The Monocle Banking Podcast

Ep 19: A Formula for Success, in Banking and in Life

With only a few days under the belt in her new role as CEO of the FirstRand Group, it was a privilege to be joined by Mary Vilakazi on the Monocle Banking Podcast.
Mary shares with Michael Avery her inspiring career journey and what it means to be the first black female CEO at FirstRand. They also explore her view on how banks need to strike the right balance between future prosperity and current day prudence and what we need to do better as a country to succeed.

Ep 18: SA Banks: Delivering in a Difficult Market

The South African Banking industry is diligently producing strong financial results in the face of challenging macro-economic headwinds. To unpack how they are achieving this, Michael Avery is joined on the Monocle Banking Podcast by Riviaan Roopnarain, Partner at PwC.
Together, they unpack what has been driving the banking sector's success, delve into the importance of digital transformation, and discuss what we can expect going into 2025.

Ep 17: Banking on Turbulence: Key Industry Trends for Bankers

From navigating the impact of politics on regulations, to strategies for dealing with interest rate fluctuations, Michael Avery sits down with Pierre Romagny, Partner at Oliver Wyman, to unpack key trends shaping South Africa's banking industry in 2024.
As customer experience becomes ever more crucial in the digital age, the discussion delves into the most promising applications of AI for South African banks and revamping digital UX to compete with global tech giants.

Ep 16: One Year After SVB: Why We Should Expect More Bank Failures this Year

Today, the 11th of March 2024, marks the end of the Fed’s ‘Bank Term Funding Programme’ – an initiative set up to support the US banking industry post the collapse of SVB, Signature Bank, and First Republic Bank this time last year.
The conclusion of this support programme sets up a timely discussion on the Monocle Banking Podcast between Michael Avery and Monocle’s CEO, David Buckham, on whether the US banking sector is in a better (or worse) place than this time last year.www.monoclesolutions.com

Ep 15: South Africa: A Country in Need of Change

Roger Jardine, ex-Chairperson for FirstRand and leader of newly formed political party Change Starts Now sat down with Michael Avery to share his vision for South Africa.
Having served in both the public and private sector, Roger provides a balanced perspective on what both sectors need to do to balance the country's social needs and economic imperatives. He also openly shared why he started ‘Change Starts Now’ and the implications of their sudden withdrawal from the 2024 elections. 

Ep 14: An Economists Perspective: How to un-F**k a Country

Dr Roy Havemann, our latest guest on the Monocle Banking Podcast, brings a unique perspective on the South African economy in his conversation with Michael Avery.
As CEO of consultancy Krutham, and having worked within the South African Treasury, Roy shares his deep passion for the financial success of South Africa as well as insights from his soon-to-be released book “How to un-F**k a Country”. From the inner workings of the Treasury to the importance of regulation, lessons from the Great Financial Crises to his take of the recent budget speech, Roy provides deep insights into what South Africa needs to do to build prosperity.

Ep 13: Latent Potential: South Africa's Economy and Asset Management Landscape

From the leadership vacuum in the global political economy to the changing socio-economic conditions around the world, in this episode, Michael Avery is joined by the Founder and CEO of Ninety One, Hendrik du Toit, to unpack the pressing issues of 2024 and beyond.
Hendrik du Toit delves into the crucial role South African businesses play in driving problem-solving dialogues with the government, as well as the challenges and opportunities the asset management industry faces in the future.

Ep 12: The Role of Banks in Supporting SMEs

Much of the growth potential in South Africa sits with our ability to enable growth in small to medium size businesses. Michael Avery hosts Gordon Little, CEO of FNB Commercial, to understand the role and responsibility of South Africa’s banks to responsibly unlock the potential of our SMEs.