When Sandi Richardson thinks back on her journey in HR, she goes back to a 15-year-old girl trying to choose between PR and HR while navigating high school subject choices.
That early instinct set her on a path that led her to the University of Cape Town, where she was among the early cohorts of a new bachelor of social science degree focused on industrial psychology, industrial sociology and HR management.
After graduating, she headed to the UK where she got her start in a fast-paced HR department at a global investment bank. “I really did start my career in HR from the very bottom scanning papers, because at the time the world was going from paper-based files to online employee files,” she says.
“It was a great opportunity because I got to learn from seasoned HR business partners at work and received exposure to senior business leaders, at a time when a lot was changing in HR and the financial services industry. There was more investment in HR software, and economically, banking was navigating a credit crisis.”
A new chapter began with the birth of her daughter and her father’s declining health, prompting her return to South Africa. “I was very lucky to be at home for some time after having my daughter. Then, after about 18 months, I re-entered the world of work and eventually got the opportunity of my life to start as an HR business partner at RCS.”
Fast forward 11 years, and Sandi now holds the title of HR executive at RCS, a consumer finance company owned by global banking group BNP Paribas. “We are predominantly based in South Africa, but we also expand into Namibia and Botswana. Essentially, we partner with some of the biggest retailers in Africa, servicing over two million retail credit customers.”
Navigating the sector
With nearly 1,300 employees, her role spans the full employee lifecycle and people strategy. But at RCS, her portfolio goes further as she also oversees the teams responsible for real estate, safety and security, and corporate social responsibility.
“The diversity of my role has enabled me to understand the challenges our teams face at a deeper level and in doing so, I am able to service our people and our business more holistically There are many excellent people practices within HR, but if you cannot relate to your employees as human beings or the purpose of your business, then you miss the point.”
Over the years, she’s weathered a range of career milestones from managing offshoring in the UK to navigating South Africa’s evolving employment landscape. And like many, the Covid-19 pandemic forced deep introspection. Transitioning from individual contributor to leader was another turning point. “When you’re no longer just managing your own output but you need to manage the output of others, that's a very valuable lesson.”
When asked whether working in financial services is a conscious decision, Sandi explains “When you’re 21 and starting your career, there’s not much intention. I was lucky to have a solid start, but hard work, and a curious and open mind have kept me in financial services. Twenty years later, I still love it and continue to learn.”
She shares that she has seen the sector shift dramatically, especially with the rise of AI and the influx of Gen Z talent. “They bring a whole new set of perspectives and expectations. We are cautiously adopting AI through very established use cases. I encourage my own team to play with it not just at work, but in their private lives. My advice is always: reconcile your own views, educate yourself about the good and the dark side and protect your information.”
Inclusion, for Sandi, comes down to how safe people feel sharing their views. “If your people freely share their opinion because they feel it’s safe and that opinion is well-informed with the intention of prospering the business, that to me is the definition of inclusion.”
Creating possibilities
RCS backs this up with regular employee surveys and has been recognised as a gender-empowered company.
There’s no question that the culture at RCS has played a role in her longevity. “We have an incredible leadership team. Our CEO and the executive team really get it and intentionally work on our culture. We are not perfect but we can have honest debates, and we fundamentally support each other. Our core purpose is creating possibilities and empowering you. That includes me too. They want to see me grow.”
After hours, Sandi is a proud mom to a teenage daughter, a dog walker, a wife, an occasional bookworm and a family woman.
“I've always loved business. I’ve always admired people who are entrepreneurs, people who create institutions that give people jobs and leave a legacy. I’ve always loved retail too. My first job as a 15-year-old was in retail where I funnily enough was first exposed to the RCS product as a way to pay,” she recalls.
“I’ve also always loved people. I’ve always known that it's people who make everything work.”
And nearly three decades later, that 15-year-old’s gut instinct has never steered her wrong.
