Shaping Impact Investing

My love for accounting and inspiration to become a Chartered Accountant were cultivated by my high-school teacher. After completing my articles in the Financial Institutions Service Team at Deloitte, I spent two years as part of a team in a boutique corporate finance advisory firm. I was part of the RMB Corvest team that managed over R3 billion in private equity assets at the time. My most recent vocational highlight has been co-founding Heritage Capital in 2015. I am passionate about the empowerment of women, and the upliftment of young people through education. I enjoy the pristine beauty of nature and travelling is my hobby.  

Ibrahim Akoon is an expert in ESG and sustainability with experience in developing and implementing sustainability strategies, conducting comprehensive environmental and social impact assessments, and managing EHS systems. His skill set includes ESG assurance, project management and stakeholder engagement, making him adept at driving responsible business practices and compliance. Ibrahim’s analytical abilities, coupled with his leadership and commitment to sustainability, have been instrumental in executing high-profile projects successfully. Throughout his career, he has consistently demonstrated his proficiency in integrating ESG principles into business strategies and fostering a culture of environmental responsibility. Ibrahim holds a master’s degree in environmental science and is recognized as a PCSAP (Practicing certified Sustainability Assurance Practitioner) as well as a registered APSCA (Association of professional social compliance auditors) member.

I was raised by a single mom who exemplified the true spirit of being imbokodo (a Zulu word meaning “a rock”). Through her own journey, “my rock” inspired me to truly believe that although in life we may face defeats, they can be defeated. Her philosophy of “you can do it” encouraged me to complete a Bachelor of Commerce degree majoring in corporate finance and investments, which became a springboard for my vocational endeavours. I started off my career at Old Mutual, and shortly thereafter I moved into corporate finance. My experience in corporate finance has been in mergers and acquisitions, capital raisings, and client research mandates across various sectors – exposure which has been pivotal for my role at Heritage Capital.

My great leap of faith took place when a member of the church that I attend offered me a scholarship to study a Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Markets at the University of Johannesburg. This opportunity led me to joining the team at Heritage Capital and most recently landed me a secondment at one of our investee companies. What I enjoy most about working at Heritage Capital is the culture of ownership and accountability. My dream is to one day be able to lead others to incredible and rare opportunities.

Since qualifying as a Chartered Accountant, I have been involved in business for over 20 years in both local (Africa, my home) and global (India) markets. I have held various roles in the whole cycle of identifying a business in which to invest, right through to monitoring and exiting transactions at an enhanced valuation by positively shaping strategy. My career highlights include being the first professional female to have been employed by RMB Corvest; being the founder and director of Shalamuka Capital (a BEE private equity company); as well as being part of the team during the initial years of Oppenheimer Partners. From a Heritage Capital perspective, what is core to our investment decision-making is “investing with a conscience”, which very much aligns with my values and passion points.

I am an accomplished Human Resources Practitioner with over 27 years of experience. Throughout my career, I have been deeply involved in various aspects of HR management, strategy formulation, and value chain management across diverse sectors, including financial services, consulting, and education. My academic background, including a Bachelor of Social Sciences, an Advanced Diploma in Marketing, and an Advanced Diploma in Labour Relations, has equipped me with a robust foundation in business management and leadership. I have successfully led strategic initiatives and facilitated organizational success through my expertise in Transformation,
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and governance.

I have more than 50 years’ experience as a consultant, advisor, entrepreneur, and mentor to numerous local and foreign companies and executives. I have also held executive and non-executive director roles in various business sectors, including healthcare, financial services, technology, education, property, and manufacturing. Having co-founded Netcare, I also served as its Executive Chairman for 12 years and thereafter as non-executive Chairman and Director. I presently serve as a non-executive Chairman of Capital Appreciation and GovChat Proprietary Limited.