calling.”
other aspects of Invest Durban,” he explained. determines your altitude”. He added that while he
doesn’t always get things right, he uses his attitude Looking to the future, Russell is optimistic about
JOY IN PURPOSE to correct his course. KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa as a whole. “I think
we’ve entered into a new season, and I’m unashamedly
Reflecting on his life and career, Russell shares that “For Russell, challenges are a constant in life. “Life optimistic,” he says. He sees a “fantastic paradigm
he has found joy in his purpose. “One of the reasons is full of challenges, and I would say every day shift into practical public-private partnerships” over
I’ve been put on this planet is to source, accelerate, presents a challenge to us,” he notes. He doesn’t the next five years. “We’re coming together again,”
and leverage business growth for the benefit of single out any specific challenge, acknowledging he explains, “and that’s what excites me, these
all,” he explains. His vision is to do this in a “globally that “we’ve all gone through them, whether it be stakeholder groups coming together, forgiving the
connected, sustainable, and flawless manner.” He on a work, a family, or a health front.” To overcome past, realising that we hold a fiduciary responsibility
fundamentally believes, “We can’t have islands of challenges, Russell relies on two key strategies: to build our city and nation for our children and
prosperity surrounded by seas of poverty.” For him, keeping faith and hope alive, and persevering. “If grandchildren, and doing it in very practical ways with
building nations through the function of work and you think about it, what were some of the forces combined resources.”
investment is to build lasting relationships. “In doing that brought about change in our country? It was
so, you build the fabric of Shalom, and construct the keeping faith and hope alive, while overcoming the In conclusion, Russell’s motto, especially as it relates
nation together,” he explains. challenges,” he explains. to his children, is simple: “Passion and enthusiasm.
If we can engender it in ourselves and distribute it
When asked about his proudest accomplishment, He added, “The second strategy is more practical – to others, then living with passion and enthusiasm
Russell speaks first about his family. “My wife and perseverance. We may not be the smartest, richest, becomes a habit,” he says. In a more personal family
I have been together for 35 years,” he says. “We fastest, or best-networked, but if you try to out- context, he adds, “Our little family motto is ‘Curtises
battled to have children, so we made the conscious persevere the situation, the detractors, and the are conquerors,’ but we do it in a very servant-
decision that if and when children came along, they challenge, you’ll end up being the last standing victor.” hearted way.”
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